By Clint Thompson Georgia’s delayed start to the watermelon season is North Florida’s gain. With serious volume from Georgia’s crop not expected until next week, growers in the Suwanee Valley are taking advantage, though they are quickly winding down with their own crop. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in …
A New Ilarvirus in Florida Tomatoes
By Ozgur Batuman and Salih Yilmaz Ilarviruses can infect both herbaceous and woody plants and are known to be transmitted by pollen and seed with varying efficiency. Thrips have been associated as vectors of ilarviruses since they create wounds during feeding that can serve as entry points for virus particles carried in or on infected pollen. Tobacco streak virus (TSV) …
Combining UV light, Predatory Mites Could Help Manage Strawberry Pest
Strawberry growers can use ultraviolet light and predatory mites to help control a devastating, but new University of Florida research adds a cautionary note. This integrated approach to managing twospotted spider mites comes as helpful information for growers in Florida’s $400 million-a-year strawberry industry. Sriyanka Lahiri, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) entomologist, first found …
North Florida Melon Producers Benefitting from High Market Demand
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon growers are in prime position to reap the benefits of the current market demand. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, explains how his region’s producers want harvests to remain fruitful as long as possible. “With the demand so strong, South …
North Florida Melon Producers Reaping Benefits of High Demand
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon growers are in prime position to reap the benefits of the current market demand. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, explains how his region’s producers want harvests to remain fruitful as long as possible. “With the demand so strong, South …
Promoting Florida Grape Products
By Maegan Beatty Throughout the U.S., there are over 28,000 farms growing grapes on over 1.1 million acres. The top grape growing states are California, Washington, New York and Oregon. While Florida is not included on this list, the grape industry is rising in popularity due to the agritourism opportunities. Some of these opportunities include grape vineyards and wineries. In …
Southeast Production: Rindworm Management in Watermelons
By Clint Thompson Watermelon producers in the Southeast should be wary of the presence of rindworms in this year’s crop. Insecticide sprays are available for growers who need to control populations of the various worm species like corn earworm, fall armyworm and beet armyworm. Intrepid and Coragen insecticides are ideal choices for farmers to utilize, according to Bob Hochmuth, University …
Eyeing AI Advancement
By Frank Giles Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around and in our collective conscious for a long time. The Steven Spielberg-directed movie by the same name is more than 20 years old. But, not until recently, has the talk of AI’s potential and dangers really ramped up. You may have played around with ChatGPT (chat.openai.com), which is a large language …
Sneak Peek: June 2023 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
The June issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine puts the spotlight on Lipman Family Farms which is celebrating 75 years. It prioritizes people, which includes its large workforce and the desires of consumers it serves. The company has navigated through various economic challenges, which includes rising input costs, especially labor. Elyse Lipman, chief executive officer of Lipman Family Farms, discusses …
Protecting Against ‘Wildfire’: Melon Growers Should Be Wary of Downy Mildew
By Clint Thompson Recent rainfall events in North Florida have watermelon producers on high alert from disease pressure building up. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, cautions growers against downy mildew disease as harvests continue across the region. “I expect that the weather pattern here is …