Specialty Crops of the Andes May Have Potential for the Southeast

Web AdminProduce, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

By Kevin M. Folta The Andes Mountains are home to great botanical diversity and are the origin of many vegetable species consumed in North America. Worldwide mainstays such as peppers, cassava, potato and tomato all have evolutionary connections to this area, from which over 200 plant species have been domesticated. The vast diversity arises from variation in geographical features, as …

water quality

A Florida Perspective on Agricultural Water Issues

Web AdminTop Posts, VSCNews magazine, Water

By Rich Budell Vegetable and specialty crop producers in the Southeast face many challenges, including labor, disease, trade and weather. An additional — often underappreciated and complicated — issue involves management and protection of fresh water resources. Access to adequate quantities of fresh water during the growing season is critical to production success. Protecting downstream receiving waters from potential adverse …

Fried Attends Lunch Meeting with Ag Leaders

Web AdminLegislative, Top Posts

At a lunch meeting in Tallahassee, Florida, with representatives of many of the state’s agricultural organizations, Florida Agriculture Commissioner-Elect Nikki Fried told the group she plans to be a “champion for this industry” in her new role. Several major issues facing Florida agriculture were discussed during the lunch meeting, which was the first meeting of its kind with Fried since …

Sneak Peek: December VSCNews Magazine

Web AdminSneak peek, Top Posts

The Southeast has an incredibly diverse agricultural industry, and it continues to expand. The December issue of VSCNews magazine will explore up-and-coming crops in the Southeast, as well as some international crops that could be a good fit for this region. Hop production has been a popular topic in Florida, especially at the University of Florida’s (UF) Gulf Coast Research …

Southeast Climate Hub Developing Hurricane Manual for Landowners

Web AdminTop Posts, Weather

Southeastern agriculture is faced with many challenges, including hurricanes. Most recently, Hurricanes Irma, Florence and Michael have devastated sectors of southeastern agriculture. Steven McNulty, director of the Southeast U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Climate Hub, wants to help farmers prepare their land as best as they can before a storm hits. McNulty organized a recent meeting in Gainesville to gauge …

Florida-Georgia Water War Rolls On

Web AdminTop Posts, VSCNews magazine, Water

The Florida-Georgia water war has made it to the nation’s highest court and back multiple times due to a dispute about water conservation. The water war involves the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers. These rivers begin in Georgia, then join to form the Apalachicola River, which is near the Florida border and flows into the Apalachicola Bay. Florida began the war by requesting limitations on …

FFVA’s Stuart to Trade Commission: Florida Growers Still Suffering

Web AdminIndustry News Release, Top Posts

Cheap Mexican imports ‘decimate’ U.S. prices and market share WASHINGTON, D.C. — Farmers in Florida will continue to go out of business if the U.S. government fails to provide critical trade relief to combat cheap Mexican produce imports flooding the market, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association CEO Mike Stuart told members of the International Trade Commission on Thursday. Stuart’s testimony …

Florida Growers Facing Blueberry Challenges

Web AdminBerries, Pollinators, Top Posts

By Breanna Kendrick Citrus root weevil is relatively new to blueberries, but is becoming more of a prevalent issue for some Central Florida growers. Citrus root weevil typically occurs on old citrus ground that has been plowed under for blueberry production. Doug Phillips, blueberry Extension coordinator for the University of Florida (UF), has been trying to identify some controls against …

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 …

Watch Out for Sweet Potato Weevil

Web AdminPests, Sweet Potatoes, Top Posts

By Breanna Kendrick What’s small, black, has six legs and causes a lot of damage to sweet potato crops? The sweet potato weevil. Once this pest is present and fields become highly infested, it’s very difficult to control. The weevil causes unsightly effects to the outside and inside of the sweet potato, making it hard to move the product through …