See how the Florida Citrus Research Foundation continues its support of A.H. Whitmore Foundation seed source block.
Registration Underway for Florida Ag Expo
By Clint Thompson Registration is underway for this year’s Florida Ag Expo, scheduled for Nov. 18 at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Wimauma, Florida. Florida Ag Expo is a partnership between AgNet Media, Inc. and the UF/IFAS. Vegetable and specialty crop producers interested in attending can …
Flooding Impact Contaminated Produce Should be Discarded
By Clint Thompson Hurricane Ida’s recent devastation in parts of Louisiana and the Southeast should remind vegetable and specialty crop producers about the danger of flood waters. Especially as growers produce their fall crops, the produce is in danger of becoming contaminated during a major storm or even hurricane, like Ida, says Kristin Woods, Alabama Regional Extension agent, who specializes …
Update on Hop Variety Trials, Breeding
By Zhanao Deng, Shinsuke Agehara, Hugh Smith, Gary Vallad, Johan Desaeger, Zhengfei Guan, Jack Rechcigl and Simon Bollin In 2015, the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) began field trials to grow hops in Central Florida. A research and Extension team consisting of approximately 20 faculty and staff members (Figure …
Commissioner Fried Encourages Producers to Apply for Pandemic Assistance
Tallahassee, Fla. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced updates to a pandemic assistance program for agriculture producers. The updates to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP2) include expanded eligibility and increased flexibility. USDA has set a deadline of Oct. 12, 2021 for eligible producers to apply or modify CFAP2 applications. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and …
UGA Specialist on Citrus Greening Disease: Stop it Before it Starts
By Clint Thompson The citrus greening disease that has decimated Florida citrus production has one University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist concerned about its potential impact in Georgia. Jonathan Oliver encourages Georgia producers to quickly dispose of infected trees if any are found. “Really, it’s important that before we get very much greening or very much …
Why This Lifelong Citrus Grower Is Taking a Deep Dive Into Regenerative Agriculture
Brad Turner has a passion for learning. His new focus: alternative means of growing Florida’s signature crop.
Secret Weapon? Newest Citrus Disease Tool Could be Found in Citrus Micobiome
LAKE ALFRED, FLA — The tiny microbes that reside in citrus trees could be the key to growers’ success against citrus diseases, like citrus canker. University of Florida researchers hope to discover how microbes may benefit citrus trees, and the end result may be an environmentally friendly and sustainable way to control plant pathogens. Â Nian Wang, professor of microbiology …
Sneak Peek: September 2021 VSCNews Magazine
By Clint Thompson The September issue of VSCNews Magazine highlights issues discussed at this year’s Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo on Aug. 18-19 in Fort Myers, Florida. Imports, H-2A improvements, carbon markets, COVID-19 impacts and an update on the current Tomato Suspension Agreement were a few of the topics discussed during the Ag issues session. Issues like whitefly management, …
Alabama Trying to Contain Citrus Canker
By Clint Thompson How citrus canker arrived in Alabama is still in question. What is certain is it is an issue the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries is determined to contain before it becomes a major problem, says Kassie Conner, director of the Auburn University Plant Diagnostic Lab during a recent webinar on the Alabama Extension Commercial Horticulture Facebook …