By Clint Thompson Watermelon growers in the Suwanee Valley Region are gearing up for the upcoming season. Their main challenge to a successful season is the obstacle that concerned them all of last year – high input costs. It is a subject that Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in …
Fumigation: Pros and Cons Discussed at Annual Watermelon Meeting
By Clint Thompson Despite stringent regulatory requirements and high costs, fumigation remains a vital tool in a specialty crop producers’ toolbox when managing certain pests. “The reality is there’s just some pests and some crops where that is our most reliable tactic,” said Josh Freeman, an agronomist and regional manager with TriEst Ag Group. “Consider peppers for example. You have …
Emphasis on Economics Aimed at Grower Profitability
By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP Eight new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) economists focused on Florida agriculture will help growers get ahead of what happens in board rooms, government hearings and legislative debates. UF/IFAS provides you with the science to grow the world’s best fruits and vegetables and the knowledge to grow them profitably. …
Citrus Sampling of Varieties Grown in Gainesville
Consumers have different tastebuds that make them prefer certain fruit more than others. What one may like, another may reject. This is especially true in the citrus industry where palate and consumer preference play a role in what varieties growers choose to produce. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) campus in Gainesville hosted a recent citrus meeting …
UF Citrus Varieties Get a Taste Test in Gainesville
Consumers have different tastebuds that make them prefer certain citrus varieties and other fruit more than others. What one may like, another may reject. This is especially true in the citrus industry where palate and consumer preference play a role in what varieties growers choose to produce. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) campus in Gainesville hosted …
Watermelon Institute’s Annual Meeting Educates Producers Ahead of Season
By Clint Thompson The Suwanee Valley Watermelon Institute’s annual meeting in Fanning Springs, Florida on Thursday came at just the right time for the region’s producers. They are about a month away from breaking ground for next year’s crop. The meeting allowed them the opportunity to learn about the latest research at the University of Florida Institute of Food and …
Florida Citrus Bud Advisories Now Underway
Regular flower bud advisories from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) were restarted Nov. 21 and will be provided every other week through early spring. Associate Professor Tripti Vashisth provides the advisories. The advisories provide critical information about the intensity and time of citrus blooms. Growers use this information to determine when to spray for Asian citrus …
Using Light to Control Strawberry Pest
With about 11,000 acres — mostly in west-central Florida — strawberries are worth $399 million annually in Florida. That represents 10% of the national strawberry value and most of the domestically produced winter crop in the United States. Those economic figures make it vital for the state’s strawberry growers to manage pests and diseases effectively. While producers began planting for …
UF Study: UV Lamps Can Control Strawberry Pest
With about 11,000 acres — mostly in west-central Florida — strawberries are worth $399 million annually in Florida. That represents 10% of the national strawberry value and most of the domestically produced winter crop in the United States. Those economic figures make it vital for the state’s strawberry growers to manage pests and diseases effectively. While producers began planting for …
Thinking Outside the Box: Citrus Growers Need to Diversify to Remain Sustainable
If cold-hardy citrus growers diversified their crops and not put all of their eggs in the satsuma basket, it would provide them a better chance at long-term sustainability. It would allow producers an opportunity to combat the negative national stigma concerning citrus juices, says Jude Grosser, a professor of plant cell genetics at the University of Florida Institute of Food …