By Clint Thompson Salibro nematicide provides Florida vegetable growers another new tool in the toolbox when managing nematodes. Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, discusses Salibro and its impact on the soil pests. “We have this new nematicide called Salibro which …
Downy Mildew Remains Key Threat to North Florida Watermelon Crop
Downy mildew disease remains the most important threat to North Florida watermelons, a couple of weeks into harvest season. That’s the assessment made by Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. The disease has not “blown up” this year, and Hochmuth attributes that to growers being proactive …
Tomato Field Day Shows Off Latest Research
In mid-May, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center hosted a tomato field day to showcase research being conducted at the facility. The event was well attended, filling up several wagon loads of people who made their way through six field stops that focused on nematodes, tomato breeding, fertilizer recommendations, …
Overview of Florida’s Peach Industry
By Clint Thompson Adequate chilling and warm temperatures in early spring helped Florida’s peach crop to develop as they should. As a result, growers enjoy a productive season with this year’s crop. “We had a normal year in terms of chilling, with the accumulative chilling in November and December. They bloomed in the middle of January, and they had enough …
Florida’s Challenging Tomato Season Impacted By Hurricanes, Unfavorable Markets
By Clint Thompson One Florida tomato grower’s assessment of this year’s crop focused on the plethora of challenges that state’s producers had to contend with. Whether it was from hurricanes in the fall to unfavorable markets, the challenges were on multiple fronts and impacted production for Tony DiMare and other Florida producers. He discussed this year’s crop in an interview …
Stone Fruit Field Day: High Density Orchards the Future of Florida’s Peach Industry
By Clint Thompson The Stone Fruit Field Day at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, Florida, on May 7 introduced attendees to the future of the state’s peach production. Research plots focused on peach production in high density orchards. It’s a research study that highlights more planted …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Chlorpyrifos Ban to Begin
By Frank Giles and Clint Thompson Fruit and vegetable growers who use chlorpyrifos are reminded that the insecticide can only be applied to food crops until June 30, after which continued use will be banned. Grower Guidance University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers advise producers that the products that contain chlorpyrifos are “unlikely to be …
Florida Blueberry Summer Grower Meetings Scheduled for July
By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry growers can mark their calendars for this summer’s grower meetings, set for three dates and locations in July. This summer’s meetings will be held on Tuesday, July 8, at the Polk County Extension Office in Bartow, Florida; Thursday, July 10, at the Hardee County Extension Office in Wauchula, Florida; and Thursday, July 17, at the …
So Far, So Good: Florida Blueberry Harvests Strong
By Clint Thompson A prolonged dry spell is not unexpected for Florida’s farmers this time of year. It does present ideal weather conditions for the state’s blueberries to be harvested. Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Blueberry Extension Coordinator, discussed the current harvest season. “It’s good picking weather, because you definitely want the berries …
North Florida Watermelon Progression
By Clint Thompson The sooner that watermelons in the Suwanee Valley can be harvested and marketed this year the better for North Florida producers. That time frame looks to be around mid-May, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. If the current hot and dry weather …


















