It is no secret that today’s growers are faced with many challenges. The February issue of VSCNews magazine explores how growers can meet some of these challenges.
To be successful in farming requires a great deal of flexibility, determination and endurance. Vegetable grower Chuck Obern, owner of C&B Farms, Inc., embodies these traits and is highlighted in this month’s issue. His problem-solving skills and thirst for knowledge have allowed him to overcome the challenges his farm has faced.
The February issue also includes two articles that address peach production challenges. Kendall Johnson, University of Georgia (UGA) graduate research assistant, and Phil Brannen, UGA Extension fruit disease specialist, tell readers all they need to know about phony peach disease. This uncurable disease has become a significant problem for Georgia peach growers. Researchers at the UGA and U.S. Department of Agriculture are studying early-detection methods for the disease.
Thanks to breeding advancements, peach production has increased notably in the last 30 years in subtropical environments. However, there is still room for improvement in fruit quality. Tripti Vashisth, assistant professor of horticulture at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), discusses a recent study on factors affecting the fruit quality of low-chill peaches.
Figuring out the ideal amount of fertilizer your crop requires may sometimes be challenging. Phillip Williams, assistant professor of vegetable horticulture at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, has advice on this subject in his article that discusses fertilization recommendations for Florida tomatoes.
As production of hemp in Florida begins, diseases will be one of several challenges growers will need to address. Nicholas Dufault, UF/IFAS associate professor of plant pathology, looks at diseases that impact hemp and methods for managing them.
Finally, in the From the Back Forty column, readers will get an inside look at the recent Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference from AgNet Media’s new multimedia journalist, Clint Thompson. The annual event held in Savannah, Georgia, provided education on many key crops (including citrus and hemp) for the Southeast and strategies that will allow growers to become more successful.
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