By Frank Giles Invasive pests are a particular problem for specialty crop growers in the Southeast. Insects find their way through various ports of entry, and the region’s climate is often conducive to their survival and reproduction. A relatively new pest that is on the move and has growers and the research community on notice is Thrips parvispinus. The pest …
Management Options for Florida Blueberry Growers in November
Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, is advising blueberry growers about management options they need to consider during November. Producers should continue monitoring and managing leaf diseases, especially in evergreen systems. It is the time for blueberry farmers to begin monitoring for blueberry gall midge. They can use bucket traps (3 …
CUPS Expensive but Beneficial
The benefits of implementing citrus under protective screen (CUPS) could be major for growers in the cold-hardy region. But they first must overcome the major limiting factor associated with the system — its cost. Arnold Schumann, a professor of soil fertility and water quality at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education …
Strawberry Plant Pathologist Appreciates Nurseries’ Transparency with Neopestalotiopsis
By Clint Thompson Strawberry growers are risking this year’s crop by growing plug plants impacted by Neopestalotiopsis disease. One industry expert applauds the communication between the nurseries and potential buyers about the risk to this year’s crop. “For one thing I really appreciate the nurseries for being up front and transparent as they’re being. I don’t think we used to …
Pineberry Still Appealing to Consumers
By Clint Thompson More than three years after the pineberry started gaining traction as popular Florida-produced berry, interest in the specialty crop continues to grow, according to Wish Farms Director of Marketing Amber Maloney. “We love growing the pineberries. We see excitement on the retailer side, still,” Maloney said. “When we first introduced it, it was something brand new. It …
Correct Diagnosis Needed to Differentiate Phytophthora From Neopestalotiopsis
By Clint Thompson Strawberry production is underway across the Southeast. Though much of the region is in the midst of prolonged dry conditions, disease management figures to play a pivotal role for growers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. One disease that producers need to be mindful of is phytophthora. Amid the overwhelming concerns farmers had about neopestalotiopsis prior to planting …
Disease Concerns for Georgia Growers
Not all citrus disease concerns center around huanglongbing (HLB). While HLB disease garners much of the headlines because of its devastation to Florida’s citrus crop, growers in the cold-hardy citrus region should be mindful of other diseases that can devastate a crop if left untreated. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, highlighted some of …
Herbicide Plus Fertilizer Equals Fewer Weeds, More Tomatoes
A combination of herbicide and fertilizer can prevent nutsedge from impacting tomatoes, according to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). That should mean more of the vegetable going to the grocery store and your kitchen. An increase or decrease in tomato production is critical because it’s a $400 million-a-year industry in Florida. Growers want to control …
Hurricane Milton Aftermath: Florida Ag Expo Cancelled
Hurricane Milton’s extensive damage to Florida’s agriculture community has led AgNet Media and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to cancel this year’s Florida Ag Expo event, originally scheduled for Nov. 7 at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida. The hurricane has caused widespread damage to crops, greenhouses and farm …
Florida Ag Sector Asked to Share Impacts of Hurricane Milton
The Florida agricultural sector has been asked to share the adverse impacts of Hurricane Milton last week. Producers can complete a survey, or they can also report information to their local University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension county offices by calling or visiting in person. Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key on Oct. 9. …



















