By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon growers should be cautious about powdery mildew disease heading into the upcoming season. Its potential resistance to fungicide applications has industry experts like Nick Dufalt wary with the start of the season just a couple of months away. Dufalt, a plant pathologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, talked …
Paper Mulch Provides Incredible Potential for Southeast Watermelon Farmers
By Clint Thompson Paper mulch is a management option that watermelon producers could be using in the near future. While plastic mulch has long been utilized in vegetable production, paper mulch provides growers a more efficient and effective product to use during the season. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent …
Anxious Season Ahead for North Florida Watermelon Growers
By Clint Thompson An exciting but anxious season awaits watermelon farmers in the Suwanee Valley region of North Florida. That is the mindset shared by one industry expert who is concerned about what a potential increase in acres will mean for the market in the spring. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized …
Florida Bamboo Growers Association Hosts Second Annual Meeting
The Florida Bamboo Growers Association (FBGA) recently held its second annual meeting at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma. The meeting was well attended and provided educational content for its burgeoning membership. The association is growing quickly, expanding its membership by 63% from the first year. FBGA …
On the Horizon: Chlorothalonil Spray Applications Could Soon Be Reduced
By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers should be wary that the number of chlorothalonil spray applications could soon be reduced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Nick Dufalt, a plant pathologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), discussed the issue at the recent Suwanee Valley Watermelon Institute meeting in Fanning Springs, Florida, on Nov. …
Nasty Nematodes Can Steal Yields if Not Monitored and Managed
By Frank Giles Estimates vary, but plant-parasitic nematodes take a huge bite out of global agricultural production and profits each year. An often-cited figure is that the many species of the pest cause about $125 billion worth of crop losses each year. That equates to roughly 5% of crop yield losses globally. There are about 20,000 described species of nematodes, …
North Florida Watermelon Update: Increased Acres Likely in 2024
By Clint Thompson Watermelon acreage is expected to increase next spring in the Suwanee Valley Region in North Florida. A successful 2023 season has prompted producers to consider increasing their crop when planting begins in February. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, spoke at the Suwanee …
Attention Florida Blueberry Growers: What to Remember During Freezing Weather
By Clint Thompson University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) experts caution Florida blueberry growers about the potential for low temperatures this time of year and what management options they need to be concerned with. Doug Phillips, UF/IFAS blueberry Extension coordinator at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, emphasizes the importance of eyeing weather forecasts every …
South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline: Whitefly Populations on Rise in Areas
Whitefly infestations are increasing in some areas across southern Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Crop scouts in southwest Florida have observed whitefly numbers are up again following rainfall, as levels are moderate overall. Whitefly migrations have been reported from mature fields into younger fields in certain areas. Pressure is increasing from low to moderate levels …
FAE General Session Covers Wide Range of Topics
By Frank Giles The Florida Ag Expo (FAE) kicked off its educational program with a welcome from Rob Gilbert, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) dean of research and interim head. Gilbert said the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), where the Expo is held, embodies the university’s commitment toward investing in technological advancements. GCREC …



















