Florida Strawberry Producer: There Will Be a Season Following Milton

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Strawberry

By Clint Thompson Florida strawberry farmers may be planting this year’s crop, but multiple farms were in Atlanta last week during the Global Produce and Floral Show. The annual event attracted more than 3,000 buyers and attendees from more than 70 countries. A large contingent of Florida’s strawberry producers were in attendance, including Wish Farms and Director of Marketing Amber …

FSGA Discusses Impact of Hurricane Milton to Florida Strawberry Crop

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson The Florida Strawberry Growers Association’s (FSGA) presence at last week’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Atlanta is a sign to the industry that Florida producers are rebounding from Hurricane Milton’s devastation a couple of weeks prior. “The concern I think to everyone is, ‘Are we okay?’ I just wanted to make sure everyone knows that our …

Fall Fungicide Sprays a Must for Southeast Strawberry Growers

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Strawberries

By Clint Thompson Some Southeast strawberry producers are not prone to applying fungicides during the fall after planting. That is likely to change with the high potential for Neopestalotiopsis, according to Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist. “Generally, we have not sprayed very much in the fall at all. But now it’s starting to be one …

UGA Extension Strawberry Blog: Management Options for Neopestalotiopsis

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Strawberries

Neopestalotiopsis fruit rot and leaf spot disease is already expected to impact next year’s strawberry crop. The question is how can growers minimize the potential damage the disease will likely have on plants ahead of next growing season? Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, outlined how producers can navigate next season’s expected increase of Neopestalotiopsis. …

Strawberry Plant Shortage? Neopestalotiopsis Wreaking Havoc on Supply

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Georgia, Strawberries

By Clint Thompson The recent revelation that Neopestalotiopsis impacted multiple nurseries from Prince Edward Island will affect the supply of strawberry tips and plug plants that are available for Southeast growers. Producers are likely to experience a shortage as well as a spike in costs per plants that are available, says Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and …

Attention Strawberry Growers: ‘Alarm Bells’ for Neopestalotiopsis Disease

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Georgia, Strawberries

By Clint Thompson A disease that first impacted Florida strawberry fields in the 2018-2019 season is already causing trouble for next year’s crop. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, is cautioning growers about the high potential risk for Neopestalotiopsis with plants originating from Prince Edward Island. “As many strawberry producers are aware, some nurseries are …

Earlier the Better: Chilli Thrips Most Vulnerable Early in Strawberry Season

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Chilli thrips were as challenging as they have ever been in Florida strawberries. According to Sriyanka Lahiri, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, the insect pests were especially tough on strawberries planted in early fall. “This season was particularly tough …

UF Web-Based System Launches ‘Climate Indicators Tool’ to Help Producers

Clint ThompsonFlorida

A new University of Florida (UF)-developed web-based tool will help growers reduce risks that come with climate variability. It is called the “climate indicators tool,” the newest addition to AgroClimate, a web-based platform designed 15 years ago by Clyde Fraisse, a UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) professor of agricultural and biological engineering. Growers can use the new …