By Clint Thompson The audience may change but the message remains the same for Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) President Mike Joyner. Imports are taking a toll on Florida’s vegetable and specialty crop producers. The future of his growers’ livelihoods is in jeopardy if immediate action is not taken. Joyner’s message was shared this week during the annual FFVA …
Teaching AI: UF/IFAS, FAMU Awarded $1.4 Million Grant
A $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation includes funding for student fellowships. Faculty from the University of Florida and Florida A&M University (FAMU) will train a diverse workforce for potential careers in artificial intelligence (AI). The UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and FAMU will collaborate to recruit and retain traditionally underrepresented students in AI-related education and …
Growers Beware: Strawberry Producers Be Prepared for Chilli Thrips
By Clint Thompson It is not a question of if chilli thrips will be a problem for Florida strawberry growers this year but when will they be? According to Sriyanka Lahiri, UF/IFAS Assistant Professor of Entomology and Nematology at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, producers can expect to see infestations early in the season, not long after plants …
Moisture Available for Alabama Strawberry Growers Preparing to Plant Upcoming Crop
By Clint Thompson Excessive rainfall this summer has provided much-needed moisture for North Alabama strawberry producers preparing to plant this year’s crop, says Eric Schavey, Regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama. “We’ve got some good moisture now for working ground up and getting ready to lay plastic for strawberries. We’re kind of liking that,” said Schavey, who’s responsible for Blount …
Florida Blueberry Growers Remain Cautiously Optimistic
By Clint Thompson Increased blueberry imports may have snatched away some of Florida growers’ market share, but they haven’t taken away the producers’ optimistic outlook. That’s evident with some of the larger growers establishing new plantings, says Doug Phillips, University of Florida/IFAS Blueberry Extension Coordinator. “I would say from a market perspective, imports into the U.S. continue to be a …
Calculating Calcium: Georgia Onions Could Benefit From Additional Application
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s onion crop can benefit from additional calcium applications. That’s the messaged relayed by Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Coolong presented information during a recent UGA Extension Vidalia Onion meeting. Since Georgia’s onion crop is grown on sandy soils, calcium can be at lower levels than they …
Artificial Intelligence: Could Be Secret Weapon for Florida Tomato Producers
By Clint Thompson The Florida tomato industry struggles to stay afloat amid rising imports and a decreasing labor force. Artificial iIntelligence (AI) may be the secret weapon to help Florida growers combat these significant challenges, says Nathan Boyd, Associate Center Director of the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center and Professor of Horticulture and Weed Science. “Production wise, it’s …
Wet Weather: Central Alabama Having Increased Plant Disease Pressure
By Clint Thompson Like other areas in the Southeast, central Alabama was not immune to the impact felt from a saturated summer. According to David Lawrence, regional Extension agent for commercial horticulture in middle Alabama, the wet weather led to disease issues in multiple crops. “We saw a lot of bacterial spot on peaches this year, a lot more than …
Rubio Blasts White House for Ignoring Harm to Fruit, Vegetable Producers
Miami, FL — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released a statement after White House Director of the National Economic Council, Brian Deese, touted artificially low fruit and vegetable prices that harm American growers: “In an effort to defend the White House from criticism over the impacts of historic and worsening inflation, President Biden’s top economic advisor shockingly welcomed artificially low …
Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference Returning to In-Person Format
By Clint Thompson It is never too early to start thinking about the upcoming Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, scheduled for Jan. 6-9, 2022, in Savannah, Georgia; especially since it will be an in-person event next year. The annual meeting was held virtually this past January due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, Charles Hall, executive director of the …