By Clint Thompson Early season insecticide applications to manage whiteflies are key for Florida cucurbit growers hoping to manage this annual pest. Jawwad Qureshi, an entomologist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, discussed the importance of not delaying treatments at the Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo. It could have disastrous results. “These are an important …
USDA Announces Details for Census of Agriculture
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2022 – Southeast specialty crop farmers will soon have the opportunity to be represented in the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county and territory. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will mail the 2022 Census of Agriculture to agriculture producers across the region this fall. The 2022 Census of Agriculture will be mailed …
Solid Crop Needs to Survive Rust Mites
By Clint Thompson Citrus growers in North Florida and South Georgia are expected to start harvesting in early November. While the crop still looks promising, producers need to keep an eye on rust mites, says grower Kim Jones. “Rust mites can still be a real danger at this point. With fresh fruit, we’ve got to have a pretty piece of …
All In For Citrus Podcast, August 2022
The August episode of the All In For Citrus podcast takes listeners on a deep dive into the use of plant growth regulators like gibberellic acid (GA) to help fight fruit drop. The episode features an in-depth conversation between Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, and Tripti …
Tropical Fruit Production: Start with Clean Plants
By Clint Thompson Tropical fruit production remains an option for South Florida producers. But there are inherent risks that accompany with producing these crops in the southern region of the state. Jonathan Crane, associate center director and tropical fruit specialist at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center, highlighted the challenges with producing passion fruit, lychee and avocado during last …
Guava Root-Knot Nematode More Aggressive, Reproduces Faster
By Clint Thompson The guava root-knot nematode can reproduce faster and be more aggressive than other nematode species. Those are two factors that all specialty crop producers should be mindful of. Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, discussed his findings with …
Registration Deadline for Tomato Conference
Florida tomato growers and industry leaders have until Monday, Aug. 29 to pre-register for the upcoming Florida Tomato Conference. It is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 7, at the LaBelle Civic Center in LaBelle, Florida. The cost is free for employees of Florida tomato growers/packers, sponsors, presenters and university affiliates. The cost is $50 for other attendees. Registration after Aug. 29 …
USDA to Invest up to $300 million in New Organic Transition Initiative
WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced details this week of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $300 million investment, including with American Rescue Plan funds, in a new Organic Transition Initiative that will help build new and better markets and streams of income for farmers and producers. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the number of non-certified …
Minimize Mite Pressure in Citrus
Hot temperatures and dry conditions in some parts of the Southeast add up to ideal conditions for mite populations to increase in citrus groves. Lauren Diepenbrock, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences assistant professor and entomologist, said citrus can tolerate some spider mite pressure. Increased pressure, though, can leave an impact. “You can handle some amount of …
Florida Organic Blueberry Production a Challenge
By Cint Thompson Interest in organic blueberry production in Florida has waned in recent years. The late freeze event in January was not helpful in convincing growers to convert production. Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida, discusses the state of the industry in Florida. “Growers have converted a few acres in some cases to …