By Clint Thompson Students interested in earning a Ph.D. in plant breeding can now turn to the University of Florida/IFAS as their collegiate home. The Florida Board of Governors granted approval to the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to start a Ph.D. Plant Breeding program, which will begin in August. “We certainly have had a long history of …
Final Citrus Forecast Released
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its final citrus production forecast on Monday. The 2020-2021 Florida orange forecast is 52.8 million boxes, edged out by California’s 54.5 million boxes. Texas oranges remained at 1.05 million boxes. Click on citrusindustry.net to see about in-depth forecasts for oranges, grapefruit, lemons and tangerines. The first forecast of the 2021-2022 season will be released …
UF/IFAS Appoints Rechcigl as Director of Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
DAVIE, Fla. – The University of Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS FLREC) has a new director. Jack Rechcigl was appointed the FLREC director effective July 8. “I am excited to be the new director and look forward to working with the amazing faculty and staff and continue to make this a world-renown research center focusing on …
Cover Crops: Benefit Now and in the Future
By Clint Thompson Most South Florida vegetable and specialty crop producers don’t utilize cover crops during the summer. University of Florida/IFAS research might change that philosophy in the future. Phillip Williams, an assistant professor at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, has a year and a half of research data that point to multiple advantages that cover crops …
Costly Concerns: High Inputs, Freight Costs, Pallet Prices Worry Farmers
By Clint Thompson What had Southeast producers concerned in late spring and early summer has not changed in early July. High input costs, increased freight rates, outrageous pallet prices; all add up to a challenging time to produce vegetable and specialty crops. “We’re very concerned about it. Freight rates haven’t really backed off yet. We don’t know what’s going to …
Weather Update: Wet, Wet, Wet
By Clint Thompson Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor tells farmers something they already knew – it is wet across the Southeast region. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows sufficient moisture in Alabama, Georgia and most of Florida. Only a portion of Miami-Dade County in Florida shows abnormally dry conditions. “They’re not even showing any abnormally dry conditions in Georgia …
Government Subsidies: Mexico’s Advantage Leads to Increased Imports
By Clint Thompson One of the key factors in Southeast producers’ fight against increased imports are subsidies. Growers and industry leaders have said for years that the Mexican government provides subsidies to its producers. Farmers can afford to sell their produce at low prices or literally dump them in the U.S. if they are supported financially. University of Florida Associate …
UF/IFAS study links fertility, nutrient loss in organic soils to archaeal microbes
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — High nutrient loss in the Everglades Agricultural Area is not uncommon. University of Florida scientists now know why. In research conducted by assistant professor Willm Martens-Habbena and his team at UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center in collaboration with a team at the Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade, they demonstrate how high …
Cause for Concern: Blueberry Producers Be Wary of Algal Stem Blotch Disease
By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry producers need to stay vigilant in maintaining their blueberry bushes for the upcoming year, says Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida. One of the key diseases that growers need to protect against is algal stem blotch. It’s not a typical fungus disease so normal synthetic fungicides are not effective. …
Florida Citrus Growers Watching the Tropics
We are well over a month into the 2021 hurricane season. Tropical Storm Elsa is reminding us exactly what can happen in the state of Florida this time of year. Executive Director of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association (HCCGA), Ray Royce, says with summer here, eyes now turn to the weather. As for Tropical Storm Elsa, warnings and watches …