By Gary Vallad Southern blight is a severe disease of vegetables that favors warm and wet weather common to production in the Southeast. The disease is caused by the soilborne fungus Athelia rolfsii (synonymous with Sclerotium rolfsii), which has a broad host range of over 1,200 plants. Since the phaseout of methyl bromide, outbreaks of southern blight have increased on …
Florida Meetings Increase Hemp Hype
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) recently held a series of workshops on the status of an industrial hemp industry in Florida. Since the passage of the 2018 farm bill, growers throughout the state have been wondering how and when they can begin producing the crop. The question-and-answer meetings were designed to address uncertainties and introduce a …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on Florida Hemp Bill Signed Into Law
Tallahassee, Fla. (FDACS) – SB 1020, the state hemp legislation was signed into law. Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offered the following statement: “Tonight’s hemp bill signing marks a transformation in Florida, and a critical step on the journey to creating a green industrial revolution, strengthening agriculture with an alternative crop of the future, and expanding access to safe, quality CBD …
Final Hemp Rulemaking Workshop Held in North Florida
Tallahassee, Fla. (FDACS) – Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried joined key Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services officials to host the third public hemp rulemaking workshop at the R.A. Gray Building in Tallahassee. Today’s workshop was the third and final in a series of three events which took place in South, Central, and North Florida designed to ensure anyone interested in …
Second Hemp Rulemaking Workshop Held in Central Florida
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried joined key Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) officials to host the second public hemp rulemaking workshop at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. “The goal of these workshops is to hear from the public on the coming state hemp program — to create a successful and inclusive program. It’s essential that we …
Meetings on Algae, Citrus and Water Management Ring Alarms for Florida Agriculture
Three meetings this week in three different areas of the state brought more discussion that should wake up producers and others in agriculture who have remained mostly silent for decades. As the state’s population continues to swell by a 1,000 new residents each day, Florida’s population will likely exceed 22-million next year. As the nation’s third most populous state, there’s …
Florida Craft Beer Industry Growing With Hops
By Karla Arboleda Breweries and drinkers alike can thank researchers for the way craft beer is turning out in Florida. While the deep Southeast normally does not have an ideal climate for growing hops, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) has been on a mission to make it work. …
Florida Commercial Hemp Production Not Yet Approved
By Karla Arboleda and Abbey Taylor Industrial hemp could be the next cash crop in Florida. However, there are many details to complete and hoops to jump through before growers can get their hands on the hemp. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Hemp Pilot Program strives to give growers the answers they need regarding …
It’s Watermelon Time in North Florida!
The watermelon harvest is now getting into full swing in the north-central Florida region. Visiting a field plot trial with the Enza Zaden seeds team this week, I had the opportunity to meet one of our Southeast AgNet radio listeners at his farm in Trenton, as the harvest crew was doing the first crown cut of one of his fields. …
Fighting for Florida Ag in D.C.
Each year, Florida Farm Bureau (FFB) gives its members the unique opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to advocate for Florida agriculture to their legislators. Farmers and ranchers from throughout the state attended the Field to the Hill event last week along with FFB state staff. AgNet Media’s Abbey Taylor was able to tag along with the Farm Bureau members …