Entomologist Lauren Diepenbrock is seeking Florida citrus growers’ help in determining information gaps and future directions for her research on pests. To get that help, she’s asking growers to participate in a survey, which is available here.
Diepenbrock
Diepenbrock, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher, would like to have growers take the survey by March 31, 2021. The survey should take 15 minutes or less to complete. The anonymous survey begins with questions about what counties growers farm in, what varieties they are growing, and the pests that have been problems for them during various times in the past. It also asks about insecticide and miticide use history with relation to Asian citrus psyllid establishment and frequency of sprays. In addition, the survey aims to determine what growers believe are the top five priorities for pest management research.
“Since arriving at the CREC (Citrus Research and Education Center) in 2018, I have had the pleasure of interacting with many of you,” Diepenbrock states. “From these interactions and reading through my predecessors’ work, I’ve come to realize that we have some large gaps in information which we need to better understand changes over the past two decades of insect and mite management in citrus.”
“I just hope that people will take the time to provide this information,” Diepenbrock says. “I want to both do research that is interesting to me and to meet the needs of our growers.”
Asked what pests already concern her, Diepenbrock responds, “Well this is part of what I want to learn. Obviously ACP (Asian citrus psyllid), CLM (citrus leafminer) and lebbeck mealybugs come up a lot, but we’ve seen some pests popping up that haven’t been problematic for decades, like woolly whitefly. So I’m hoping to learn if these are a huge concern for growers or not.”
“Grower information is critical to identify the information gaps and help determine future directions of research in my program,” Diepenbrock adds. “My goal is to always provide useful, research-driven data to our growers, and their input enables this.”
She plans to share the survey results in future webinars and industry publications.
Photo courtesy of Bugwood/Shows sour skin on disease on an onion.
Vidalia onions are famous for their mild-sweet flavor and are a favorite of consumers and chefs across the U.S. Due to this popularity, there is also significant demand for organically-grown Vidalia onions.
Soil-borne bacterial diseases like sour skin and slippery skin caused by Burkholderia sp. impact quality and yield of organic onions in Georgia. The pathogens are soil-borne. Current organic management practices do not eliminate or eradicate them from the soil.
This makes management extremely challenging, according to Bhabesh Dutta, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension plant pathologist.
“Conventional onion production is itself challenging, and organic onion production is more challenging,” Dutta said. “We do have some grasps on managing those issues in conventional ag, whereas in organic ag, we don’t have those options. The No. 1 issue we’ve been facing in any onion industry, especially in organic onions, is sour skin and slippery skin diseases.”
Conditions Favorable for Disease Development
Warm temperatures and intermittent rainfall during the spring can predispose organic onions to infection with these bacterial pathogens. Vidalia onion growers experienced similar weather conditions (warm and wet) this past spring. This led to considerable yield losses both in the field and in storage.
Sour skin was also worse last year for producers. It is usually more of a problem during harvest in the latter part of the growing season. As it thrives in warm conditions, symptoms can manifest earlier in the season depending on temperature. The disease can progress from the upper foliage to the leaves in the lower part of the plant and then to the bulb’s outer scales.
Bulbs that are infected with sour skin usually have an acrid, sour odor and other foul odors that are associated with secondary organisms. Bulbs will turn reddish-brown to brown in color over time, as the tissues rot and copious amounts of fluids are produced.
Appropriate Management Strategies
Organic onion growers need management strategies that are not just effective but also economically and environmentally sustainable. The UGA Vidalia Onion Research and Extension Group is researching organic and physical soil-amendments that can reduce soil-borne pathogens including Burkholderia sp.
The amendments like soil solarization, soil-biofumigation (wild mustard), soil-applied biological controls and cover crops will be evaluated in certified organic fields at UGA.
“With respect to sour skin, which is one of the worst diseases you can ever have on onion; on organic onion, this disease is particularly bad. The pathogen survives in the soil and stays in the soil. Any management options, like the use of copper or use of any chemicals, which you cannot use; you can use some kind of copper in organic (production), but it doesn’t have much efficacy on management of sour skin,” Dutta said.
“What we are thinking, unless we do some kind of soil amendments – physical, cultural, biological soil amendments – we may not be able to reduce the pathogen in populations of this sour skin pathogen.”
UGA scientists also plan to evaluate the impact of these amendments on reducing weeds, plant-parasitic nematodes and other soil-borne fungal and oomycetes organisms. Researchers will also focus on studying the impact of these amendments on soil-microbiome and prevalence of insect natural predators and enemies. The aim is to foster the “systems approach” without negatively altering the diversity and prevalence of both beneficial microbes and natural enemies.
“We have to think outside of the box, but we also respect the stewardship of organic certification. Whatever we do, it should be within the limits of that organic certification or organically approved methods,” Dutta said. “This method with which I talked about is within that limit.”
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The coronavirus pandemic occupied space in everyone’s minds this year, prompting online searches about any variety of topics related to it. The year’s most popular UF/IFAS Extension EDIS publications were no exception, with two of the top 10 being brand-new documents related to food safety and the coronavirus.
In all, the Electronic Data Information Source, which hosts peer-reviewed publications from UF/IFAS Extension professionals, saw 17.5 million pageviews this year across the nearly 6,500 publications hosted.
Here are 2020’s 10 most-visited EDIS publications:
The 4-H Plant Connections curriculum, “What Makes Plants Grow?,” is also a popular how-to. Plants need many of the same things people do: light, water, air, nutrients and proper temperature. For more, visit: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/4h360 (103,833)
“Common Poultry Diseases” include respiratory and nonrespiratory viral and bacterial diseases. Learn how to tell the difference: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044 (72,837)
Perhaps related to renewed interest in hygienic practices, “Basic Elements of Equipment Cleaning and Sanitizing in Food Processing and Handling Operations” jumped 15 spots from last year’s ranking. Rinse, clean, rinse and sanitize those contact surfaces, and more tips at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs077 (68,808)
Central Florida residents: Looking for what to plant and when? The “Central Florida Gardening Calendar” not only provides this info, but also explains specific concerns at certain times of the year, including irrigation, pests and pruning: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep450 (50,846)
The document “COVID-19 and Food Safety FAQ: Is Coronavirus an Issue in Produce Production?” opens addressing a concern: The CDC, FDA and USDA have no reports of human illnesses that suggest coronavirus can be transmitted by food packaging. The document details best practices for facilities: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs351 (48,073)
“COVID-19 FAQ for Grocery Stores: Receiving and Food Packaging” addresses similar concerns and is available as a one-page guideline for grocery stores: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs331 (40,666)
About 50 species of snakes live in the states along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, from Louisiana to North Carolina. They are predators and prey, and thus form important links in natural food webs. “‘Black Snakes’: Identification and Ecology” helps distinguish the easily confused snakes of this region that share a primarily black coloration characteristic: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw251 (39,640)
Although “Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, and the Required Managerial Tools” has appeared in the top 10 before, this year’s social justice movement could explain an increase in clicks this year. Managerial skills must adapt to a more diverse workplace: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hr022 (37,467)
North Florida residents can learn what ornamentals and vegetables grow well in the region, when to plant them and other important information with the “North Florida Gardening Calendar”: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep451 (36,365)
EDIS, a free service of UF/IFAS Extension, celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2021. Find information at edis.ifas.ufl.edu on topics relevant to you: profitable and sustainable agriculture, the environment and natural resources, 4-H and other youth programs, Florida-friendly landscapes, communities that are vibrant and prosperous, economic well-being and quality of life for people and families.
“In a year filled with uncertainty and unexpected changes, we see the value in the public services of UF/IFAS Extension, including EDIS,” said Nick Place, UF/IFAS Extension dean. “We hope the public continues to rely on the expertise of this top-notch, science-based research.”
Chard and cauliflower crops show signs of freeze injury.
By Pam Knox and Tim Coolong
Untimely freezes can cause tremendous problems for fruit and vegetable crops.
Fall freezes quickly put an end to the growing season for most fruits and vegetables. If freezes come earlier than expected or before the crops are ready for harvest, they can provide a devastating blow to yields and reduce the value of the crops. Spring freezes may destroy blossoms on plants that have recently broken dormancy, reducing yield by eliminating potential fruit or destroying young plants.
Growers are sometimes able to reduce the impact of freezes by using frost- and freeze-protection measures to increase temperatures near the crops and prevent damage due to freezing temperatures.
TYPES OF FREEZES
There are two main types of freeze that can occur in fields, and freeze-protection methods depend in part on what type of freeze is expected to occur.
Mustard greens that were cultivated prior to a freeze resulted in some plant damage.
An advection freeze is caused by cold and dry air moving (“advecting”) into the production area, replacing the warmer, moister air that was already in place. An advection freeze is commonly associated with moderate to strong winds, a well-mixed air mass that does not have a temperature inversion, and low humidity. Temperatures will drop below freezing and may stay that way for an extended period.
It is difficult to protect against an advection freeze because the wind blows added heat away from the crops and makes formation of protective ice from sprinklers difficult. The lack of a temperature inversion means that wind-moving devices like tall fans or helicopters do not have access to a warmer layer of air to mix with surface air. The dry conditions also mean that irrigation is often not effective at keeping temperatures above freezing, which can lead to ice loading on the plants as the sprinklers try to keep up.
Radiation freezes occur when the sky is clear and winds are calm to light. Temperatures drop because with clear skies, radiation from the earth’s surface can quickly allow energy to escape to space. The coldest air tends to flow downhill because it is denser than the air around it, pooling in the lowest-lying areas (sometimes known as “frost pockets”). Radiation freezes are often accompanied by a temperature inversion aloft. This is a layer of air above the surface that is warmer than the air near the ground.
One freeze-protection method is to mix warmer air down to the ground using fans or helicopters, keeping the surface air warmer. Frost-protection methods are generally more effective in radiation freezes than in advection freezes, especially when strong inversions with plenty of warm air are present. Sometimes a night with cold air blowing into an area results in an advection freeze occurring the first night followed by a radiation freeze the second night when the winds die down. Therefore, growers may need to be prepared for both types of freezes.
FREEZE-PROTECTION METHODS
If temperatures are not expected to be much below freezing, heating at ground level can be employed to keep temperatures higher. This can be done using orchard heaters or even burning debris or bales of hay in open areas of the field to be protected. This method can be helpful when a radiation freeze is occurring, especially when a strong inversion is present to trap the heat near the surface, but it loses effectiveness with strong winds. It also puts out a lot of pollution and can be expensive to maintain because of the fuel and labor needed to keep the heaters burning.
If a strong inversion is present, methods for mixing the warmer air down to the surface can be used. This can include both wind machines such as large fans or helicopters. Helicopters have the advantage of being portable but are expensive to operate. Wind machines can be permanent installations or can be mobile, but only cover a limited area. If the inversion is weak, a wind machine could make matters worse by increasing evaporative cooling through the movement of the air.
Irrigation can be an effective tool for freeze protection if it is able to be applied at a rate that “keeps up” with the freezing conditions. The irrigation is applied continuously to the crops, forming ice on the crops which releases heat to the air around those crops by the latent heat released by changing liquid water into solid ice. The plant material under the ice is kept near freezing by the ice cover and transfer of energy into the plant.
Row covers can provide plants with some protection from frost, wind and insects.
If the air conditions are windy, air will mix with the ice, forming cloudy ice that is less effective at protecting the plants, which reduces their ability to survive the frost. Clear ice is a sign that the freeze protection is likely working. If the air is low in humidity, irrigation is not very successful because most irrigation systems cannot put out water at a high enough rate to keep up with the effects of the cold air. If the dew point temperature of the incoming air is below about 22° F, then irrigation is unlikely to be effective. Even higher dew point temperatures are no guarantee that irrigation will work, especially in an advection freeze where wind is a factor.
Sometimes growers will use center pivots to irrigate prior to a freeze event. Center pivots move far too slowly to directly protect a crop as described above. However, in some cases when the soil is dry, adding moisture to the soil can help it retain heat from the day, which can provide some protection in the evening. When the soil is already wet, further irrigating it will not help.
Covering plants with plastic tarps or row covers has been used with varying success. A plant can be covered by mulch or a cover overnight to keep the cold air from hitting the plant. The cover (particularly clear plastic) must be removed the next day or sunlight will heat the cover, causing potential damage to the plant from excessive heat. Floating row covers that allow 2 to 4° F of freeze protection and have various degrees of light transmission can be purchased and easily moved around fields. Row covers also provide some protection from wind and insects. Mulch or plastic covers will be most effective when the ground has been warmed by the sun during the day. They are also aided by moist soil conditions, which help hold heat in the ground.
Other methods such as cultivating ahead of a frost or spraying chemicals to prevent frost formation on the leaves have been tried by some growers. However, they have not proven to be effective in field trials and could cause additional damage to the plants, so should be undertaken with caution. In some cases, cultivation can expose roots to freezing temperatures and cause further damage.
See secure.caes.uga.edu/extension/publications/files/pdf/B%201479_1.PDF for more information about freeze-protection methods and how to run a frost protection irrigation system.
Peach trees need chill accumulation every fall and winter to produce a substantial crop the following season. Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, is concerned Alabama producers may be lagging behind.
“We’re still a little concerned about having enough chill by the end of this month. Typically, we’d like to have about half of the recommended chilling for our area by the end of the year,” Vinson said on Friday. “So far, we have about 172 hours, I think last time I checked. Looking at the extended forecasts, we don’t really see as many opportunities to collect chill as we’d like.”
Optimal Chilling Temperature
Vinson said peach growers long to have between 450 and 500 chill hours by the end of the year. He added that temperatures do not need to reach below freezing for chill accumulation to occur. Optimal chilling is at 42 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Just as an example, you can have a relative warm winter and still get the recommended chilling for your area. The temperature does not have to be at freezing. In fact, anything below freezing, you’re not getting much chill at all. Anywhere below 29, you’re not getting any chill accumulation,” Vinson said.
“You’re not losing any, but you’re not gaining any. You can have a relatively warm winter where you’re hovering around mid-40s, low 50s; somewhere around there and still get the recommended amount of chilling. It doesn’t have to be bitter cold to get chilling.”
Peaches need chill hours to mature. The required chill hours depend on the peach variety, but most growers hope to get around 1,000 chill hours before spring.
Temperatures were relatively warm in Alabama towards the end of last week and weekend which did not help with chill accumulation.
“Warm days like that, especially at 24-hour cycles at a time like that tend to be pretty detrimental to chill accumulation. Looking at extended forecasts, at least right now, we’ll keep checking extended forecasts and they’ll likely change, but as we look now at the extended forecasts, there doesn’t appear to be as much of an opportunity to collect chill,” Vinson said. “Not saying that there won’t, but we’re a little bit concerned about that.”
Georgia’s fall vegetable crop did not produce profits like growers had hoped for. Mexican imports had a lot to do with that, says Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.
“It certainly was not as good for us as the spring was. While we had good early prices on squash and cucumbers, once the Mexican crops hit, (prices) just dropped. There’s nothing the grower can do about it,” Hall said. “They either have to decide to plow up and not harvest or they just take a bad beating. Squash were selling and cucumbers were too, they were selling below our cost of production, about half our cost of production.
“It’s not been a good fall. (And) later in the season broccoli fell out.”
Unfair trade practices have the been the source of Georgia producers’ discontent for some time. It led to virtual hearings by the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) Office with farmers in Florida and Georgia. Congressional support helped lead to potential action regarding the imports of cucumbers and squash.
The USTR has requested investigations from the U.S. International Trade Commission into the imports of both commodities and the effect on domestic seasonal markets.
“A farmer can control labor, and a farmer can control pesticides and he can control rain to some extent because of irrigation, but the one thing he can not do anything about is trade. When he puts his product on the market and those prices drop out, it’s a goner,” Hall said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Program connects farmers, ranchers and others with agriculture-related jobs to programs designed to combat stress.
The University of Florida/IFAS is one of more than 50 partners joining the effort in the Southeast.
Kendra Zamojski, family and consumer sciences regional specialized Extension agent, will lead the UF/IFAS team which encompasses Extension agents, economists, agriculture teachers and communicators.
National Weather Service graphic shows projected path of Hurricane Eta when it moved across Florida in November.
“With University of Florida Extension being the land-grant university and arm of the Extension Service, we have agents in every county working, not only with farmers and growers and producers but also with the citizens in the counties. Florida has been pretty heavily impacted by hurricanes recently. We have seen the stress that farmers are under and wanted to be a part of this project to determine what the needs are and figure out strategies to address them and inform the research going forward,” Zamojski said.
Tragic Statistics
She noted that according to a 2016 CDC report, the suicide rate among farmers, fishermen and forestry workers was the highest for all occupations. In 2015, a CDC report also showed suicide rates were higher, almost double, in rural regions compared to urban.
It is especially stressful for Florida producers, who have to deal with hurricanes every year and a COVID-19 pandemic this year that shut down restaurants in March. It took away a huge chunk of Florida’s vegetable and specialty crop business in the process.
Coronavirus Impact
“I live here in the Panhandle, so I know the stress from hurricanes that farmers face. Having been through (Hurricane) Michael and the devastation of that, I have definitely seen some of the stress first-hand. But now with the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s definitely stress in how supply chains have changed,” Zamojski said.
UF/IFAS will also provide a financial planner to assist farmers with economic decisions.
“So much of it is economics. So on the team we have going forward with this grant, we do have a certified financial planner who will be helping us do some trainings with farmers on economic issues and planning that they can do in such an uncertain environment,” Zamojski said.
Needs Assessment
The three-year grant includes plans for a needs assessment; reaching out to the community and understanding what the needs are and tailoring resources to meet those needs. Trainings will be held for farmers and Ag students. A hotline will be established to provide immediate access for support.
“I think everybody’s feeling the stress of the pandemic right now but definitely our farmers. Not only on a daily basis where they have to deal with pests, disease and the challenges they face with their crops, but also 2020 was a pretty active hurricane season and weather season. There were a lot of impacts to agriculture from that. Throw in a pandemic and that has thrown our supply chains for a loop. I think 2020 has been a pretty stressful year,” Zamojski added.
Photo courtesy of Wadsworth Christmas Tree Farm/Shows Arizona Cypress.
Christmas tree sales are booming this year, and COVID-19 may be a reason why.
Both Frank Wadsworth, owner of Wadsworth Christmas Tree Farm in Wetumpka, Alabama and Jeremy Pickens, Alabama Assistant Extension Professor in Horticulture at Auburn University, agree that the recommendations that people social distance themselves and stay quarantined has left many with the longing to get outside and start a tradition with the family.
A Christmas Tree farm is the perfect place to do so.
Farmer Testimonial
“I think a lot of people who have been quarantined for 14 days and a lot of people who have just not been out in public for such a long period, they figured we’ll just come to the farm. You can social distance up here fairly easy when you’ve got a wide-open area,” said Wadsworth, who planted his first tree in 1976.
“People can wonder around and look for a tree and keep to themselves and have a good time. I’m sure being indoors and all these mandates have had a lot to do with the success at my farm and the people that I’ve talked to, other growers like me.”
Sold Out Earlier Than Normal
Wadsworth said his farm was sold out and did so about a week earlier than in previous years.
“We opened the Saturday before Thanksgiving and we had a pretty good weekend that weekend. Then of course the Friday after Thanksgiving with Black Friday, we call it Green Friday, we were just wrapped up. Then this past Sunday (Dec. 6) we were out of trees in the field. We tag so many trees each year to sell and we have sold every one of the ones we had tagged,” Wadsworth said.
Earlier the Better
“Everybody comes early because they know if you come early, you’re going to get a good selection of a tree. I’ve convinced everybody, I guess, over the years to come early, don’t wait late,” Wadsworth added. “We sold our first tree on Oct. 31. We had a lady call me and said she had her house decorated on Oct. 1 and she was waiting until the end of the month and she wanted her tree.”
Interest rates are low and should remain that way for the foreseeable future. Adam Rabinowitz, Assistant Professor and Extension Economist at Auburn University, says vegetable and specialty crop producers may have an opportunity to capitalize.
Rabinowitz
“Interest rates are extremely low, and they are forecast to remain low. That is certainly an opportunity to where if there’s interest on any kind of capital equipment or land, in terms of loans that have interest on that; looking at refinancing that is an option, if you can secure a lower rate,” Rabinowitz said.
“But also, it certainly might be an opportunity, if you have a sound financial position long term, to look at buying some of the equipment that is needed for where you’re going to have a loan that will obviously have a lower interest rate at this point.”
Interest Rate Background
The Federal Reserve Bank oversees setting the interest rate, which rises and falls depending on the outlook of the financial market.
The interest rate is typically high when economic times are good but is low during economic downturns. Such is the case amid the coronavirus pandemic, which led to massive shutdowns and a spike in unemployment when COVID-19 impacted the country in mid-March.
The interest rate is near zero percent and is expected to remain that way through 2022.
Proceed with Caution
But Rabinowitz also cautions farmers to really consider if taking on more debt is the right tactic to take with regards to their farming operations.
“I would stress, though, it’s important to look at it within the context of the entire operation to make sure the financial position is a sound financial position before taking on that additional debt. We’re still looking at very volatile markets in terms of pricing,” Rabinowitz said.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty in a lot of other aspects. Taking on more debt is not necessarily the best thing to do either.”
According to N.C. State Extension, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), has announced a new round of grant funding that specifically includes support for hemp projects. The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program is intended to fund projects related to research, extension and education. The purpose of AFRI’s Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) grants is to increase agricultural production while reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. The request for proposals (RFP) specifically states that projects should take a systems approach.
Grants can be used to address a number of goals. One goal is the development of rural economies. In particular, the RFA states that, “Of interest in this theme are industrial hemp projects that examine the supply chain as a system, including breeding, cultivation, feedstock logistics, industrial processing of products and market analysis.” https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/rfa/FY21-AFRI-SAS-RFA-508.pdf
Funding for projects ranges from $1-10 million. Letters of intent are due by Jan. 7, 2021. The deadline for the full application is April 1, 2021.
