By Frank Giles Hurricane Ian will have far reaching impacts on Florida agriculture. An initial estimate released by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) puts farm losses at between $787 million and $1.56 billion. The storm brought hurricane-strength winds to nearly 1.2 million acres agricultural lands in Florida. Vegetable growers are reporting varying degrees of …
Whitefly Populations Increasing
By Clint Thompson University of Georgia Extension specialists are alerting specialty crop producers that whitefly pressure is on the rise in the Southeast. Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist, said populations have increased in recent weeks. While the increased activity is normal for this time of year, it still is a concern that growers should be …
Beware of Squash Bugs in Cucurbits
By Gene McAvoy The squash bug (Anasa tristis) attacks squash and other cucurbits throughout Central and North America. Several related species in the same genus coexist with squash bug over most of its range, feeding on the same plants but causing much less injury. IDENTIFICATION The adult is dark grayish brown in color, and the abdomen may be marked with …
Mite-y Big Concern: Mites a Problem for South Florida Producers
Mites are widely present in crops across the South Florida region, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Spider mites have increased in cucurbits, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and potatoes around Southwest Florida. Some fields have even required treatments by farmers. Spider mite populations are also high in some cucumber, pepper, tomato and eggplant in fields on the east …