University of Florida research has determined that lawns containing a mix of turf varieties maintained their aesthetic quality longer than lawns with just a single variety. They are better at managing disease and pests. This reduces the need for pesticides, which lowers the environmental impact and financial cost of maintaining turf, said Adam Dale, senior author of the study and …
Downy Mildew Alert: Alabama Cucurbit Growers Be Proactive in Management
By Clint Thompson Florida’s recent diagnosis of downy mildew in lettuce should have Alabama growers on alert about the disease’s eventual movement northward. Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University, discusses why producers should be wary of this disease. “With these moist conditions, that’ll build up the winter nursery …
UF/IFAS, UF College of Medicine Collaborate to Offer Health Screenings for Farmworkers
WIMAUMA, Fla. — A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) statewide health initiative will provide health screenings for about 200,000 migrant farmworkers in Florida. It hopes to provide an underserved population with health-maintenance care, including nutritional information. It all starts Saturday, Jan. 22 in Wimauma, Florida. Any farmworker can take advantage of the free screenings by …
Organic Blueberry Production: Challenging but Profitable
By Clint Thompson Organic blueberry production can be a profitable venture for aspiring producers in the Southeast. While market prices are higher than in conventional systems, growers need to be mindful of the various production challenges. These range from weed control options to selecting the right fertilizer. Gerard Krewer, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia, discusses the obstacles …
Corteva Ridgeback™ Insecticide Effective Against Whiteflies
By Clint Thompson and Frank Giles Specialty crop producers can never have too many insecticides in their management system. Growers will soon be able to add a new insecticide to the toolbox from Corteva Agriscience. Ridgeback™ insecticide should provide farmers in the Southeast another weapon in the arsenal in their annual fight against one destructive pest, says Nathan Alonzo, product …
Effects of Heavy Rain on Pre-Emergent Herbicides in Vegetables
By Ruby Tiwari, Nirmal Timilsina and Ramdas Kanissery Heavy rainfall received in vegetable-growing regions of Florida frequently creates standing water in fields (Figure 1). These farms are often in an early or mid-growing season during such severe weather events. Pre-emergent (residual) herbicides that are integral to vegetable production to suppress weed emergence are applied during this period. Most pre-emergent herbicides …
Dry Conditions Worsen in Some Areas
By Clint Thompson Certain areas of the Southeast continue to feel the sting of lingering dry conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Florida Panhandle is especially abnormally dry. Conditions are worsening in Northwest Florida where Escambia County and Santa Rose County are classified in a moderate drought. Abnormally dry conditions stretch eastward to Nassau County and Duval County …
Blueberry Market Trends and Implications for Growers
By Kimberly L. Morgan The U.S. commercial blueberry industry value of utilized production was $933 million in 2020. An unchanging trend since 1970, the U.S. consumer continues to eat less than 40% of the federal dietary guidelines of fruits and vegetables [U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 2021] and only 12% meet fruit intake requirements (Seung Hee Lee-Kwan et al., 2017). …
Few Slots Remain Open for Executive Farm Management Program
By Frank Giles The Executive Farm Management program, offered by North Carolina (N.C.) State Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension, East Carolina University College of Business and University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, is set to begin on Tuesday, Jan. 18. Blake Brown, an Extension economist with N.C. State, said there’s still time to sign up for the program. Interested growers should act …
2022 SE Regional Conference Event Helps Producers Move Forward
The Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference was just what the doctor ordered for growers yearning to reconnect with fellow farmers and look ahead to the upcoming season. “We are pleased with the continued attendance for this event,” said Drew Echols, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) president. “After our virtual event in 2021, it was encouraging to see our …