By Julien Beuzelin Fall armyworms and corn silk flies are the main insect pests of sweet corn in Florida. Management relies primarily on insecticides, but the two pests represent different challenges. Fall armyworm infestations can be devastating if left unmanaged. However, several registered insecticides such as methomyl (Lannate, Nudrin), chlorantraniliprole (Coragen, Vantacor) or spinetoram (Radiant) are very effective at maintaining …
‘Unknown’ Future for Florida Tomato Industry Following Freeze
By Clint Thompson The Jan. 30 freeze event that impacted numerous specialty crops across Florida has created an ‘unknown’ outlook for the tomato industry. Josh Freeman, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor in horticultural science, discusses what the damage sustained by tomatoes in the southern part of the state means for production in north …
Rabbit Management: Conserve Habitat for Predators
By Clint Thompson Management of a South Florida pest starts with conserving the habitat for its predators. That’s what sugarcane and vegetable producers need to keep in mind when managing rabbit wildlife. “I’m going to quote a gentleman who heard about our (rabbit) workshop. He’s a producer in the western United States, and he said they had similar problems out …
Row Crop Farmers Starting to Grow Citrus
Citrus acreage continues to increase across the North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama regions. Interest has expanded to large row crop farmers, who see citrus as a viable alternative crop, said Kim Jones at the Feb. 17 Citrus Health Forum meeting at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences North Florida Research and Education Center. Jones …
Minor Damage Reported on Florida Blueberry Crop Following Freeze
By Clint Thompson Florida’s blueberry crop appears to have dodged the proverbial bullet that was the Jan. 30 freeze event. That’s the outlook shared by Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, following weeks of conversing with farmers. “Of all the growers I’ve talked to across the state, almost all of them, …
Blossoming Future for Vanilla in South Florida?
By Clint Thompson There is potentially a bright future for the vanilla industry in South Florida. Strengthened by a recent grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and renowned research from Alan Chambers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Tropical Research and Education Center, the prospects of vanilla production …
Florida Watermelon Industry to Feel Impact of Freeze
By Clint Thompson The late-January freeze event that devastated some specialty crops in Florida likely impacted watermelon plants already in the ground. South Florida producers start planting in late December, so much of the crop was at least a month old when it encountered sub-freezing temperatures on Jan. 30. How that will impact the crop in North Florida and South …
Rabbit Problem to be Discussed at UF/IFAS Meeting
Rabbit populations have spiked in the Florida Glades. A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) workshop on Friday, Feb. 18 will address the current problem and what management options are available for producers. Richard Raid, a professor in plant pathology at UF/IFAS , and Robert McCleery, an associate professor in the UF Wildlife Ecology and Conservation …
Specialty Crop Producers Needed for UF/IFAS Survey
Attention Florida’s specialty crop producers. Researchers and Extension agents at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are seeking participants to complete a brief survey regarding the use of high tunnels for specialty crop production. Specialty crop producers will provide information to help identify research and Extension needs to improve the industry in Florida. The survey …
UF/IFAS Researchers Creating an ‘Artificial Intelligence Connoisseur’
A computer may not be able to taste a tomato or blueberry, but it can tell University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural (UF/IFAS) scientists which volatiles in those fruits make them taste good. UF/IFAS breeder and geneticist Marcio Resende wants to create what he calls an “Artificial Intelligence Connoisseur,” a model that tells researchers which chemical compounds produce …