Tater Farms has worked to diversify its crop mix and is finding new tangerine plantings are progressing well in more northern climes of the Sunshine State.
Seeking Profits With Hemp
By Ernie Neff The fact that growers will be able to legally grow industrial hemp in Florida doesn’t necessarily mean the crop can be grown successfully, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) official says. “There is a huge interest in industrial hemp in the state of Florida,” says Jerry Fankhauser, assistant director of the UF/IFAS …
Managing Gummy Stem Blight in Watermelon
By Ashley Robinson Gummy stem blight (GSB), also known as black rot, is a common issue for watermelon producers in the Southeast. Didymella bryoniae, the fungus that causes GSB, favors warm and humid weather, leaving the Southeast growing region susceptible to the disease’s devastating effects. If not managed well, it can cause significant yield loss for growers. RECENT ISSUES Over …
Growers and Representatives Meet in Immokalee
By Ernie Neff State representatives Byron Donalds and Bob Rommel met with citrus and vegetable growers at a Dec. 16 discussion in Immokalee about local agricultural issues. The event was hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center. Donalds said he wants to be sure IFAS recommendations, on which …
Fumigation for Soilborne Pathogens in Strawberries
By Ashley Robinson Since the phaseout of methyl bromide, charcoal rot, caused by the pathogen Macrophomina, has become a growing issue for Florida strawberry growers. For years, soil fumigation with methyl bromide was the preferred method to manage soilborne pathogens such as Macrophomina. However, because methyl bromide was categorized as a Class I ozone-depleting substance, its production and use have …
Managing Cucurbit Diseases
By Ernie Neff University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences doctoral student Andrew Shirley suggested ways to control three cucurbit diseases at Florida Ag Expo in November. Shirley is pursuing his degree at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, site of the Expo. He shares highlights of his presentation in an interview with Southeast AgNet’s Tacy Callies. …
Start the New Year at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference
By Abbey Taylor Every year, southeastern produce growers kick off the new year at the annual Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference (SERFVC) in Savannah, Georgia. The SERFVC will take place on Jan. 9–12 at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center. Featuring a top-notch trade show and extensive educational sessions, the event is organized by the Georgia Fruit and …
Grafted Watermelon Seedlings Could Benefit Growers
By Ashley Robinson Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are studying grafted watermelon seedlings because of the advantages they can provide to growers. The grafted seedlings, an intentional fusion of plant parts, are resistant to fusarium wilt and tolerant to cold temperatures. “This is kind of an additional tool to use if you do …
Current Data Shows Glyphosate Is Not Linked to Cancer
By Ashley Robinson The world’s most widely used weed killer has been under review by researchers and agencies after being accused of causing cancer. Public concerns have been on the rise since 2015 when the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reclassified glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, as a probable carcinogen. Roundup, the world’s most commonly used herbicide, …
Anhydrous Ammonia: A Potential Addition to the Fumigation Toolbox
By Ramdas Kanissery and Pamela Roberts Soil fumigation is a fundamental step for successful commercial crop production in Florida under intensive conventional systems. It has been regularly used on crops such as vegetables, strawberries and potatoes. Soil fumigation is one of the most successful means of reducing soil pathogen and weed populations and is typically applied as a pre-plant soil …