The October issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights blueberries and how global blueberry production is challenging the domestic market. Increased production in other countries challenges Southeast production to supply the demand. Zhengfei Guan, associate professor of economics with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences says over the past 15 years, global blueberry production has more than tripled, increasing to 2.7 billion pounds in 2023.
Also pertaining to the blueberry crop, don’t miss out on recommendations for blueberry scale management in North Carolina. Lorena Lopez, assistant Extension professor of entomology and plant pathology with NC State University, published a paper on scale management and highlighted some key points, including how sanitation helps reduce the spread of scale.
Hydrogen cyanamide applications in blueberry have long been a staple for producers. The plant growth regulator helps stimulate more uniform bud break in deciduous plants. Florida blueberry grower Ryan Atwood talks about its use in blueberries, why timing and rate are critical and how different weather conditions impact results.
In other news, the University of Georgia (UGA) is a breeding ground for ag innovation. Ag technologies are at the forefront of research, whether it is through the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture (IIPA), which launched in 2022, or the UGA Grand Farm which broke ground in May. George Vellidis, UGA professor and director of UGA IIPA recognizes the need for the ag community to embrace artificial intelligence.
Trade and tariffs were hot topics this year at the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association Conference in Orlando. A panel discussion discussed the new Trump administration and trade.
Video Component
Don’t miss this month’s bonus video coverage in the interactive digital edition of Specialty Crop Grower magazine.
VIDEO: How to achieve profitability in today’s blueberry market. (page 9)
VIDEO: Ben Albritton, 2025 Citrus Achievement Award winner, discusses various topics pertaining to the citrus industry. (page 25)
VIDEO: Watch a clip about prompt engineering in citrus. (page 31)