Fungicide resistance in strawberries is a major problem, says University of Georgia Cooperative Extension plant pathologist Phil Brannen. He encourages producers to help researchers understand which fungicides are still active and provide protection against diseases like anthracnose and botrytis. “(Fungicide resistance) has really come to the forefront in the last few years. In the last two or three years, we …
As Organic Food Sales Soar, Growers Look to Essential Oils to Suppress Pests, Diseases
By: Brad Buck, 813-757-2224, bradbuck@ufl.edu, 352-875-2641 (cell) Organic food sales topped $50 billion in the United States in 2018. Statistics from the Organic Trade Association tell part of the story of this growing market: Fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops combined to make up 36.3% of total organic sales — up 5.6% from the previous year. Naturally, farmers want to …
Alabama Pumpkin Growers Be Aware of Downy Mildew Disease
The hint of fall in the air and the calendar turning to September means pumpkins are growing across Alabama. But producers need to be wary of certain diseases that can be detrimental to the pumpkin growing season, says Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist. “We do have a lot of pumpkins coming in. I was walking around a large patch …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Zack Snipes reports, “We had between 4-6 inches of rain last week with daily thunderstorms. Growers are working the fields, getting ready for the fall crops to go in. If it happens to rain on Wednesday …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Dr. Tony Keinath reports, “For the past few years, Orondis Opti on cucumber and cantaloupe and Orondis Ultra on pumpkin and watermelon have been the best fungicides to manage downy mildew. Based on results from a …
UF/IFAS scientist named fellow of American Phytopathological Society
By: Brad Buck, 813-757-2224 (office); 352-875-2641 (cell); bradbuck@ufl.edu Working at her lab and fields at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Natalia Peres diagnoses and helps manage diseases that might otherwise ruin strawberries, a $300 million per year crop in Florida. In her efforts to beat back diseases, Peres helped develop the Strawberry Advisory System, which tells farmers …
Fungicide Resistance in Georgia Strawberry Fields
By Phil Brannen, Md Emran Ali, Jeff Cook, Sumyya Waliullah and Owen Hudson Anthracnose fruit rot disease, caused by fungal Colletotrichum species, is one of the most significant disease problems of commercial strawberry production in the Southeast. Dark, sunken lesions on fruit are the main disease symptoms (Figure 1). Hot, humid weather and significant rainfall make Colletotrichum-induced fruit rot a …
Sneak Peek: August 2020 VSCNews Magazine
By Ashley Robinson The August issue of VSCNews magazine equips growers with the latest information and strategies to develop a sound fumigation system. With the loss of methyl bromide, many growers have struggled to maintain consistent soilborne pathogen and pest control with fumigants that are currently available. Gary Vallad, Johan Desaeger, Joe Noling and Nathan Boyd of the University of …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Updates on Various Crops
Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Zack Snipes reports, “It was a warm week with some sprinkled in showers along the coast. All crops are coming in right now with heavy watermelon volume. What’s left of the tomato crop is ripening fast. …
Sneak Peek: July 2020 VSCNews Magazine
By: Ashley Robinson The July issue of VSCNews magazine focuses on a variety of topics, including machine harvesting of blueberries, strawberry pests and diseases and technology for vegetable production. Blueberry growers and packers are adopting the latest innovations and technology to reduce harvesting costs and put less reliance on contract laborers. Fumiomi Takeda, a research horticulturalist with the United States …