By Clint Thompson Persistent rainfall across the Southeast in recent weeks could delay fumigation progress from specialty crop farmers preparing to plant their fall crops. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, discusses how heavy rain events could keep producers from getting into their fields at a key point in the season. …
UGA Releases Parasitic Wasp to Control Invasive Fruit Fly
UGA Releases Parasitic Wasp to Control Invasive Fruit Fly In a quiet field of abandoned blueberries and shrubby brush in south Georgia, Cera Jones released hundreds of tiny parasitic wasps into the thicket. They followed their natural instinct to search for a host to incubate their predatory progeny. Jones manages the University of Georgia (UGA) Small Fruit Entomology Lab under …
Expo Pre-Registration Deadline Set for Aug. 12
By Clint Thompson Those farmers and industry leaders interested in attending this year’s Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo are reminded that pre-registration closes Friday, August 12, 2022, at 11:59 a.m. The event, slated for Aug. 17-18 at the Lee Civic Center in Fort Myers, Florida, has already attracted strong response from vendors and farmers planning to attend. “We’re having a great response,” …
Clemson Extension Provides Weekly Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provide crop updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Weekly Field Update – 7/25/22 Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “In a wide range of crops, insect and disease pressure is high, with gummy stem blight across all cucurbit crops. Downy mildew is also very active. Fruit …
Tropicana to Cease Processing at Fort Pierce Plant
Tropicana Products Inc. advised the state of Florida in a July 15 letter that it will shut down its Fort Pierce processing plant on or about Sept. 13. The notification came in a letter from Tropicana human resources representative Jennifer Kane to the State Rapid Response Program. The program works to prevent or minimize the impacts of layoffs on workers, …
Pre-Registration for Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo Closes Aug. 12
By Clint Thompson Those farmers and industry leaders interested in attending this year’s Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo are reminded that pre-registration closes Friday, August 12, 2022, at 11:59 a.m. The event, slated for Aug. 17-18 at the Lee Civic Center in Fort Myers, Florida, has already attracted strong response from vendors and farmers planning to attend. “We’re having a …
Lack of Mangoes Impacts UF/IFAS Research
By Clint Thompson As predicted, Florida’s mango supply was severely impacted by the chilling temperatures experienced in January. Producers did not have the usual crop this season. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher Alan Chambers was not able to conduct part of his research. The plant geneticist at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center …
Freedom to Farm Bill Passes in Georgia
By Clint Thompson The Freedom to Farm bill in Georgia was a legislative win for the state’s specialty crop producers. Just ask Will Bentley, president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council. “Freedom to Farm was the biggest bill, probably, we’ve had pass in a long time,” said Bentley, whose organization was an avid supporter of the bill. ONE LESS WORRYThere is …
Artificial Intelligence: Helps Detect Watermelon Disease Quickly, Accurately
The needs of Florida watermelon producers motivate Yiannis Ampatzidis to use artificial intelligence (AI) to detect pathogens early and accurately. One such disease, downy mildew, spreads like wildfire, said Ampatzidis, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering. In newly published research, Ampatzidis used spectral reflectance — the energy a …
Insect Pests Top Concerns of Strawberry Producer Ahead of ’22 Crop
By Clint Thompson Strawberry planting season is still a couple of months away for Florida producers. One factor that is already on the mind of grower Dusty Grooms is the impact that two insect pests had in 2021 – chilli thrips and spider mites. The strawberry producer with Fancy Farms in Plant City, Florida, discussed the issue that plagued his …