The International Trade Committee’s (ITC) decision regarding blueberry imports was shocking to Florida’s blueberry producers. It was no less surprising to the state’s strawberry farmers who have their own ITC investigation under way. “Our jaws dropped. We know how bad the blueberry deal is and they said they were 5-0 voting against it,” said Matt Parke, farm manager of Parkesdale …
UF/IFAS Findings Show Less Need for Pesticide to Control Strawberry Pest
By: Brad Buck, 352-875-2641 (cell), bradbuck@ufl.edu It’s harvest season for Florida’s $300 million-per-year strawberry season, so those who grow this fruit need help to control pests such as the tiny (up to 2-millimeters long), destructive chilli thrips. Farmers often use pesticides to control thrips, but they would like to use minimal chemicals. University of Florida scientists may have found a …
Florida Strawberry Industry Members Speak out About Unfair Trade with Mexico
Florida Strawberry Growers Association Dover, Fla. (August 18, 2020) – U.S. trade officials and federal agencies held the first of two virtual meetings on August 13 with the agriculture industry to hear testimonies on unfair trade practices with Mexico. More than 35 witnesses testified to a hearing committee consisting of representatives from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. Department …
Hemp growers: Be on the Lookout for Nematodes
By Johan Desaeger Florida’s subtropical climate offers unique opportunities to grow crops outside of the typical growing season of other states. Such is the case for strawberries and many vegetables. There are high expectations that hemp could be another such crop, although nematodes may have something to say about that. Plant-parasitic nematodes, such as root-knot and sting nematodes, can cause …
Florida Strawberry Festival’s Featured Fruit Comes From UF/IFAS Research
(UF/IFAS) — When you hear the words “Plant City,” what comes to mind? Strawberries, probably. As thousands of people come to Plant City for the annual Florida Strawberry Festival this month, many will eat various types of the fruit. They may be surprised to learn that University of Florida scientists toil in nearby labs and fields to develop the best …
UF/IFAS Experts: Growers Ready for Freezes
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When the next frost threatens Florida’s crops, growers will do their best to make sure your favorite foods are protected from the potentially crippling chill, say University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences experts. For example, citrus growers use wind machines and micro-sprinklers to ensure freezing temperatures don’t ruin the fruit, said Chris Oswalt, a …
National Strawberry Day Brings Attention to UF/IFAS Varieties
Vance Whitaker toils day and night to develop the tastiest, best-looking, aromatic strawberries a consumer would want. Yummy enough for a nutritious snack or to help flavor a cake or pie just in time for National Strawberry Day on Feb. 27. Whitaker, an associate professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), …
New Class for Wedgworth Leadership Institute
The Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources (WLI) recently selected 30 participants for Class XII of its two-year leadership development program. The program’s first seminar will take place in Gainesville in November. Participants have committed to 11 seminars, totaling 55 days, which further develop their leadership capacity in representing agricultural and natural resources industries. Seminars will be held from the …
Hurricane Idalia’s Impact on Specialty Crops
By Maegan Beatty What started as a tropical storm, Hurricane Idalia hit landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Idalia made landfall this past Wednesday morning near Keaton Beach, which is about 75 miles southwest of Tallahassee. Idalia left hundreds of thousands of people without power in Florida and Georgia. The storm has had many effects on …
Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Land Grant Research Prioritization Act
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) introduced bipartisan legislation last week to authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make priority research grants available for land-grant universities to research and develop agricultural applications of artificial intelligence (AI), advanced mechanized harvester technologies, invasive species control and aquaculture. “Florida’s land-grant universities are constantly innovating to address …