Florida’s two U.S. Senators implored U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week to re-implement a prohibition on the importation of five varieties of citrus fruits from China. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to Vilsack this week in an effort to protect Florida’s citrus growers. The lletter focused on potentially exposing the state’s …
AI: UF Research Focused on Helping Strawberry Producers With Weed Control
BALM, Fla. — The future of farming is being researched today with artificial intelligence (AI). University of Florida scientists Nathan Boyd and Arnold Schumann hope to help growers in the strawberry industry, a $300 million-a-year sector in Florida, with weed control. They want to reduce the amount of herbicide spray strawberry growers use during the season. That saves farmers money …
Pandemic Cover Crop Program Deadline is June 15
By Clint Thompson Vegetable and specialty crop producers who utilize cover crops have until Tuesday, June 15 to sign up for the Pandemic Cover Crop Program. The implementation of cover crops requires a long-term investment from the producer. The COVID-19 pandemic provided economic challenges for growers to maintain those cover crop systems. The Pandemic Cover Crop Program, which is offered …
Low Prices Linger for Vegetable Producers
By Clint Thompson Low market prices and higher input costs equal a challenging season for the region’s vegetable and specialty crop producers. In a time when farmers need commodities to sell high, prices are among the lowest in recent memory. “I would say right now that prices are as low as I’ve seen them for this time of year. Pick …
UF/IFAS Specialist: Every Time You Have Nutrient Leaching, You’re Losing Money
By Clint Thompson Sandy soils dominate the soil landscape for vegetable production throughout Florida, according to University of Florida (UF)/IFAS. They provide growers distinct advantages, such as an ease of tillage and production of the earliest vegetable crops. However, a key disadvantage is the ability of nutrients to be leached, specifically with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. Leaching refers to nutrients …
Irrigation Vital During Critical Periods of Vegetable Season
By Clint Thompson Hot and dry conditions mean irrigation is a must for Alabama’s vegetable and specialty crops. Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, implores producers to stay vigilant in ensuring their crops have sufficient moisture. “This is a critical period to make sure that we have ample water out there, to make sure we’re either getting good stands or …
Combine Natural Enemies With Pest Exclusion Systems
By Ayanava Majumdar, Chip East and Eric Schavey Organic farming in the South is challenged with year-round pest pressure from established or invasive insects. A flash drought can rapidly increase pest numbers and devastate crops. Two ways to reduce insect pests on vegetable crops, pest exclusion systems and conservation of natural enemies, have been discussed in recent VCSNews articles. This …
Weedy Issue: Ragweed Parthenium Becoming Major Problem in Florida
By Clint Thompson One weed is expanding rapidly across Florida. “Ragweed Parthenium, I would say is the biggest issue that’s relatively new. Its range seems to be rapidly expanding. Not that it didn’t ever occur here before, but I never saw Ragweed Parthenium in any of the specialty crop fields around us, and that’s mostly tomatoes and strawberries. Now I …
Sun Protection: Keep Watermelon Crop Safe During Hot, Dry Conditions
By Clint Thompson South Georgia is on the brink of starting its watermelon harvest season. If farmers hope to capitalize with multiple harvests, they may need to apply chemical applications to protect against sunburn, which has been one of the few concerns during the production season. “The last couple of folks I spoke with, watermelons were volleyball size, if not …
Fertigation Advantageous for Farmers
According to Alabama Extension, fertigation has multiple advantages for vegetable producers that should make them implement this process for the upcoming seasons. The process of applying water and fertilizer through the irrigation system allows growers to apply the optimum amount of nutrients that a crop requires. If growers apply fertilizers via side dressing, there is a risk of leaching because …