By Karla Arboleda While the road to hemp production is still under way, University of Florida (UF) researchers are analyzing the risk it poses for invasion. Researchers began digging deeper into what future hemp growers and consumers can look forward to through the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. Susan Canavan, a post-doctoral agronomy researcher …
‘It’s More Than Just Work’
University of Florida Extension Agent Gene McAvoy retires. If you ask any Florida grower if they know who Gene McAvoy is, they’ll probably reply with a smile and say “yes.” That is the kind of impact McAvoy has had in his 22-year run as an Extension agent in Hendry County, Florida. On July 31, McAvoy officially retired from the University …
Webinars to Focus on Food-Safety Crisis Communications
By Karla Arboleda The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) and the United Fresh Produce Association have teamed up to host a webinar series on how producers can prepare to handle a food-safety crisis. The Crisis Communications Webinar Series hosted and led by several crisis management experts from Washington, D.C., will cover what aspects to consider when encountering events …
VSC Expo Presentations Now Available
The 2019 Vegetable & Specialty Crop (VSC) Expo saw great success as growers piled into the Lee Civic Center on Aug. 15–16 in North Fort Myers, Florida. Attendees experienced a dynamic trade show and seminar sessions tailored toward vegetable and specialty crop growers. The educational program, titled “Growing Stronger,” featured presentations on the latest research from the University of Florida …
Managing Sweet Corn Silk Flies
Silk flies are a major pest for South Florida sweet corn growers, but Julien Beuzelin, assistant professor at the University of Florida’s Everglades Research and Education Center, is working to lessen the threat these pests pose. He gave an overview of his silk fly research at the recent Vegetable & Specialty Crop (VSC) Expo. According to Beuzelin, there are three …
Florida Producers Escape Some of Dorian’s Devastation
Hurricane Dorian turned out to be a storm full of surprising twists and turns. What was once supposed to decimate Florida’s east coast as a category four storm stayed hundreds of miles off land and continues to move up the Atlantic coast. Florida lucked out with Dorian since the storm shifted gears over Labor Day weekend. As for Florida, reports …
Dorian’s Swing Threatens 770,000 Acres of Ag Land in Florida East Coast Counties
GAINESVILLE, FL (UF/IFAS) — Hurricane Dorian began its much-anticipated northward swing Tuesday morning and is now expected to skirt Florida’s Atlantic coast, threatening a dozen coastal counties that are home to 9 million residents and more than 770,000 acres of agricultural land. Though most agricultural production in these counties occurs 10 miles or more inland, crops could be lost to …
Keeping an Eye on Dorian
Update Sept. 3, 2019: After being stalled over the Bahamas for the majority of the holiday weekend, Hurricane Dorian is expected to start moving north today, still staying off the east coast of Florida. Gary England from the University of Florida released another update this morning about how the storm may impact northeast Florida as it slowly starts heading north: …
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Censky on the Tomato Suspension Agreement
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Steve Censky recently visited a California winery to discuss the importance of ratifying the U.S-Mexico-Canada Agreement. In a phone interview with AgNet West’s Taylor Hillman before the event, Censky discussed the recent approval of a new tomato suspension agreement. Hear Censky’s full comments: Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundNovember 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril …
Potential Hurricane Damage to Southern Highbush Blueberries
In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, the Florida Blueberry Growers Association has sent out an article by University of Florida experts detailing the potential damage blueberry growers could experience in Hurricane Dorian. Read the article here. Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundNovember 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024SECURE FUNDING NOW | USDA-Sponsored Farming Project Underway in the …