Florida Freeze

Blueberry Tour Illustrates Devastation of Florida Freeze

Dan CooperCrop Insurance, Fruit

After a week and a half, the full scale of damage that the late January/early February freeze has inflicted on Florida blueberries is beginning to unfold. This was seen in a damage assessment tour (Feb. 10-11) organized by the Florida Blueberry Growers Association and North American Blueberry Council. The tour focused on farms in North and Central Florida. One of …

Postfreeze Psyllid Populations Reduced

Dan CooperFlorida, Freeze, Georgia, Psyllids

Southeast citrus growers hoping that the Feb. 1 freeze would wipe out the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) population are going to be disappointed. “What we do know about freezes is a lot of time they will reduce or delay the buildup of many of the populations of pests that we worry about,” said Lauren Diepenbrock, University of Florida Institute of …

What is Happening? Clemson Extension Agents Provide Specialty Crop Updates

Clint ThompsonSouth Carolina

Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Midlands Rob Last Sarah Scott Pee Dee Brittney King Upstate Andy Rollins Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and Strength to Sweet Corn Pest ManagementJanuary 1, …

North Florida Watermelon Plantings Expected in Couple of Weeks

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson It is the second week in February which means North Florida watermelon plants are expected to be planted in a couple of weeks. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, discussed the planting scenario facing growers in his region. “There are definitely transplants that …

Botrytis a Disease Threat For Freeze Damaged Blueberries

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Florida’s blueberry farmers sustained damage from the freeze event that impacted the region during the Feb. 1 weekend. They now must protect their crop from disease buildup, especially one in particular, says Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). “We always see a certain amount …

Florida Farmers Can Start Applying for Disaster Assistance Beginning Feb. 25

Clint ThompsonFlorida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida specialty crop producers can start applying for more than $600 million in disaster assistance for impacts from hurricanes in 2023 and 2024, beginning Feb. 25. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson is also asking the federal government for approval to use Florida’s disaster block grant program to immediately fund relief for agricultural producers impacted by the …

Florida Strawberry Update After Weekend Freeze

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Florida strawberry producers are in the early stages of assessing freeze damage from last weekend’s winter storm. They are confident the crop will rebound after this temporary setback, according to Nick Wishnatzki, public relations director at Wish Farms in Plant City, Florida. “We are still assessing the damage and there has been some damage, not extensive at …

Subscribe to Our Enews

Fill out my online 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

flowering

Expected Freeze Effect on Flowering

Dan CooperFreeze, Production

Tripti Vashisth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor of horticultural sciences and citrus Extension specialist, was part of a question-and-answer session that the UF/IFAS Statewide Citrus Team held for growers last week prior to the weekend’s winter storm. She talked about how low temperatures and high winds could impact citrus flowering. She expressed hope …

Freeze Impact: Florida Blueberry Growers Assessing Damage

Clint ThompsonUncategorized

By Clint Thompson Florida’s blueberry farmers are busy assessing damage sustained from last weekend’s winter storm. While it may not be for some time that growers get a clear picture of how much damage occurred from low temperatures and high winds, it is certain that there was impact. That is according to Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food …