Strawberry Disease Alert: Florida Growers Be on the Lookout

Web AdminFlorida, Strawberry, Top Posts

By Clint Thompson Florida’s strawberry producers have more than just Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot to worry about from a disease management standpoint. Natalia Peres, professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida/ Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, highlights a couple of additional diseases that growers need to be wary of as production continues this year. “There’s some Phytophthora out …

Florida Snap Bean Conference Postponed

Web AdminFlorida, Top Posts

The Florida Snap Bean Conference, scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 11, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and strict Palm Beach County regulations. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) announced the conference will be rescheduled towards the end of the growing season to provide updates on this year’s research trials. UF/IFAS hopes to schedule a …

Challenges of Florida Strawberry Production

Web AdminFlorida, Strawberry, Top Posts

By Clint Thompson Strawberry production in Florida is not for the faint of heart. So many challenges exist that growers must overcome to remain sustainable. Just ask Florida farmer Dustin Grooms. “If you’ve got a berry field, you’ve got a problem,” Grooms said. Grooms and other farmers are in the middle of another strawberry season. Production has increased some this …

South Carolina Hemp Applications Available Through Feb. 28

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According to The South Carolina Grower, hemp applications are available for interested growers through Feb. 28. Applications must be completed online here. Processor and handler permit applications are also available on the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) Hemp Farming Program website. The SCDA announced that grower permit fees are reduced from $1,000 to $500. The application fee is $100. …

Clemson Drip Fertigation Calculator: More Efficient Method for Farmers

Web AdminIrrigation, South Carolina, Top Posts

By Clint Thompson The Clemson Center Pivot Fertigation Calculator provides South Carolina’s specialty crop producers a more efficient way to inject fertilizer through drip irrigation. The tool, released in late 2020, allows growers to make timely decisions in the field. All they need is the smart phone application (app), says Zack Snipes, Clemson Extension Area Horticulture Agent and Assistant Program …

Algal Stem Blotch Becoming Widespread in Georgia

Web AdminBerries, Georgia, Specialty Crops, Top Posts

By Jonathan Oliver Wet weather during 2021 contributed to the development of several significant disease issues on Georgia blueberries. Throughout the summer of 2021, rainfall across Georgia’s blueberry production belt was considerably above normal, and issues with phytophthora root rot and algal stem blotch were widely reported across southern Georgia during late summer and fall.  Phytophthora root rot is one …

Chemistry Rotation Needed to Protect Peaches Against Plum Curculio

Web AdminAlabama, Georgia, Peaches, Pests, Top Posts

By Clint Thompson Southeast peach producers have a handle on plum curculio management. Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, wants to keep it that way. That’s why the UGA specialist continues to encourage rotation of chemistries to prevent insecticide resistance from occurring. Pyrethroids are growers’ best option for management. But …

Blueberry: Behind the Superfood Status

Web AdminBerries, Florida, Specialty Crop Industry magazine, Top Posts

By Ulschan Bathe and Bryan Leong When people think of superfoods, one of the first things that comes to mind is blueberries. Blueberries are a perennial crop native to North America with global production of around 1 million tons. Their commercial cultivation started in the early 1900s, and breeders have been developing better varieties ever since. The unique look, smell …

Abnormally Dry Conditions Persist Across Southeast Region

Web AdminAlabama, Drought, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Top Posts

The most recent release of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows dry conditions continue to persist across the Southeast region. This was observed in parts of Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Abnormally dry conditions were mostly seen in the Florida Panhandle, stretching from Escambia County eastward to Madison County. Dixie County, Levy County, Gilchrist County and a small part of Alachua County …

UF Research: Environmentally Friendly Way to Control Pest in Strawberries

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BALM, Fla. — University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have discovered a more environmentally-friendly way to control the chilli thrips in strawberries. It includes using less pesticides. With a new, biological control method, farmers could save up to 5,000 gallons a year in pesticides that would be used on the crop, said Sriyanka Lahiri, a …