Here’s a snapshot of HLB data being evaluated in global citrus-producing areas.
Preliminary Reports in COVID-19 Impact Survey Show Effects Vary by Industry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As University of Florida economists cross the halfway point in their surveys of Florida’s agriculture and marine industries related to the impacts of COVID-19, initial reports indicate that impacts vary widely across industry types in terms of business closure rates, operations changes, and impacts to sales revenues and employment. In one of the five surveys of the …
UF Researchers Find Promising New Treatment in Fight to Beat Citrus Greening
By: Ruth Borger, (517) 803-7631, rborger@ufl.edu GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida researchers have discovered another possible solution to the plague of citrus greening that is impacting Florida’s citrus groves. This new information adds to the growing portfolio of knowledge that UF scientists are amassing to fight the disease. Led by UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences microbiology and …
Sneak Peek: May 2020 VSCNews Magazine
By Ashley Robinson The May issue of VSCNews Magazine targets the best pest management practices for growers. Researchers from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are already looking ahead and making plans to see what more can be learned about growing hemp in Florida, as they reach the midpoint of their pilot project. Lourdes Rodriguez, …
Long Drought Leads to Water Restrictions in One Florida County
By Clint Thompson A water restriction has been placed on one Florida county because of the long drought. Gene McAvoy would not be surprised if more restrictions will follow. On Friday, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and Lee County announced mandatory irrigation restrictions. According to the press release, the restrictions were to address low aquifer levels. They went …
UF Weather Alert Website for Farms now Mobile-Friendly, Among Other Updates
By: Kirsten Romaguera, 352-294-3313, kromaguera@ufl.edu GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) just relaunched its website with a new look and additional user-focused features. It is a University of Florida-operated service aiding agricultural decision-makers statewide since 1997. “Our main goal in revamping the site was to make it more efficient for users,” said Rick Lusher, UF/IFAS project manager …
Managing Nematodes in Potatoes
By Ashley Robinson There are a variety of nematodes that damage Florida potatoes. These plant-parasitic nematodes are small, microscopic roundworms that feed on plant tissue, causing severe damage to growers’ crops. To combat nematode populations, researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have been testing new nematicide products. ONGOING FIELD TRIALS Nematicide application is …
UF Surveys to Identify Impact of Pandemic on Florida’s Agriculture Industry
By Kirsten Romaguera, kromaguera@ufl.edu GAINESVILLE, Fla. — With agriculture and marine industries occupying a large portion of Florida’s economy, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) wants to better understand how measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are impacting these sectors. Starting today, faculty from the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics (FRE) department are deploying …
COVID-19 and Food Safety: Fact and Fiction for Food Production
By: Ruth Borger, University of Florida LAKE ALFRED, Fla. — Consumers are being bombarded with tips for what to do with their groceries during the coronavirus crisis. Leave them in the garage for three days? Wash the produce with soapy water? Wipe all packaging down with disinfectant wipes? Listen to the science, say University of Florida Institute of Food and …
North Florida Watermelon Farmers Bracing for Unpredictable Season
By Clint Thompson The watermelon season in Florida has already soured and a huge chunk of the state’s crop has yet to be harvested. Prices for South Florida watermelons started at a robust 40 cents per pound but have since dropped to 12 cents amidst a deflated market during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to Mark Warren, University of Florida/IFAS …