Feast on Florida-Grown Foods This Thanksgiving

Web AdminIndustry News Release, Produce, Top Posts

As we sit down to dine during the annual Thanksgiving feast, it’s worth noting that much of what we eat comes from Florida farmers, say University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers. Better still, scientists with UF/IFAS try to see if they can breed and grow certain crops in Florida to help growers and consumers. When …

SmartIrrigation Technology Improves Tomato Production

Web AdminResearch, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine, Water

By Ibukun T. Ayankojo and Kelly T. Morgan Fresh tomato production in the United States is dominated by the states of California and Florida. Florida harvests about 28,000 acres of tomatoes with a production value of $382 million. This accounts for approximately 40 percent of the total production value in the United States. IRRIGATION ACCURACY IS CRITICAL Vegetable production requires …

Panhandle Growers See Major Losses from Michael

Web AdminCucurbits, Tomatoes, Top Posts, Weather

By Breanna Kendrick Hurricane Michael hit the Florida Panhandle hard. Farmers across this region have lost some, if not all, of their crops. Josh Freeman, associate professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy, surveyed the area of Gadsden and Jackson counties for crop damages. …

Georgia Vegetable Grower Discusses Hurricane Damage

Web AdminProduce, Top Posts, Vegetables, Weather

Hurricane Michael decimated multiple sectors of Georgia agriculture, ranging from cotton to pecans. One industry that was heavily impacted was vegetables. What was supposed to be a banner fall season for Georgia growers has turned into devastation. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black says that while the economic damages of vegetables are smaller than other commodities like peanuts or cotton, …

Sneak Peek: August VSCNews Magazine

Web AdminOrganic, Research, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

Organically grown produce is climbing in popularity in the United States. The August issue of VSCNews magazine will give growers the information they need to help their organic farm thrive or to convert to organic growing. For growers looking toward growing organically, AgNet Media’s Ernie Neff and Abbey Taylor explore what it takes to become organically certified by the U.S. …

A New Race of Fusarium Wilt Brings Trouble

Web AdminResearch, Top Posts, Watermelon

Fusarium wilt has been a problem in watermelon for several years. A new race of the disease makes it even more of a struggle to deal with. Nicholas Dufault, assistant professor and Extension specialist in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Florida (UF), says race three fusarium wilt was recently found in the United States. According to Dufault, …

UF ‘Dream Team’ Plans to Change Face of South Florida Ag, Natural Resources

Web AdminIndustry News Release, Research, Top Posts

Contact: Beverly James, 352-273-3566, beverlymjames@ufl.edu HOMESTEAD, Fla. – They don’t wear capes and tights, but the new University of Florida (UF) faculty members hope their research will help grow the state’s agriculture and natural resources, and stave off enemies that threaten industry. The eight scientists, based at the Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead, Florida, are bringing new …

Using Plants to Fend Off Pests

Web AdminOrganic, Pests, Top Posts, Vegetables

Trap-cropping is an organic method to combat pests that has been tested with several different crops in Alabama. Ayanava Majumdar, an Extension entomologist for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, has recently been testing different trap crops in yellow squash. Last year, he studied sorghum and sunflower to combat leaffooted bugs and stink bugs in vegetable systems. This year, he is …

UF/IFAS Researcher Hopes to Breed, Grow Nutritious Pumpkins in Florida

Web AdminIndustry News Release, Research, Top Posts, Vegetables

By Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Pumpkins and their seeds are good for you. For example, the flesh of the fruit is a good source of many vitamins and fiber, and its seeds provide unsaturated fats that help reduce cholesterol, among their other health benefits. The pumpkin’s nutrient values are driving Geoffrey Meru, a fruit …

Growers Can Get Help with High Tunnels

Web AdminNRCS, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

By Jaci Schreckengost The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has an initiative to assist growers with the installation of high tunnels in their production systems. Monica Jones, a district conservationist with the NRCS in Florida, said the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) offers a High Tunnel System Initiative to help growers with installing a high tunnel. The NRCS is an …