Wage Rate

Sens. Rick Scott and Mike Crapo Urge Freeze to Ag Wage Rate

Dan CooperAgribusiness, Labor, Legislative, Specialty Crops

Sen. Rick Scott joined Sen. Mike Crapo and 14 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Senate leadership urging it include a freeze to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) in the earliest possible legislative vehicle. Joining Senators Scott and Crapo were Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Roger …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Row-Middle Weed Control in Vegetable Plasticulture

Clint ThompsonSpecialty Crop Grower Magazine

By Ramdas Kanissery Battling weeds is a real struggle in vegetable plasticulture production — not just in the plastic mulched planting beds but also in the row-middle spaces between beds (see Figure 1). Weeds in the row middles can compete with the main crop while playing host to insect pests, nematodes and pathogens. Tackling row-middle weeds comes with its own …

Seeing Red: Appearance Important Trait in Tomato Breeding

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Tomatoes

By Clint Thompson Tomatoes possess specific traits that growers desire to attract would-be consumers. These include quality, yield, shelf life, etc. Appearance is one, if not, the most important characteristic, says Jessica Chitwood-Brown, assistant professor of horticulture at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida. She spoke …

South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline: Leafminer Activity Increasing

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Leafminer pressure is reportedly high and moderate across certain areas of South Florida. According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, pressure is moderate overall in Southwest Florida. Infestation levels increased to high in some tomato and watermelon fields in the area. Infestations are also moderate and holding steady in watermelon fields along the east coast. Extreme pressure is …

Labor, Trade Highlight FFVA Letter to USDA

Clint ThompsonFlorida

The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen Florida’s specialty crop industry. The FFVA submitted a letter to the USDA last week, outlining recommendations on how it could better support the state’s specialty crop industry, through the USDA’s Specialty Crop Competitiveness Initiative. The recommendations stemmed from the current challenges Florida growers …

pests

Freeze Does Not Have the Same Effect on All Pests

Dan CooperCold Hardy, Freeze, Pests

The Christmas freeze event in 2022 affected some insect pests in the cold-hardy citrus region more so than others, according to Xavier Martini. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor spoke about his findings during the recent Citrus Health Forum held at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy. Martini addressed …

Blueberry Field Day: Helping Growers Remain Sustainable Now, Into the Future

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry producers hope to remain sustainable now and into the future. That is why Thursday’s Florida Blueberry Growers Association spring meeting and field day at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Plant Science Research and Education Center in Citra, Florida, was so important. UF/IFAS researchers and graduate students provided vital information …

New Agricultural Technology for the Blackberry Industry

Dan CooperAgri-business, Berries, Blackberries, Specialty Crops

By Maegan Beatty Last week, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted an online program to discuss new technologies in commercial crop production. Gilad Freund is an Extension faculty member located in Mop Hahar, Israel. Freund discussed new innovative technologies that are being utilized in the blackberry industry throughout Israel. These new technologies are meant …

Too Much of a Good Thing: Excessive Water a Problem for Florida Strawberries

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Strawberry

By Clint Thompson This year’s strawberry season has reminded Florida growers about the danger of too much water. “Any berry that gets wet, you’re going to start getting botrytis on it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a strawberry, blackberry, blueberry; whatever berry it is, it’s going to start to rot,” said Matt Parke, farm manager of Parkesdale Farms in Plant …