By Clint Thompson The University of Florida (UF)/IFAS vegetable growers meeting scheduled for April 23 will meet via online beginning at 10 a.m. Those interested in learning about weed management can join via https://ufl.zoom.us/j/831234086. The Meeting ID is 831 234 086. Those interested can also join via mobile: +16465588656, 831234086# US (New York);+16699006833, 831234086# US (San Jose). Due to the …
New Partnerships Emerge for COVID-19 Relief
Florida Farmers Team with State Leaders to Launch Farm to Inmate Program Harvested produce crops feed Florida Department of Corrections’ (FDC) more than 87,000 inmates; action saves food costs while reducing COVID-19 related supply chain impacts. (FFA) — Florida farmers are uncovering new solutions to address supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Florida’s emergency order to shutter businesses …
The Day South Florida Agriculture Changed
Submitted by Gene McAvoy, Regional Vegetable Extension Agent IV Emeritus with UF/IFAS “Up to the end of Feb our growers were having a banner year and it looked like this season would be one of those homeruns that come around every 5-6 years.” Here is a report that I prepared on the state of S Florida ag and shared with …
Crop Insurance Hurricane Endorsement Offered
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has announced a new crop insurance endorsement, Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index (HIP-WI). HIP-WI covers a portion of the deductible of the underlying crop insurance policy when a county, or adjacent county, is within the area of sustained hurricane-force winds. HIP-WI provides coverage for 70 different crops, including all citrus, insured under …
Late Blight Disease Discovered at UF Research Farm
By Clint Thompson Potato and tomato producers in Florida need to be wary of the discovery of Phytophthroa infestans, the causual agent for potato and tomato late blight. Gary England, RSA/Director for the Hastings Ag Extension Center in Hastings, Florida, confirmed that samples collected from the Extension Center site tested positive. He scouted the rest of the affected portion of …
Florida’s Tomato Industry Crippled by Pandemic
By Clint Thompson With restaurants closed across the country due to coronavirus pandemic, little, if any, of Florida’s tomato crop is being harvested right now. Bob Spencer, President of West Coast Tomato in Palmetto, Florida, said his company farms between 3,500 and 4,000 acres every year but estimates that he’s losing 90% of his business right now. Since about 70% …
Hoop Houses Benefit Organic Vegetable Production
By Clint Thompson Hoop houses help protect vegetables from rain-induced diseases while providing organic growers the opportunity to produce a crop throughout the year, according to Elizabeth Little, University of Georgia associate professor and Extension plant pathologist. BETTER QUALITY, LESS SPACEHoop houses, also known as high tunnels, are types of greenhouses that help organic growers produce high-quality crops if managed …
Fruit and Vegetable Producers Already Feeling Effects of Pandemic
By Clint Thompson President Trump signed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) into law on Friday to help provide some financial relief to Americans and jumpstart the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic. Monetary help may be on the way for fruit and vegetable growers in the Southeast, but the effects of the pandemic have already …
Tools for Tomato Weed Management
By Nathan Boyd Weed management programs for plasticulture tomato production in the southeastern United States typically rely on an array of tools to achieve satisfactory weed control. This may include tools such as fumigants, plastic mulches, pre-emergence herbicides, post-emergence herbicides and hand weeding. THE CULPRITS Purple and yellow nutsedge can be especially problematic due to their ability to puncture the …
Tomato Fertilization Recommendations for Florida
By Phillip Williams Tomatoes are grown statewide in Florida in a diverse manner depending on the region of the state. Sandy soils make up the dominant soil type for tomato production in Florida. Sandy soils are prone to leaching mobile nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and even phosphorus by heavy rain or excessive irrigation. Therefore, sandy soils must be managed …