corn maze

UF Student Helps Design Corn Maze at Local Farm

Web AdminCorn, Industry News Release

Farmers and ranchers across Florida are fighting lack of consumer education on food systems by opening their properties to the public in a practice called agritourism. Agritourism allows non-farming folks to learn about the day-to-day operations of a working farm and see first-hand where their food comes from. One such farm is the Single R Ranch in Plant City, Florida. …

Hydrogels as Herbicide Carriers in Vegetable Plasticulture

Web AdminResearch, Top Posts, Vegetables

By Ramdas Kanissery and Camille McAvoy Weed management is a fundamental step in the successful production of vegetable crops in Florida under commercial plasticulture production systems. Soil fumigation was one of the most successful means of reducing weed populations. None of the alternatives to methyl bromide have a broad spectrum of activity against weeds. This necessitates the need for a …

Panhandle Beekeepers Work to Save Hives after Hurricane Michael

Web AdminIndustry News Release, Top Posts

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Hurricane Michael significantly impacted the beekeeping industry in the Florida Panhandle. This area is home to about 500 registered beekeepers and nearly 50,000 colonies, which amounts to more than 1.2 billion bees. These colonies are vital to Florida agriculture because the bees provide pollination services to many of the state’s crops. Beekeepers in the Florida Panhandle are …

UF Industrial Hemp Program Promotes Industrial Partnerships to Grow

Web AdminIndustry News Release, Research, Top Posts

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida’s pilot research program to explore the potential to grow industrial hemp across the state is advancing, with the engagement of an inaugural private partner. The initiative was supported and encouraged by the state but was not appropriated any funding. To move forward, the project needs sponsorships from private industry. Green Roads Inc. has …

Sneak Peek: October VSCNews Magazine

Web AdminSneak peek, Top Posts

Labor is always top of mind for vegetable and specialty crop growers. The October issue of VSCNews magazine will address this ever-changing but always crucial topic. AgNet West’s Brian German discusses how labor contractors can help make the H-2A program an easier experience for growers. German spoke with a California grower who shares his positive experience with labor contractors. Zhengfei …

florida

UF Study: Buyers Want Environmentally Safe Strawberry Production

Web AdminIndustry News Release, Strawberry, Top Posts

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As buyers browse strawberry packages at the supermarket, they might see labels such as “organically grown” or “locally grown.” But they’d also like to know if the fruit was produced in a way that preserves the environment, a new University of Florida (UF) study shows. Consumers say they’ll pay more for strawberries grown in a manner that …

Citrus Expo Presentations Now Available

Web AdminProduce, Research, Top Posts, Vegetables

The 27th annual Citrus Expo saw great success as growers piled into the Lee Civic Center on Aug. 15–16 in North Fort Myers, Florida. Growers experienced the biggest trade show in Expo history, as well as newly added vegetables and specialty crops seminar sessions. The educational program, titled “Planting Tomorrow’s Profits,” featured presentations on the latest research from the University …

uf study

UF Researcher to Study Migration Trends, Health of Emerging Farm Workers

Web AdminIndustry News Release, Labor

As the University of Florida IFAS Extension director for Hendry County, Gene McAvoy has seen firsthand a sea change in the types of workers now coming to the United States to work on farms. “It used to be 95 percent or more of the workers were from Mexico,” McAvoy said. “Now, it’s about 50 percent from Haiti and the Caribbean. …

mangos

UF Researchers Seek to Develop Tastier Mangos

Web AdminFruit, Industry News Release, Mangos, Research

Mangos make for a tasty, nutritious snack or side dish. To help meet consumer demand for more flavorful mangos without grit or fibrous flesh, University of Florida (UF) scientists will try to identify superior varieties so mango producers can choose the best types of the fruit to grow in the Sunshine State. Some South Florida farmers already grow mangos, but …

scientists

UF Scientists Hope to Breed Better-Tasting Sweet Corn

Web AdminCorn, Industry News Release, Research

University of Florida (UF) scientists plan to use a $7.3 million, four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) to find the genetic traits that will make sweet corn taste even better, last longer and grow better across the nation. Mark Settles, a professor of horticultural sciences at the UF Institute of …