By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP Danny Johns is growing the same crop on the same land as his great grandfather did when he started farming in Hastings a century ago. PURPLE SWEET POTATOESBut Johns was immediately interested when University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agent Wendy Mussoline invited him to look at purple sweet …
2022 Hurricane Season off to Slow Start, but Keep Your Guard Up
By Frank Giles The main hurricane prognosticators both predicted the 2022 season would be above normal. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted 20 named storms. Colorado State University also predicted an above normal season with 19 named storms. But, so far, this hurricane season has been slow. In fact, for the first time since 1997, the month of August …
Roe Honored during Citrus Packinghouse Day
Over 60 citrus industry representatives gathered Aug. 25 for the 61st annual Packinghouse Day at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. They heard updates on H-2A visa options for packinghouse workforce needs, an overview of citrus fruit export requirements and an update on food safety auditing. Faculty from UF/IFAS presented …
Census of Agriculture Surveys Coming Soon
Farmers and ranchers across the country will soon have the opportunity to be represented in the only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county and territory. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail the 2022 Census of Agriculture to millions of producers across the 50 states and Puerto Rico this fall. It will be mailed in phases, starting with an …
Weed Control: Know What’s Problematic in Your Field
By Clint Thompson Weed control is vital to a specialty crop producers’ success. They contend with crops for water, nutrients and sunshine. So, wouldn’t it make sense for growers to know what specific weeds are causing problems in their fields from year to year? That’s the argument that Ramdas Kanissery, weed scientist and assistant professor at the University of Florida …
Early Season Insecticide Applications Key in Managing Whiteflies
By Clint Thompson Early season insecticide applications to manage whiteflies are key for Florida cucurbit growers hoping to manage this annual pest. Jawwad Qureshi, an entomologist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, discussed the importance of not delaying treatments at the Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo. It could have disastrous results. “These are an important …
USDA Announces Disaster Area From January Freeze
This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts. …
Solid Crop Needs to Survive Rust Mites
By Clint Thompson Citrus growers in North Florida and South Georgia are expected to start harvesting in early November. While the crop still looks promising, producers need to keep an eye on rust mites, says grower Kim Jones. “Rust mites can still be a real danger at this point. With fresh fruit, we’ve got to have a pretty piece of …
Guava Root-Knot Nematode More Aggressive, Reproduces Faster
By Clint Thompson The guava root-knot nematode can reproduce faster and be more aggressive than other nematode species. Those are two factors that all specialty crop producers should be mindful of. Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, discussed his findings with …
Increased Rainfall Projected This Week for SE
Increased rainfall is expected this week throughout the Southeast (SE), according to the University of Georgia (UGA) Extension Climate Blog. Most areas in the region should receive at least an inch of rain, says Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist. Southwest Alabama could see additional rainfall from the remains of Potential Tropical Cycle 4. Areas along the East …