By Clint Thompson Blueberry harvests are only days away for some growers in Florida. Location will determine when producers will start harvesting fruit, believes Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. “Some places will start picking early March, depending on the location. Some of the South Florida farms that didn’t have a …
Florida Blueberry Harvests Should Begin Soon
By Clint Thompson Blueberry harvests are only days away for some growers in Florida. Location will determine when producers will start harvesting fruit, believes Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. “Some places will start picking early March, depending on the location. Some of the South Florida farms that didn’t have a …
U.S. Drought Monitor Update: Florida either Abnormally or Moderately Dry
Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor showed minimal dry conditions in Georgia and Alabama, while Florida is mostly abnormally dry or moderately dry. In Alabama, the only abnormally dry area is located in the southern half of Houston County. In Georgia, the dry conditions are located mostly in the southeast area of the state. The abnormally dry conditions start …
Irrigation Tips for Florida Farmers
By Ajia Paolillo As the season moves from winter to spring, the irrigation requirements of citrus trees change. Typically, February through May is the drier time of year in Florida with low rainfall amounts in most areas. However, during this period, the trees are actively producing leaves and flowers, setting fruit, and pumping resources to the growing fruit during cell …
Dry Conditions Spread in Florida
Drought-like conditions continue to lessen in Alabama and Georgia, though dry conditions are now prevalent in most of Florida, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. A severe drought is observed in north Florida, in Taylor, Madison, Hamilton, Suwannee, Columbia, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Dixie and Levy counties. A moderate drought is also observed in surrounding counties in north Florida, including, Baker, Nassau, Duval, …
Neopestalotiopsis Widespread in Southeastern Strawberries
By Clint Thompson Neopestalotiopsis disease has been widespread across strawberry fields in the Southeast. It started in Florida and has continued in South Carolina. Natalia Peres, professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, said the increase in disease infestations is not surprising. “It’s not surprising considering we’ve had some weather like some …
Drought-Like Conditions Expanding in Florida
Drought-like conditions continue to lessen in Alabama and Georgia, though dry conditions are now prevalent in most of Florida, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. A severe drought is observed in north Florida, in Taylor, Madison, Hamilton, Suwannee, Columbia, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Dixie and Levy counties. A moderate drought is also observed in surrounding counties in north Florida, including, Baker, Nassau, …
Rain Helping Decrease Drought Levels Across Southeast
By Clint Thompson Heavy rain events in recent weeks have lessened the drought-like conditions being experienced across the Southeast. The timing couldn’t be better with planting season just around the corner. “You want to go into the growing season with good soil moisture,” said Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist. Specialty crop producers are getting their share of …
Florida Strawberry Grower: Sitting on Heavy Fruit Load, But It’s Green
By Clint Thompson Strawberry harvest season continues across South Florida. If the temperatures will increase and the weather stays consistently warm, the current harvests will increase in quantity, believes producer Matt Parke. “We are sitting on a heavy fruit load, but it’s green. It’s been so cool over here we haven’t come on to that February push yet,” Parke, farm …
Florida Peaches Running Behind Schedule
By Clint Thompson The Christmas freeze event brought much needed chill hours to Florida’s peach crop. But it still lags behind historical averages, according to Jose Chaparro, associate professor in the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). He said the crop this year will be delayed as a result. “We’re significantly behind. It looks like our bloom …