According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, whitefly numbers remain low in most crops for this time of the season. But according to growers and scouts, adult populations have increased in multiple places, and nymphs are being observed in older tomato, eggplant and watermelon. The spikes seen in some melon fields have led to cucurbit viruses. Populations will …
What’s the Latest? Upcoming Expo Focuses on Vegetables, Specialty Crops on Aug. 18
By Clint Thompson Registration continues for the upcoming Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo, scheduled for Aug. 17-18 at North Fort Myers, Florida. Those interested in learning more about vegetable and specialty crops are encouraged to attend Thursday’s sessions. Various topics will be discussed. These include Mike Joyner, president of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, discussing the impact of …
On Alert: Recent Rains Increasing Disease Pressure in Alabama Vegetables
By Clint Thompson Alabama vegetable producers need to stay vigilant with their fungicide spray programs. With the wet summer across the state, disease pressure is building in vegetable crops, said Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University. “We’ve been getting hit hard with bacterial spot (in tomatoes) as you …
Key Investment: USDA Invest in Specialty Crops Grants, Incentives to Purchase Fruits and Vegetables
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to help agricultural producers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Tuesday the availability of more than $330 million to help farmers and organizations in the food supply chain recover from the financial impacts of the pandemic. The funding is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance …
Point Made: Financial Impact of Imports of Fruits and Vegetables
Southeast fruit and vegetable farmers have had a point all along. Imports of fruits and vegetables, which have long been the source of producers’ ire in recent years, have significantly impacted the domestic industry. Produce coming in from countries like Mexico, Chile and Peru have driven down prices and put producers’ futures at risk. It was the source of the …
Wind Damage: This Week’s Weather Impacting South Florida Vegetables
Less than ideal weather conditions this week severely impacted vegetables grown in the South Florida area. Sam Accursio, who’s harvesting green beans and yellow and green squash in Homestead, Florida area, confirmed damage to his crops following this week’s extreme wind speeds. “What we’ve had the last three days is 30 mile per hour winds,” said Accursio on Wednesday. “That’s …
Whitefly Numbers Increasing in Florida Vegetables
According to today’s release of the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, whitefly numbers are increasing in some older tomato fields across the southwest Florida region. As many as 5 to 10 whiteflies per leaflet have been detected. Whiteflies are also present in high numbers in cucumbers, squash and eggplant. They are beginning to show up in some young tomato …
Freeze Protection for Fruits and Vegetables
By Pam Knox and Tim Coolong Untimely freezes can cause tremendous problems for fruit and vegetable crops. Fall freezes quickly put an end to the growing season for most fruits and vegetables. If freezes come earlier than expected or before the crops are ready for harvest, they can provide a devastating blow to yields and reduce the value of the …
Managing Root-Knot Nematodes in Vegetables
By Johan Desaeger Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are one of the most rapidly spreading of all pests and pathogens. The southeastern United States (Florida, in particular) is a paradise for these parasites. Nematodes cause damage to vegetables all over the world, and anyone who has had to deal with root-knot nematodes knows how difficult they are to control. Root-knot nematode …
Hurricane Eta a Threat to South Florida Vegetables
The latest hurricane activity to threaten the United States could impact South Florida vegetable production early next week. According to weather.com, Hurricane Eta is threatening to approach South Florida this weekend and bring rain, high winds or a combination of both as early as Monday morning. Vegetable producers are feeling anxious right now, says Gene McAvoy, University of Florida Regional …