Submitted by Gene McAvoy, Regional Vegetable Extension Agent IV Emeritus with UF/IFAS “Up to the end of Feb our growers were having a banner year and it looked like this season would be one of those homeruns that come around every 5-6 years.” Here is a report that I prepared on the state of S Florida ag and shared with …
Managing Fusarium Wilt Disease in Watermelons
By Clint Thompson Watermelon growers can protect their investment against fusarium wilt disease before they transplant, according to Bhabesh Dutta, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable plant pathologist at the UGA Tifton campus. CHECK FOR SYMPTOMSDutta emphasizes that it’s important for growers to check their seedlings before planting for any type of wilting symptoms associated with fusarium wilt. “If …
Southeast Pecan Industry Continues to Face Challenges
By Clint Thompson The pecan industry in the Southeast faces several challenges in remaining sustainable for the foreseeable future, according to Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist. Obstacles including increased competition from Mexico, the trade war with China, and parts of the Southeast region still recovering from 2018’s Hurricane Michael have contributed to decreased market prices. “A …
Turn Field Losses into Profits
By Lisa Johnson and Rebecca Dunning Nobody likes to be wasteful, but if it’s costlier to save something than to throw it away, a business owner is going to head for the garbage can. For fruit and vegetable growers, chemical destruction and tilling under are oft-used options near the tail end of a harvest. These practices occur even when product …
Sneak Peek: September VSCNews Magazine
The September issue of VSCNews magazine is packed with harvest-related information. University of Florida (UF) researchers Jeff Brecht and Steve Sargent provide the best methods for tuning up your packing and cooling facilities. The authors share some tips to ensure your product can flow smoothly through your facility. Florida watermelons faced a tough season, but higher market prices may save …
Potential for Commercial Vanilla Production in Southern Florida
By Alan Chambers Think about your favorite desserts like ice cream, cookies, cream-filled pastries and chocolate. These indulgences are the perfect end to an otherwise healthy meal, or a guilty snack when no one’s looking. Many of our favorite desserts include a common, yet irresistible, vanillin flavor extract from the “bean” of the vanilla orchid. Vanillin has enhanced the sensory …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Getting Food Dollars Back to Farms
By Frank Giles When you tackle a big topic like the Specialty Crop Grower Magazine’s August cover story on inflation in agriculture, it is impossible to fit all the information related to the issue in the limited space of a magazine. Sharply rising inputs and production expenses have been a challenge for growers dating back to COVID. They have had …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Producers Speak Out on Skyrocketing Production Costs
By Frank Giles and Clint Thompson Inflation has touched consumers and businesses across the spectrum in the United States. It has been particularly problematic for farmers trying to remain profitable in a business where margins are tight. “Inflation is a very concerning problem and has impacted all of agriculture in a significant way,” said Tony DiMare, president of DiMare Fresh. …
Blueberry Farmer Discusses USMCA, Mexico
By Clint Thompson Ryan Atwood may be one blueberry farmer in Florida, but he speaks for many Southeast specialty crop growers who believe change needed to be made to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). That change could be on the way. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer issued a statement on July 1 that indicated the United States did not agree to …
UF/IFAS Extension Agent Recaps North Florida Watermelon Season
By Clint Thompson Watermelon harvests have come and gone for North Florida producers in the Suwannee Valley Region. A challenging start to harvest season ended positively for growers, explains Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “I think that, overall, the season has been okay, and I …