By Clint Thompson The Florida tomato industry struggles to stay afloat amid rising imports and a decreasing labor force. Artificial iIntelligence (AI) may be the secret weapon to help Florida growers combat these significant challenges, says Nathan Boyd, Associate Center Director of the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center and Professor of Horticulture and Weed Science. “Production wise, it’s …
Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference Returning to In-Person Format
By Clint Thompson It is never too early to start thinking about the upcoming Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, scheduled for Jan. 6-9, 2022, in Savannah, Georgia; especially since it will be an in-person event next year. The annual meeting was held virtually this past January due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, Charles Hall, executive director of the …
Pecan Producers Optimistic with Potential for Price Increase
By Clint Thompson Pecan harvest season is upon us here in the Southeast. While projections are that this year’s crop will be substantially less than last year’s, growers are optimistic, especially with the potential for increased prices, said Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. “Those that have a crop, which is mostly growers with young trees, and we’ve …
UGA Specialist on Citrus Greening Disease: Stop it Before it Starts
By Clint Thompson The citrus greening disease that has decimated Florida citrus production has one University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist concerned about its potential impact in Georgia. Jonathan Oliver encourages Georgia producers to quickly dispose of infected trees if any are found. “Really, it’s important that before we get very much greening or very much …
H-2A Study: Farmers Reliant on Program Now More Than Ever
By Clint Thompson With the domestic workforce almost non-existent, Southeast vegetable and specialty crop producers rely on the H-2A program now more than ever. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service outlines the growth the program has made over the past decade. Certified H-2A positions increased substantially from 2010 to 2019. The number more than tripled from …
Chlopyrifos Ban to Impact Onion, Sweet Potato Farmers
By Clint Thompson The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent decision to ban the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all food means onion and sweet potato producers will need to find alternatives in six months. While those options exist, they are not nearly as effective. “There’s a reason all the growers use chlorpyrifos,” said Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Cooperative …
Labor Crisis: Farmers Continue to Struggle to Find Workforce
By Clint Thompson The top two issues that vegetable and specialty crop workers encounter are trade and labor. The impact of imports on domestic farmers doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Neither do concerns over having an adequate number of workers on the farm every year, according to Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) President Mike Joyner. “During …
Excessive Rain a Potential Food Safety Concern for Fresh Produce Growers
By Clint Thompson Rains from storms and other tropical events help replenish the soil moisture. However, they also provide food safety concerns for fresh produce growers. Camila Rodrigues, assistant professor and Alabama Extension specialist in Horticulture at Auburn University, says the biggest concern is with runoff. “What is around the field that could be carried around by runoff and also …
Sanitation Remains Key in Whitefly Control
By Clint Thompson Sanitation of vegetable crops susceptible to whiteflies remains a key management strategy for Florida producers. Hugh Smith, an associate professor of entomology and nematology at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, encourages growers to clean up their fields properly following harvest to reduce the risk of feeding damage and potential viruses. “If you don’t make …
Check Closely: Strawberry Growers Need to Monitor Transplants
By Clint Thompson Strawberry producers need to inspect their plants closely before planting this fall, says Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Fruit Disease Specialist. Many disease instances can be avoided if proper inspection is done before plants are put in the ground. “As growers are getting in their transplants, they need to be inspecting all of the transplants. …