The University of Florida (UF) Hemp Pilot Project strives to keep growers informed on everything hemp. In an effort to do just that, Zachary Brym, agronomist at the UF Tropical Research and Education Center and Hemp Pilot Project coordinator, has put together a traveling hemp workshop. The first workshop was held on July 30 in Gainesville, Florida. The workshop was …
Southeastern Growers Unite at USMCA Meeting
On July 30, farmers and industry leaders from throughout the Southeast gathered in Lake City, Florida, to discuss the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the lack of protection for Southeastern produce growers struggling to keep up with heavy Mexican competition. “The fight is real,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried in an exclusive interview with AgNet Media Founder and President …
New Hemp Industry Buoyed by CBD Demand
TALLAHASSEE (NSF) — Hemp has been hyped as a lifesaver for Florida farmers, touted as a versatile crop that can be used to build houses, feed livestock and create clothing. But it’s the plant’s healing qualities that have sparked a second cannabis “green rush,” as the state’s hemp program gets off the ground. The nationwide craze for products containing CBD …
Sneak Peek: August 2019 VSCNews Magazine
The August issue of VSCNews magazine explores the latest technology and surrounding issues facing the modern grower. Yiannis Ampatzidis, assistant professor with the University of Florida (UF), discusses up-and-coming smart sprayer technology. He breaks down how the technology works and how it could help growers cut costs. Water is one of the most important ingredients to a healthy crop and …
Potential Impacts of the USMCA on Florida and Georgia
By Karla Arboleda Two individual reports from the University of Florida (UF) and University of Georgia (UGA) say that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) could lead to economic losses in both Florida and Georgia, respectively, if it is ratified by Congress. The renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been ratified in Mexico, and the United States …
VSC Expo Speaker Spotlight: Ozgur Batuman
By Ashley Robinson Florida’s tomato growers seeking the latest information on tomato viruses will not want to miss this year’s Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo (VSC Expo) seminar program. Ozgur Batuman, an assistant professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, will be speaking about tomato brown rugose fruit virus. This newly reported …
Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Industries Collide at the General Session
By Ashley Robinson AgNet Media Inc. is excited to bring the citrus, vegetable and specialty crop industries together for our second annual general session. We invite all growers to attend the general session, where we will kick off the Vegetable & Specialty Crop Expo (VSC Expo), being held in conjunction with the 28th annual Citrus Expo. Topics of broad interest, …
Fusarium Wilt Management in Watermelons
By Karla Arboleda Watermelons this season have suffered through the hot weather, and researchers in Jackson County, Florida, have been seeing mixed results with fusarium wilt management. Josh Freeman, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor of horticultural sciences, works on how to deal with the watermelon disease. “It’s really the primary soilborne disease that growers …
Beneath the Earth, the ‘Black Box’ of Soil Holds a Key to Crop Growth
IMMOKALEE, Fla. (UF/IFAS) — Like much of what lies just beneath the earth’s surface, soil microbes present a mystery. University of Florida scientist Sarah Strauss seeks to help untangle the web of intrigue surrounding soil microbes to improve agricultural production in Florida and globally. “There are microbial activities going on that we don’t exactly understand. It’s known as the ‘black …
How to Deal with Blueberries in Summer
By Karla Arboleda Summer weather is in full swing in affecting Florida crops, and blueberries are no exception. During the summer, algal stem blotch can dominate blueberry fields if not handled quickly and properly. Doug Phillips, blueberry Extension coordinator for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, explains the important steps to take. “In the summer when …