Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Southeast Producers Convene for Annual Conference

Clint ThompsonSpecialty Crop Grower Magazine

By Clint Thompson The Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference drew a large attendance in early January. The annual gathering provides a plethora of educational breakout sessions focused on key fruit and vegetable crops. Here’s a few highlights from those sessions. Peach Presentations Fungicide preservation is the key for Southeast peach producers in managing brown rot disease long term. Demethylation …

Attention Blueberry Producers: SWD Spotted on Multiple Central Florida Farms

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

Florida blueberry producers should be wary that spotted wing drosophila (SWD) has been spotted on multiple farms in central Florida, which is earlier than normal compared to previous years. The Florida Blueberry Growers Association issued an alert to its members on Monday, including recommendations from University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension personnel that producers scout for …

Florida Blueberry Grower: Roller Coaster of Warm, Cold Temperatures

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

By Clint Thompson Weather challenged Florida blueberry production this year. It continues to disrupt harvest plans for growers who have already started picking this year’s crop. “It’s been a roller coaster of warm and then cold; warm and then cold. By the time it gets going, it gets shut down,” said Gary Smith, producer located in Winter Haven, Florida, who …

Seeing Red: Appearance Important Trait in Tomato Breeding

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Tomatoes

By Clint Thompson Tomatoes possess specific traits that growers desire to attract would-be consumers. These include quality, yield, shelf life, etc. Appearance is one, if not, the most important characteristic, says Jessica Chitwood-Brown, assistant professor of horticulture at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida. She spoke …

South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline: Leafminer Activity Increasing

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Leafminer pressure is reportedly high and moderate across certain areas of South Florida. According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, pressure is moderate overall in Southwest Florida. Infestation levels increased to high in some tomato and watermelon fields in the area. Infestations are also moderate and holding steady in watermelon fields along the east coast. Extreme pressure is …

pests

Freeze Does Not Have the Same Effect on All Pests

Dan CooperCold Hardy, Freeze, Pests

The Christmas freeze event in 2022 affected some insect pests in the cold-hardy citrus region more so than others, according to Xavier Martini. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor spoke about his findings during the recent Citrus Health Forum held at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy. Martini addressed …

Blueberry Field Day: Helping Growers Remain Sustainable Now, Into the Future

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry producers hope to remain sustainable now and into the future. That is why Thursday’s Florida Blueberry Growers Association spring meeting and field day at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Plant Science Research and Education Center in Citra, Florida, was so important. UF/IFAS researchers and graduate students provided vital information …

New Agricultural Technology for the Blackberry Industry

Dan CooperAgri-business, Berries, Blackberries, Specialty Crops

By Maegan Beatty Last week, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted an online program to discuss new technologies in commercial crop production. Gilad Freund is an Extension faculty member located in Mop Hahar, Israel. Freund discussed new innovative technologies that are being utilized in the blackberry industry throughout Israel. These new technologies are meant …

Too Much of a Good Thing: Excessive Water a Problem for Florida Strawberries

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Strawberry

By Clint Thompson This year’s strawberry season has reminded Florida growers about the danger of too much water. “Any berry that gets wet, you’re going to start getting botrytis on it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a strawberry, blackberry, blueberry; whatever berry it is, it’s going to start to rot,” said Matt Parke, farm manager of Parkesdale Farms in Plant …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Movement Toward Targeted Weed Management

Clint ThompsonSpecialty Crop Grower Magazine

By Frank Giles There have been two major forces driving innovation in specialty crop agriculture. No. 1 is the challenge growers have in sourcing a dependable workforce to grow and harvest crops. No. 2 is the push to become more efficient and profitable by reducing production costs. Robotics and automation are developing rapidly with promises to help growers address those …