By: Ruth Borger, University of Florida LAKE ALFRED, Fla. — Consumers are being bombarded with tips for what to do with their groceries during the coronavirus crisis. Leave them in the garage for three days? Wash the produce with soapy water? Wipe all packaging down with disinfectant wipes? Listen to the science, say University of Florida Institute of Food and …
North Florida Watermelon Farmers Bracing for Unpredictable Season
By Clint Thompson The watermelon season in Florida has already soured and a huge chunk of the state’s crop has yet to be harvested. Prices for South Florida watermelons started at a robust 40 cents per pound but have since dropped to 12 cents amidst a deflated market during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to Mark Warren, University of Florida/IFAS …
The Day South Florida Agriculture Changed
Submitted by Gene McAvoy, Regional Vegetable Extension Agent IV Emeritus with UF/IFAS “Up to the end of Feb our growers were having a banner year and it looked like this season would be one of those homeruns that come around every 5-6 years.” Here is a report that I prepared on the state of S Florida ag and shared with …
Florida Watermelon Farmers Face Uncertainty Due to COVID-19
(UF/IFAS) — As fruit and vegetable farmers in South Florida decide what to do with produce once destined for now-closed schools and restaurants, watermelon farmers in North Florida have recently finished planting their crop. Given the uncertainty around the market for fresh produce, the decision to plant came down to economics, said Mark Warren, agriculture agent for UF/IFAS Extension Levy …
COVID-19 Update for Growers and Packers
(UF/IFAS) — The CDC, FDA and USDA all agree “Currently, there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19”, including imported foods and materials. FDA has issued guidance that if an employee tests positive for COVID-19 they “do not anticipate that food products would need to be recalled or be withdrawn from the market”. Citrus growers, harvesters, packers, …
Precision Sprayer Can Reduce Herbicide Use
By Arnold Schumann, Nathan Boyd, Shaun Sharpe and Jialin Yu In the March 2019 issue of VSCNews, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) smart sprayer technology using machine vision for Florida vegetable and strawberry crops (VSCNews.com/smart-sprayer-technology-for-better-weed-control) was introduced. Subsequently, a series of herbicide spray trials were conducted to prove that the smart sprayer performs well …
Using Steam for Weed Management
By Ramdas Kanissery and Yiannis Ampatzidis Weeds are a significant problem in horticultural production and must be controlled to maintain good crop yield. Concerns related to non-judicious use of herbicides, which include ground and surface water contamination and pesticide residues in food, have sparked public awareness and restrictions on herbicide use. For these reasons, alternative and integrated systems for weed …
Hemp Advice: Start Small, Be Cautious
There are numerous challenges facing potential growers of industrial hemp in Florida, said Jerry Fankhauser at the recent Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference. Fankhauser is assistant director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station and lead oversight manager of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Industrial Hemp Pilot Project. Researchers involved in the project are looking …
Citrus Meeting Addresses Production Practices
By Clint Thompson Citrus was the focus of an annual meeting held in Quincy, Florida, on March 12. Growers from Florida and Georgia converged at the North Florida Research and Education Center to learn about various citrus management practices for the region. GROWER-GUIDED AGENDA Danielle Sprague, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agent in Jefferson …
Florida Blueberry Field Day Highlights Industry Advancements
By Ashley Robinson New blueberry varieties, management strategies and industry updates were all hot topics at the Florida Blueberry Growers Association’s (FBGA) spring field day. The sold-out event was held on March 10 at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Plant Science Research and Education Unit (PSREU) in Citra. BLUEBERRY BREEDING GRANT Patricio Munoz, assistant professor …