Wait and See: Florida Tomato Industry Unsure How New Law Will Impact Labor Force

Web AdminLabor, Tomatoes

By Clint Thompson Florida’s controversial immigration law could affect the labor force available for the state’s specialty crop producers this year. That includes the tomato industry. Michael Schadler, manager of the Florida Tomato Committee and executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, spoke during Wednesday’s Tomato Conference in Labelle. He highlighted the law and how growers could be impacted. …

Wait and See: Florida Tomato Industry Unsure How New Law Will Impact Labor Force

Web AdminFlorida

By Clint Thompson Florida’s controversial immigration law could affect the labor force available for the state’s specialty crop producers this year. That includes the tomato industry. Michael Schadler, manager of the Florida Tomato Committee and executivevice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, spoke during Wednesday’s Tomato Conference in Labelle. He highlighted the law and how growers could be impacted. “As …

U.S. Specialty Crop Coalition Endorses Legislation Addressing Research, Nutrition and Trade 

Web AdminLegislative, Research

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, endorsed legislation that would address major priorities tied to research, nutrition and trade laid out in the group’s 2023 Farm Bill recommendations:  “The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance has …

Vegetable and Specialty Crop Seminar Summaries

Web AdminCitrus and Specialty Crop Expo

By Clint Thompson A plethora of topics were addressed during the vegetable and specialty crop seminar sessions at the Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo. SCOUTING ESSENTIAL Anna Mészáros, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) commercial vegetable Extension agent, kicked off the educational program by providing an update on Thrips parvispinus. She said scouting is a necessity …

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Fill out my Wufoo form! Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and Strength to Sweet Corn Pest ManagementJanuary 1, 2026Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundNovember 1, 2024

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U.S. Rep Introduces Federal Disaster Responsibility Act

Web AdminLegislative

U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack introduced the Federal Disaster Responsibility Act on Sept. 5. She said the bill, which fully funds the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), ensures that block grants are secured for Florida’s growers, among other things. The grants would make sure growers get the necessary tax breaks from hurricane losses they suffered. The bill would also …

USDA Targets Transgenics Against HLB

Web AdminCitrus, Research, USDA

Matthew Mattia recently provided an overview of work at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) transgenic test site in Fort Pierce. Transgenic refers to an organism that contains genetic material into which DNA from an unrelated organism has been artificially introduced. Scientists at the Picos Farm screen transgenics for suppression of citrus Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the bacteria that causes …

Better Watch Out: Neopestalotiopsis Still a Concern for Florida Strawberry Growers

Web AdminDisease, Research, Strawberry

By Clint Thompson Florida strawberry growers are on the brink of planting this season’s crop. One University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) expert is cautioning producers about disease control. One disease specifically comes to mind, says Natalia Peres, professor of plant pathology at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. “I think Neopestalotiopsis is still …