Tallahassee, FL (FDACS-Oct. 9, 2019) — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is issuing an alert regarding a virus found in Mexican tomatoes imported into Florida and potentially other U.S. states. ToBRFV, the tomato brown rugose fruit virus, is a highly virulent virus that can cause severe fruit loss in tomatoes and peppers. Imported tomatoes potentially carrying …
Technology to Grow Better Cucurbits
By Karla Arboleda With a wide variety of options to choose from, researchers are working with technology in order to grow better cucurbits. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS), marker assisted selection and genomic selection have been used to improve specialty crops like squash, pumpkins and watermelons. Geoffrey Meru, an assistant professor in vegetable breeding at the University of Florida Tropical Research …
2020 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Honorees Announced
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation announced the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees for 2020. The induction ceremony will be held at the Florida State Fair’s Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on Feb. 11. “Agriculture touches the lives of every Floridian and plays a monumental role in our economy and culture. The …
USDA Grants $3.2 Million Toward Whitefly Research
By Karla Arboleda After years of growers experiencing problems with whiteflies in vegetable crops, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will fund $3.2 million toward whitefly research. The grant will fund research at the University of Georgia (UGA), Fort Valley State University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service in South Carolina. Bhabesh Dutta, a vegetable Extension pathologist at UGA-Tifton, shared …
A Fresh, New Look at Florida Ag Expo
By Ashley Robinson More than a decade ago, growers Tony DiMare and Jay Taylor attended a fruit and vegetable tour and expo in Mexico. They realized Florida needed a similar type of event. As members of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) Advisory Council, both growers worked with …
UF Research Shows Best Fungicides for Downy Mildew
By Karla Arboleda Since downy mildew can cause major destruction, a proper use of fungicides is essential to a healthy crop. Gary Vallad, an associate professor at the University of Florida (UF), described the magnitude of downy mildew disease on specialty crops at the recent Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo. “It (downy mildew) just kind of jumps from crop to …
USDA Invests $11M In Research That Will Support Specialty Crop Farmers
WASHINGTON (USDA-Oct. 3, 2019) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary Scott Hutchins announced that the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has invested $11 million in research that will support specialty crop farmers. “This collaborative public-private research effort will focus on applying innovative solutions to pest management problems that often are otherwise not available to specialty …
Using UV Light Against Plant Pathogens
Faculty members at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) provide cutting-edge research for Florida’s agriculture industries. Located in Wimauma, the 475-acre facility sits in the heart of Hillsborough County. The center includes large fields of research plots, laboratories, educational programs and space for student living. GCREC Center Director …
Updated Draft for Florida Hemp Rules
By Karla Arboleda The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) updated a draft on hemp rules for the state. FDACS is working with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to authorize hemp production in Florida as quickly as possible. Fred Harris, a Greenberg Traurig attorney representing the Hemp Industries Association …
Inside the University of Florida Blueberry Breeding Program
By Patricio Munoz and Doug Phillips The University of Florida (UF) blueberry breeding program has a long history of pioneering the development of southern highbush blueberries (SHB) that can thrive in Florida’s hot, humid climate. The breeding program focuses on developing varieties with high yield, good fruit quality and early ripening within a shrinking market window. The success of Florida’s …