(U.S. Sugar) — “We applaud Governor Ron DeSantis for his commitment to completing Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) projects that are critical to stopping the damaging freshwater discharges and advancing restoration. As a partner in Everglades Restoration for nearly 25 years, the people of U.S. Sugar share Governor DeSantis’ strong desire to complete all projects that will increase storage and …
Understanding Disease Through Art
By Madeline Dowling and Guido Schnabel What comes to mind when you think of football season? Is it the excitement of cheering on your favorite team? Good times with family and friends? Incredible food? For many people, football season is a wonderful time of the year. However, amid the excitement, it’s easy to forget how much effort each team invests …
Selecting Better Stevia
By Karla Arboleda Along with research projects by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Interregional Research Project No. 4, North Carolina State University (NCSU) plant breeders, plant pathologists and Extension agents are looking into several aspects of stevia. Todd Wehner, a professor of horticultural science at NCSU, is working on selecting better stevia plants. NICE AND SWEET“Stevia has quite …
Sneak Peek: November VSCNews Magazine
The November issue of VSCNews magazine is all about water management issues. Andrea Albertin and Mark Lusk, both with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), discuss plans in the works to improve Florida’s water quality. The authors look at Florida’s current water issues, how septic tanks may be a part of the problem and ways …
Hemp, Hops and More Crops Highlight Florida Ag Expo
Farmers, nursery managers and others can get a glimpse of the latest and greatest University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research into tomatoes, strawberries, hemp, hops and ornamental plants at the annual Florida Ag Expo at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. Informative sessions will fill the day, with events running from 7:30 a.m. …
Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs Getting Ready for Winter
By Karla Arboleda As the weather cools down, brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSBs) in the deep Southeast are seeking to stay in dry areas away from crops. BMSBs will typically affect peaches, apples, tomatoes, peppers, corn and soybeans throughout North Carolina and South Carolina, but not for much longer. According to Jim Walgenbach, an Extension entomologist at North Carolina State …
State Approves Paying Sugar Grower to End Lease
Florida will pay $2.4 million to a sugar grower as part of an effort to clean and shift water south from Lake Okeechobee through the Everglades. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet — Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Attorney General Ashley Moody — agreed Tuesday to pay $1,940 an acre to New Hope Sugar …
Commerce Department Announces Final Dumping Margin of 21% on Mexican Tomato Imports
International Trade Commission will now Evaluate Injury to U.S. Growers Washington, D.C. (FTE-October 22, 2019) — The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced a final dumping margin of 21 percent in the resumed antidumping investigation of Mexican tomatoes. This result comes as no surprise to American tomato farmers who have seen domestic production decline significantly in the face of unfairly traded …
Updating North Carolina Research Stations With New Technology
By Karla Arboleda North Carolina State University (NC State) and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services are working to update research stations with new technology. Together, the two institutions will improve technology in 18 research stations across the state. Jason Ward, an assistant professor in the biological and agricultural engineering department at NC State, talked about the …
New Fertilizer Technology May Help Farmers Reduce Nitrogen Load
LIVE OAK, FL (UF/IFAS-Oct. 21, 2019) — In the Suwannee Valley, farmers are diligently searching for solutions, or Best Management Practices (BMPs), to efficiently use fertilizers in crop production. At the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center – Suwannee Valley (UF/IFAS NFREC-SV), a team led by Bob Hochmuth, UF/IFAS Extension regional specialized agent for vegetable crops and assistant center …