By Clint Thompson Pepper weevils are once again a problem for pepper growers in the Southeast. Weevils are a problem wherever present, whether it is in high populations or low populations. “Anytime you have pepper weevil it’s a problem and in very low populations because of the contamination. High populations can cause fruit abscission. It can hurt your yields considerably. …
USMCA Set to Enter Into Force July 1
By Clint Thompson The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will enter into force July 1. Unfortunately, it’s still without much protection for vegetable and specialty crop producers, according to economists and industry leaders. Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association President Mike Joyner hopes that will change soon. “When Congress passed USMCA, we unfortunately did not get the provisions we were hoping for …
Cloud-Based Technology Helps Farmers Count Citrus Trees
By: Brad Buck, 813-757-2224 (office); 352-875-2641 (cell); bradbuck@ufl.edu In his quest to find the right drone and other artificial intelligence to help ensure citrus growers get an accurate count of their crop, Yiannis Ampatzidis and his research team have developed a system known as Agroview. The technology saves farmers time and money and helps them accurately count their trees, which …
UF/IFAS Extension Agents Working Together to Better Serve Citrus Growers
By: Ruth Borger, 517-803-7631, rborger@ufl.edu LAKE ALFRED, FL — Florida’s citrus growers have long benefited from productive relationships with UF/IFAS Extension commercial citrus agents who work in central and Southwest Florida. And it’s about to get better. UF/IFAS Extension commercial citrus agents operating in Hillsborough, Polk, Highlands, DeSoto, Hardee, and Manatee counties are launching a new newsletter. They hope to …
Georgia Watermelon Season Kicks Off June 3
May 27, 2020 — LAGRANGE, GA – Sweet, refreshing Georgia watermelon is coming to a store near you in early June. The 2020 watermelon crop is expected to have the crisp, sweet flavor and high quality unique to Georgia watermelon. While Georgia has had a cool spring, consumers should still start seeing Georgia Grown watermelons in stores the first week …
UF/IFAS Researchers Try to Reduce Fruit Drop, Increase Yield in Valencia, Hamlin Oranges
By: Brad Buck 813-757-2224 (office); 352-875-2641 (cell); bradbuck@ufl.edu UF/IFAS citrus scientists Tripti Vashisth and Fernando Alferez are trying to reduce the amount of fruit that drops from Hamlin and Valencia trees prior to harvest. If fruit drops, growers can’t harvest it, and that leads to losses for farmers and less fruit at the market for consumers. Normally, about 10% to …
Sneak Peek: June 2020 VSCNews Magazine
By Ashley Robinson Policies and regulations can impact a farmer’s ability to make a living. The 2020 Florida, Georgia and Alabama legislative sessions have officially wrapped up, and the June issue of VSCNews magazine will tell readers how agriculture fared in each state. Adam Basford, director of state legislative affairs for Florida Farm Bureau, discusses the successes and progress that …
Mexican Imports Still a Concern for American Farmers
By Clint Thompson Mexican imports of produce into the United States continues to be a problem for American farmers. They especially felt the sting this year amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Southeast growers had to overcome a declining market when restaurants and schools closed in March for fears of COVID-19. They also were overshadowed by the constant influx of Mexican …
Watermelon Shortage Keeps Prices Up for Famers
By Clint Thompson Times have changed in the past two months for watermelon farmers in the Southeast. When farmers in Alabama, Florida and Georgia began planting their crop in late winter and early spring, the coronavirus pandemic struck and created a cloud of uncertainty for growers. What would harvest season look like? Would there be customers to purchase the crop? …
New UF Researcher Brings Latest Research Techniques for Integrated Pest Management
By: Robin Koestoyo, Koestoyo@ufl.edu FORT PIERCE, Fla. — The first time Tolulope Morawo heard about the ability of beneficial insects to protect food crops from pest insects, he knew he had found his lifelong career. In 2009, Morawo learned from a lecture that phorid flies kill fire ants by laying their eggs inside the ants. When the next generation …
