Temperatures are increasing across Florida. Unfortunately, so is the risk for citrus greening disease. While the southern and central portions of the state remain vulnerable to Huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening, and Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) – the vectors that cause the most economically damaging citrus disease in the world – growers in North Florida and South Georgia are still …
Citrus Interest Growing in North Florida, South Georgia
Interest in citrus continues to spike in North Florida and South Georgia. Georgia acres have doubled over the past year. North Florida has increased by another 300 to 400 this spring, says farmer Kim Jones, who owns a citrus packing facility in Monticello, Florida. “We’re seeing a whole lot of acres being planted. It’s hard to get trees. We’ve had …
Kelly Morgan Named New Director of UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center
By: Beverly James, 352-273-3566, beverlymjames@ufl.edu GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As Best Management Practices Coordinator for the state, Kelly Morgan has spent years helping growers find optimum ways to irrigate and fertilize their crops to maximize results. Now, he will get the chance to coordinate even more groundbreaking research. The University of Florida has named Morgan the new director of the UF/IFAS …
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 …
Drought Monitor Update Across Southeast
The Aug. 13 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor provided updated drought conditions across Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Florida Florida’s dry conditions range anywhere from extreme drought to abnormal drought. Extreme drought in North Florida includes all or parts of Gilchrist, Suwanee, Columbia, Union, Bradford, Clay, Putnam and Alachua counties. Extreme drought down the west coast includes all or parts …
Drought Monitor Update Across Southeast Region
By Clint Thompson The August 6 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor showed updated drought conditions across the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Florida Extreme drought continues to be observed in various areas in Florida. One is located in the northern part of the state in all or parts of Gilchrist, Suwanee, Columbia, Union, Bradford, Clay, Putnam and Alachua …
New AEWRs Announced for Southeastern States
The adverse effect wage rates (AEWRs) have been updated by the U.S. Department of Labor for agricultural occupations. The new rates for H-2A workers are based on the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. This significantly impacts producers in the Southeast, especially in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. For Florida the new AEWRs for field and …
Freeze Protection Discussed at Southeast Georgia Citrus Update
Freeze protection is a vital part of university research in the cold-hardy citrus region. Growers in South Georgia, South Alabama and North Florida only have to look back to last season to see temperatures that dropped to dangerously low levels for citrus production. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed freeze-protection measures at the …
UGA Extension Hosts Southeast Citrus Workshop
A part of Georgia’s citrus crop lies in the southeastern part of the state. Aubrey Shirley, University of Georgia (UGA) Tattnall County Extension coordinator, believes that portion is continuing to grow. The main threat to that growth is citrus greening disease. “If we get greening really bad and it starts to hinder production, I think the industry is so young, …
Drought Update Across Southeast Region
By Clint Thompson Drought-like conditions continue to decrease across the Southeast, according to the July 23 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Florida In Florida, extreme conditions still persist in the northern part of the state, though the western counties in the Florida Panhandle, including Escambia, Santa Rose, Okaloosa, Walton and Holmes, have sufficient moisture. Extreme conditions have been reduced …