It is the same old story that Florida producers have, unfortunately, grown accustomed to.
Another week, another dose of vegetable imports from Mexico that diminish market prices. Florida farmers continue to take the brunt of financial punishment.
Gene McAvoy, University of Florida Regional Vegetable Extension Agent IV Emeritus, confirmed the dire news that Mexican produce continues to flood the American market, driving down producer prices.
“The only problem is Mexico is dumping a bunch of pepper and tomato. We’re seeing in places like $5 for tomato and $2 to $3 for pepper on consignment. Break-even is somewhere north of $8.50. We’d like to get $12 to $15 a box,” McAvoy said.
“Some of our growers wonder if the fact that the blueberry decision they found against the Southeast blueberry growers, that might have given them the green light to go ahead and do whatever they want again.”
Blueberry Decision
The blueberry decision refers to the verdict rendered by the International Trade Commission that imports did not do serious injury to blueberry’s domestic industry. The commission arrived at the decision despite overwhelming evidence that Mexico and other countries had garnered the market share, while Florida producers struggled to compete.
A main issue with the vegetable industry is Mexico is not simply selling produce, it is ‘dumping’ it for cheap prices.
“The cardboard box that you put the pepper in, in the United States it’s a $1.75, $1.78, somewhere in that vicinity. How do you sell that product for $2 to $3? Their boxes cost as much as our boxes, if not more, you know what I mean?” McAvoy said. “They’re simply dumping, and they get away with it.”
File photo shows tomatoes growing in plasticulture.
Planting season is nearing for Alabama vegetable producers. One system that all farmers need to consider is plasticulture. Plastic mulches can lead to cleaner fruit with much more yields.
Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, discussed the benefits of producing tomatoes in a plasticulture system during a webinar on Tuesday.
It starts with yields.
“Using these plastic mulches just by themselves can result in yields 1.5 to 3 times over average of what you would normally produce,” Kemble said.
Plastic mulches also allow farmers to apply nutrients and water more efficiently, since they would be applied underground.
“It allows you to precisely apply fertilizer and water because you have drip irrigation tape underneath. There’s no other way to get water under there because these are raised beds, so you’ve got to use drip irrigation along with it,” Kemble said.
The use of drip irrigation also leads to cleaner fruit. There is less water splashing on the bottom of the fruit and subsequent splashing up into the plant canopy.
One of its most important features, though, is it allows farmers to reach the market earlier.
“Earliness in the fresh market is typically when you make more money. If I’m a commercial grower and I’m earlier than my neighbor, chances are I’m going to make a little bit more money than they would,” Kemble said.
A plasticulture system can be utilized on various scales, from large-scale farmers to homeowners’ gardens.
“There’s lots of options for people wanting to try something like this,” Kemble said.
Georgia Vidalia onion producers experienced much-needed sunshine last week. It allowed them to get back into the field and apply fertilizer and fungicide sprays, says Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension Area Onion Agent at the Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia.
Photo by UGA/Shows Chris Tyson in an onion field.
“Growers were wide open last week trying to get caught up with fertilizer and with fungicides. I feel like, for the most part, we got caught up or close to being caught up with what we needed to be,” Tyson said. “If we had another rainy week, we would have probably been in trouble then, if we weren’t able to get in the fields last week.”
Plants had been slowed a bit amidst the excessive rainfall Georgia experienced most of February. But they showed encouraging signs of growth during the 70- and 80-degree temperatures.
“I tell you, they really have made some headway in the last week with the warm weather and sunshine. They have grown a lot,” Tyson said. “They have that ability to catch up really fast when we get favorable weather. We are still a little below average on our size of the crop and where we should be, but we’ve gained a lot of ground in the last 10 days.”
Main Concern Now
Tyson said growers’ biggest concern now is staying up to date on their fungicide applications.
“We just want to make sure we’re caught up in managing our diseases with our fungicide sprays to the best of our ability. As we enter into this second phase of the crop where it’s going to start to get big tops and start bulbing, we’re watching for Botrytis and Stemphylium, (Center Rot) and Downy Mildew. That’s the main thing really, that’s on a lot of their minds I think,” Tyson said.
Asian bean thrips (ABT) continue to be problematic for vegetable producers in South Florida. According to the University of Florida/IFAS, populations are increasing consistently across the region.
Reports from the Homestead region indicate Asian bean thrips are the predominate species, though have decreased from 100% ABT to 70% ABT and 30% F. palmi. Other thrips species are increasing north of Homestead. Most farms are reporting thrips infestations besides ABT.
ABT populations increased to 1.0 ABT per bloom in northeastern Hendry County, with an increase during vegetative stages. In the southeastern part of the county, base populations range from 0.2 to 0.8 ABT per bloom in plantings that are at full bloom. Populations of up to 1.3 ABT per bud were also reported. Later plantings have also reached 4.2 ABT per bloom in early pod development.
ABT was reported at 0.4 ABT per bloom in plantings in northern Collier County, reaching 2.2 ABT per bloom in plantings nearing harvest.
Aggressive insecticide programs have slowed populations to 0.3 ABT per bloom in eastern Palm Beach County.
Corn silk fly maggots injure sweet corn silks and kernels.
Photo by Julien Beuzelin, UF/IFAS
By Julien Beuzelin
Corn silk flies are the most damaging insects of sweet corn in southern Florida. Adults of three species(Euxesta stigmatias, Euxesta eluta and Chaetopsis massyla) are commonly observed in commercial fields where they lay eggs on sweet corn silks. Maggots feed on silks and kernels before leaving the ear and falling onto the soil surface, under which they pupate. Adults emerge from the soil ready to mate and lay eggs within days, thus completing the pest’s life cycle.
Corn silk fly maggot infestations and associated injury are responsible for crop losses every year, particularly in the spring. Losses occur because a small proportion of sweet corn loads might be rejected, but also because growers forgo harvest of portions of fields and sometimes entire fields when infestations are expected to lead to load rejections. These losses occur in spite of intensive pest management. In addition, corn silk flies have become increasingly challenging to manage over the past 20 years.
Research conducted at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has focused on determining why corn silk flies are challenging to control and on developing improved management tactics.
PYRETHROID RELIANCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY
Pyrethroids have become the cornerstone of corn silk fly management because effective alternatives in other insecticide classes have been phased out. Chlorpyrifos, methomyl and spinetoram also play a role currently. However, chlorpyrifos, which might lose its registration in the near future, can only be applied at a reduced rate within 21 days of harvest when sweet corn is susceptible to flies. In addition, methomyl has limited residual activity, and spinetoram is extremely expensive. Thus, chlorpyrifos and methomyl are frequently co-applied with pyrethroids to increase efficacy, and spinetoram is seldom used.
Corn silk fly control is challenging because available insecticides are effective only if the insects are exposed to sprays or treated surfaces. Thus, only adults are the targets of management. Maggots and pupae are protected within ears and under the soil surface, respectively. Female adults escaping insecticide control or moving into sweet corn fields from adjacent habitats can lay eggs on susceptible ears, resulting in maggot infestations that cannot be further controlled.
Repeated use of a single insecticide mode of action may lead to the development of insecticide resistance in pest populations. Therefore, pyrethroid resistance is a concern and may contribute to difficulties in controlling corn silk flies.
Graduate student Eric Schwan Resende at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade has recently developedan adult vial assay for corn silk flies. This method involves coating the inner surface of small glass vials with a pyrethroid and introducing adults into the vials for 24 hours to record mortality as affected by different insecticide concentrations. It has been used to determine pyrethroid susceptibility for populations occurring in Florida sweet corn fields.
Seven corn silk fly populations collected in sweet corn fields of the Everglades Agricultural Area and Homestead region in 2020 were evaluated using beta-cyfluthrin as a representative pyrethroid. The LC50, which is the estimated concentration killing 50 percent of the population, was determined for each population.
In the laboratory, researchers are studying corn silk fly adults in vials to learn the effects of insecticide ingestion.
Photo by Victoria Dunkley, UF/IFAS
Two E. stigmatias populations from non-treated experimental fields had LC50s of 0.4 and 0.8 microgram (µg) per vial. Four E. stigmatias populations from commercial fields had LC50s between 1.5 and 3.5 µg per vial. One E. eluta population from a commercial field had an LC50 of 0.2 µg per vial. In addition, one E. eluta population maintained in the laboratory and serving as susceptible reference had an LC50 of 0.02 µg per vial.
These results provide further evidence that E. eluta is more susceptible to pyrethroids than E. stigmatias. Thus, management should be more aggressive if E. stigmatias is present. Results suggest that E. stigmatias populations in non-treated fields are more susceptible to pyrethroids than populations in commercial fields that were intensively treated with insecticides. However, there is little variability in E. stigmatias pyrethroid susceptibility among populations in commercial fields. Thus, difficulties in controlling E. stigmatias are likely the result of high population levels, environmental conditions and the selection of less susceptible individuals in field populations.
THE SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES
Laboratory protocols were developed in 2020 to determine corn silk fly mortality associated with contact and ingestion exposure to insecticides including non-registered active ingredients. Preliminary experiments using E. eluta adults showed that whereas pyrethroids are effective via topical exposure, alternatives including neonicotinoids, diamides, abamectin and indoxacarb do not cause observable lethal effects. Via ingestion of insecticides at 1 percent of high field rates, the non-registered neonicotinoids thiamethoxam, clothianidin and dinotefuran caused 60 to 90 percent mortality.
Although results need to be confirmed, these experiments show that potential alternatives to pyrethroids are not effective via topical exposure. However, some neonicotinoids are effective via ingestion. Thus, these insecticides cannot be direct replacements for pyrethroids, but they should be considered with baits forcing corn silk fly ingestion of insecticides.
CONCLUSIONS
High levels of pyrethroid resistance do not appear to be the main reason why corn silk flies are extremely challenging to control under current sweet corn production conditions. However, observations suggest reduced susceptibility in commercial field populations. Thus, adult vial assays are a newly developed method that will be used routinely to test field populations and monitor for pyrethroid resistance.
With large corn silk fly populations building up, additional insecticides and new modes of insecticide delivery are needed. The use of baits and neonicotinoids have potential to control silk flies and will be further evaluated. In addition to insecticides, UF/IFAS entomologists will continue studying corn silk fly ecology, in particular the role of habitats adjacent to sweet corn fields to reduce or even prevent adult movement from adjacent crop and non-crop habitats.
Acknowledgments: Corn silk fly research is partially supported by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Specialty Crop Block Grants. Crop consultants and Dak Seal (UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead) assisted with insect collections.
Julien Beuzelin is an assistant professor at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade.
COVID-19 adversely affected Florida’s vegetable and specialty crop producers in 2020. The financial impact was staggering, comparable to hurricanes that ravage the region almost every year.
Christa Court, an assistant professor of regional economics at the University of Florida/IFAS, compares the pandemic’s impact to Hurricane Irma, which impacted the state in 2017.
Court
“The one that I typically compare it to is the estimates we have that are relatively comparable for Hurricane Irma. If you remember, Hurricane Irma came straight up the peninsula of Florida and impacted nearly every county that had agricultural production in some way where it was large enough that the tropical storm forced winds covered just about the entire state,” Court said. “That I believe was just over $1 billion. Looking at (COVID’s impact of) $895 million of just that one season, it’s not $895 million for all production that occurred in 2020 but just what was going on in that March-to-mid-May season.
“It’s a significant impact and comparable to some of these larger hurricanes that we’ve experienced.”
As restaurants closed down nationwide, farmers felt the sting of a normal sales outlet not being an available option anymore. Farmers had to think inside the box with their marketing strategies. Many resorted to selling boxed produce direct to consumers. While they didn’t recoup all the profits they would have gotten selling to restaurants, their marketing efforts helped make people aware of the importance of buying American.
North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler praised the state’s agricultural sector for its continued prosperity during the COVID-19 pandemic during his annual State of Agriculture Address.
Troxler
“I am proud of the work that we’ve done to grow agriculture markets, preserve our farmland, protect our food supply and help position the next generation for success,” said Troxler during the address on Feb. 24, streamed on Facebook by the North Carolina Farm Bureau. “I’ve never been more proud of our industry or our farmers.
“I’m proud to say that agriculture and agribusiness continue to rep the state’s No. 1 industry at $92.7 billion,” Troxler said. “I believe we’re on the cusp of becoming a $100 billion industry in terms of economic impact.”
Troxler reports that both pork and poultry exports to China were up 20% in 2020. He also reports that exports of prepared foods have increased from $45 million to more than $400 million over the last 10 years.
North Carolina’s tobacco market has also seen a major turn-around with China coming back into play, purchasing U.S. flue-cured tobacco again. In 2021, contracted pounds are expected to return to over 300 million pounds.
North Carolina’s agriculture industry accounts for approximately 20% of the state’s workforce, which has pushed safety precautions to the top of the Department of Agriculture’s agenda.
“We’re continuing to work on vaccines timetables and when they are rolled out we are in regular communication with state health officials advocate acting for priority status for Ag workers. We continue to advocate for the need to protect these essential first line workers,” Troxler said.
Troxler was joined by Blake Brown, N.C. State University economist, who provided an agricultural economic outlook for the state.
According to Brown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts a decrease in U.S. farm income for 2021. But he predicts North Carolina producers may see an increase this year.
“Despite lower U.S. farm payments, we’re probably going to see our income go up in 2021 because of the improvements that we’re going to see in the animal and poultry industry and because of the improvement that the commissioner mentioned with our tobacco pounds,” Brown said.
Brown also reports strong exports opportunities for pork, poultry, soybeans and corn for 2021, favorable for many North Carolina producers.
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in the The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state.
Weekly Field Update-3/1/21
Coastal
Rob Last reports, “Following a few days of warmer conditions, crops are moving on strongly. Flowering and fruit set is occurring in strawberry crops. At present, spider mites in treated crops are at very low populations, but with warmer weather, populations can increase rapidly. As we are entering flowering and fruit set, sanitation and fungicide applications will be required to keep gray mold managed. Remember to rotate FRAC codes to avoid resistance build-up. Fertigation is being applied and it will be well worthwhile taking a tissue test from crops. Blueberries in the area are showing bud swell with early varieties showing open flower.”
Zack Snipes reports, “With the warm and DRY weather last week and for most of the week this week, farmers have been able to get out and work in the fields. Spring crops are going in the ground where it is dry enough to plant. The warm weather this past week and this coming week will probably push 2020 brassicas to bolt (flower). If you have any left in the fields, it might be best to get them out as soon as possible. Stay on top of sanitation for berries and it’s time to start fertigating them if you haven’t started that already.”
Warm weather can cause collards that have grown through the winter to bolt (flower). This plant is just beginning to develop a flower head. Photo from Zack Snipes.
Midlands
Justin Ballew reports, “We had several beautiful, warm days last week. Strawberry growers used that opportunity to pull the row covers off the fields, allowing the plants to catch some rays. Growth is starting to pick up and I’m seeing many good blooms. The weather conditions are favorable now for Botrytis development (high moisture and temps in the 60s-70s), so we need to begin protecting our blooms with preventative fungicide sprays. Check out this great video put together by Dr. Guido Schnabel’s former student Madeline Dowling for a refresher on the Botrytis life cycle. Download the MyIPM app for more disease and fungicide information. Now is also a good time to start tissue sampling to make sure we’re fertigating the right amounts of nutrients.
Starting to see plenty of blooms on the strawberries around the midlands. Photo from Justin Ballew.
Sarah Scott reports, “Growers took advantage of some sunny, dry weather and continued to apply copper and dormant oil sprays in peach fields to combat potential bacterial spot issues, as well as scale in the coming season. Pruning and orchard floor management continue as well as some late planting, due to wet field conditions. Strawberries have been covered to give them a pre-season push. Some mite issues are present but under control.”
Workers apply a dormant oil application on peach field in Edgefield Co. Photo from Sarah Scott.
Upstate
Kerrie Roach reports, “Growers are working between the rains to finish up pruning. The South Carolina Apple Grower meeting was held on Thursday afternoon virtually with lots of great presentations and discussion. During the meeting, Mike Parker (NCSU) mentioned the distinct difference in apple and peach pruning, and how using the same crews can sometimes lead to problems. Peaches fruit laterally along limbs which means heading cuts (pruning off the tip of a branch) is the common and acceptable practice. Whereas apples fruit terminally, so heading cuts could potentially remove a significant amount of potential fruit. Make sure crews are well aware of the difference!”
Pruning apples at Hollifield’s Orchard with pneumatic pruners. Photo from Kerrie Roach.
COLUMBIA — From the field to the table, food distribution in South Carolina was strengthened in 2020. It was due in large part to the South Carolina Food Hub Network. It assisted food distributors in the Palmetto State buy and distribute more than $1.3 million of food grown in South Carolina.
Weathers
This strengthened local food systems and aided farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Food Hub Network staff collaborated with four South Carolina distributors on their successful applications for contracts through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers to Families Food Box program. Distributors bought, boxed and distributed more than $5 million in fresh food, $1.3 million of it from South Carolina farmers.
“The South Carolina Food Hub Network has helped build capacity for the state’s food hubs, ultimately helping farmers grow more and feed more people,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers. “We’ve supported the Network through our Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship (ACRE) and Specialty Crop Block Grants, and so far, it’s been a great investment for South Carolinians.”
Food hubs connect farmers to buyers like restaurants and grocery stores, increasing consumers’ access to local food. Hubs often help identify marketing opportunities and support farmers in crop-planning accordingly, while shouldering some of the burden of marketing and reducing the carbon footprint of buying local through logistics and distribution coordination.
Watermelon research remains a key focus for scientists at Syngenta. Watermelon varieties need to withstand any type of diverse climate, especially for growers in Florida, Georgia, Indiana and California.
Rebecca Wente-Naylor, breeding trial specialist at Syngenta, discussed the challenges of finding new varieties amid climate change during an American Seed Trade Association webinar.
“With climate change, we’re already seeing a lot of fluctuations in temperature and weather patterns as well as some increases in extreme weather events. To combat this variability, we’re really trying to select the most resilient new varieties that are widely adapted and can withstand adverse weather conditions better than their predecessors,” said Rebecca Wente-Naylor, breeding trial specialist at Syngenta. “We do this by testing our new experimental hybrids with our current commercial growers throughout the United States.
“A good example of this would be our watermelon variety called Excursion. I’ve seen this produce fruit in some of the worst environmental conditions from South Florida to Indiana to California. It’s really widely adapted, and honestly, seems to flourish, especially when it takes a beating.”
According to Syngenta, Excursion is a large fruit size with 50% or more 36-count fruit. It excels in early to main season plantings and matures up to seven days earlier than the current “standard” to hit early markets.
Maybe most importantly, it has improved disease resistance with intermediate resistance to Fusarium wilt race 1 and Anthracnose race 1. It has shown stronger Fusarium tolerance than comparable varieties.
Watermelon Plantings
All of South Florida’s crop has been planted for about a month. Central Florida producers normally plant in mid-February. North Florida, Alabama and Georgia are slated to start around mid-March.
