A Fair Fight for Florida Farmers

Web AdminProduce, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

By Jack Payne New plant varieties give Florida farmers a fighting chance in an increasingly competitive global market. University of Florida (UF) public scientists give Florida growers first shot at fruit that stands up to the latest disease, survives harsh weather and catches the eye of shoppers in the produce aisle. Those plant varieties are intellectual property — inventions in …

Using Plants to Fend Off Pests

Web AdminOrganic, Pests, Top Posts, Vegetables

Trap-cropping is an organic method to combat pests that has been tested with several different crops in Alabama. Ayanava Majumdar, an Extension entomologist for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, has recently been testing different trap crops in yellow squash. Last year, he studied sorghum and sunflower to combat leaffooted bugs and stink bugs in vegetable systems. This year, he is …

National Peach Council Update

Web AdminPeaches, Top Posts

By Jaci Schreckengost An update and outlook on the peach industry was presented at the 2018 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Kay Rentzel, managing director of the National Peach Council, spoke with AgNet Media following her presentation at the conference in January. She discussed topics such as promoting the peach industry and widening the scope of demographics of peach …

Blueberry Variety Update

Web AdminBerries, Research, Top Posts

The University of Florida’s (UF) blueberry breeding program has been bringing growers new varieties for over 40 years. Patricio Munoz, assistant professor at UF and head of the blueberry breeding program, recently highlighted two varieties released in 2016, Keecrisp and Patrecia. According to Munoz, Keecrisp is a very crisp variety, hence the name. This variety creates a firm fruit. “It’s …

Hole-Punch Technology Dramatically Reduces Herbicide Use

Web AdminResearch, Top Posts

By Nathan S. Boyd and Arnold Schumann The majority of vegetables grown in Florida are grown on raised, fumigated beds covered with plastic mulch. This production technique has been widely adopted because the combination of plastic mulch and drip tape improves water and fertility efficiency. The use of plastic mulches has many additional benefits, including improved crop quality, reduced water …

Disease, Pest Research Increases for Georgia Grapes

Web AdminGrapes, Research, Top Posts

By Jaci Schreckengost Research at the University of Georgia (UGA) is becoming more focused on wine grapes as the industry continues to grow in Georgia. White County Extension Coordinator and Natural Resources Agent Nathan Eason says UGA’s current entomologist is putting a lot of effort into research on wine grapes for growers. The elevation in Georgia varies depending on the …

Post-Irma Root Rot Concerns in Georgia Peaches

Web AdminPeaches, Top Posts, Weather

Most of the nation is aware that the Florida citrus industry suffered greatly when Hurricane Irma made landfall in September 2017. The storm resulted in approximately $760 million in citrus damage. In addition, the Florida fruit and vegetable industry sustained about $180 million in loss. By the time Irma reached Georgia, it had weakened substantially, going from a hurricane to …

Improving Nematode Management for Vegetable Crops

Web AdminPests, Research, Top Posts, Vegetables

By Jaci Schreckengost Integrated nematode management for vegetable crops is an ongoing project at one University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research center. Johan Desaeger, an assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), said researchers are looking for more sustainable management strategies. Current research efforts include new in-field products …

Spider Mite Management Methods

Web AdminPests, Research, Top Posts

If the weather is hot and dry, growers will want to keep an eye out for spider mites. According to Ayanava Majumdar, an Extension entomologist for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, high populations of spider mites can devastate vegetable crops. There are several different types of spider mites, including twospotted mites, russet mites, rust mites and broad mites. All of …

Sneak Peek: April 2018 VSCNews Magazine

Web AdminSneak peek, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

Growers are constantly striving to cut costs while creating the best product possible. The April issue of VSCNews magazine features an article by University of Florida (UF) researchers Nathan Boyd and Arnold Schumann about a new technology that could drastically reduce the use of herbicides. Also featured in the April issue is an article by Jack Payne, University of Florida’s …