AgNet DEMO

Author: Clint

  • Citrus Advisory System Alerts Growers So They can Stem Post-Bloom Fruit Drop

    Photo is of damage from postbloom fruit drop. Buttons are shown where the fruitlet fell off.
    Credit: “Courtesy, Megan Dewdney, UF/IFAS.”

    October 22, 2020

    By: Brad Buck, bradbuck@ufl.edu

    Beep. Beep. Beep. That’s the sound of the alert, telling a citrus grower it’s time to spray fungicide to help prevent fruit from falling off the tree.

    When the new fruit fall off a citrus tree, post-bloom fruit drop (PFD) can cause major losses for citrus growers. Infection of flowering citrus by the fungus that causes PFD can lead to crop loss of up to 80%, although losses are seldom that high, UF/IFAS researchers say.

    In the battle against PFD, UF/IFAS scientists have developed the Citrus Advisory System (CAS), which sends web-based alerts to citrus farmers via mobile devices. That way, growers can tell when to spray their trees with fungicide.

    “We believe that CAS represents an important contribution to help the citrus industry in Florida increase resource-use efficiency, reduce costs and increase profitability,” said Clyde Fraisse, a UF/IFAS professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the main campus in Gainesville, who led new research to develop and test the system.

    In newly published research, Fraisse, his lab members and faculty colleagues tested CAS over three years at farms in Polk County. Among those who helped Fraisse with the research were Megan Dewdney, an associate professor of plant pathology at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center and Natalia Peres, a plant pathology professor at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.

    CAS, available at http://agroclimate.org/tools/cas, uses real-time weather data from stations with the Florida Automated Weather Network, which are scattered throughout the state. The data determine whether risk for PFD is low (green), moderate (yellow) or high (red). Specific fungicide spray recommendations are given according to the disease-risk conditions. If desired, notifications can be sent via SMS or e-mail for an alert to check the system.

    Prior to CAS, there were two forecasting models for post-bloom fruit drop, Dewdney said. The most recent was the PFD-Fungicide Application Decision (PFD-FAD), which was developed as part of Peres’ Ph.D. dissertation about 20 years ago. Growers found PFD-FAD too complicated to use regularly since the weather information was not automated and it required grower input to determine if the fungus was present. 

    “In the new CAS, we consider the fungus to be present at all times and the weather data input is automated, so the system is simpler to use,” Dewdney said. “We also have newer models for how leaf wetness and temperature affect spore germination. They’re incorporated into the system to help predict when infection is likely to happen or has occurred. Combined with a more modern, simple interface, this will hopefully allow growers to use CAS regularly. During our last outbreaks, many growers were applying weekly fungicide applications, whether they were needed or not.”

    CAS mirrors the Strawberry Advisory System (SAS), developed by Fraisse and Peres several years ago. SAS also sends web-based alerts to growers, so they know when to spray for diseases like anthracnose. Until scientists developed that system, strawberry growers sprayed for the fungus on a calendar-basis; for example, every other week, whether the fungus was there or not.

    Peres said it’s important to note that anthracnose and citrus post-bloom fruit drop are both caused by the same fungus, Colletotrichum acutatum.

    Just like the Strawberry Advisory System, “CAS aims to take the guesswork out of whether an infection occurred or not,” Dewdney said. “Some growers are already using CAS and have been happy with the outcomes.”

    “You can use the system now, and we encourage it,” she said. “We are still confirming the accuracy of the predictions, but it is still better than just a weekly application.”

    The system is already available in Brazil, where it’s been tested extensively.

  • Harvesting and Storing Pecans This Fall

    Alabama Extension photo shows a pecan.

    Posted by: Victoria Dee

    AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. – According to Alabama Extension, as leaves begin to darken and pumpkins decorate every doorstep, pecans are ripe and ready for harvest as fall settles in in the Southeast.

    These nutritious nuts are members of the hickory family and grow on towering shade trees commonly found in yards, orchards and pastures throughout Alabama. Though pecan harvest typically occurs from October to December, enjoying the bounty year-round is possible with proper harvesting and storing methods.

    Harvesting Pecans

    “Pecans are mature and ready to harvest any time after the shuck begins to open,” said Angela Treadaway, an Alabama Extension regional food safety and quality agent.

    When these shucks are open, shaking or thrashing branches becomes an easy way to harvest nuts directly from the tree. Doug Chapman, an Alabama Extension regional commercial horticulture agent, offers another option for removal of pecans from tree limbs.

    “While commercial growers use tree shakers, homeowners mostly can and do rely on natural drop from the tree,” Chapman said.

    Beware of leaving nuts on the tree too long, however, as predators often want to harvest them for themselves.

    If harvesting occurs early in the season, nuts will have a high moisture content, which would require drying before storage.

    “Dry them in the shell in thin layers on elevated screens, or hang them in small mesh bags in a well-ventilated area at room temperature out of direct sunlight,” Treadaway said.

    After approximately two weeks of drying, shell one or two and if the nuts are dry enough, they should snap when bent. This indicates that they are ready for immediate use or for storage.

    Storage

    Because of their high oil content, pecans are perishable nuts. Proper storage is the best way to ensure good quality year-round.

    “At home, unshelled pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place,” Treadaway said. “Shelled pecans should either be refrigerated or frozen.”

    Storing pecans away from air and light is crucial. Vacuum sealed bags or jars allow for the best storage. After properly storing nuts frozen, thawing and refreezing can occur repeatedly for a period of two years without loss of texture or flavor.

    Test stored nuts before using them in recipes. Rancid pecans have a bitter and oily taste. A dark color may also be a characterizing factor of rancid pecans. Make sure to discard any rancid nuts, as rancidity is not reversible.

    More Information

    For more information on harvesting and storing pecans, visit www.aces.edu or contact your local Extension Agent.

  • South Georgia Farmer: Need to Buy Georgia Grown

    One South Georgia farmer is hoping American consumers will buy more locally grown produce. After all, the future of the American farmer is at stake.

    Brim

    Bill Brim, co-owner of Lewis Taylor Farms in Tifton, Georgia, implores consumers to truly consider who they’re buying their fruits and vegetables from. Not the retailer but the country of origin the blueberries and cucumbers and squash originated from.

    The biggest threat to vegetable and specialty crop producers in the Southeast remains constant imports from Mexico. It’s happening right now with the fall production season underway in Georgia.

    “They’re pumping cucumbers in here right now and squash and bringing the markets down to where we can’t compete. We’ve got to do something to make people realize that they need to buy Georgia Grown or American Grown and to heck with the Mexican Grown stuff,” Brim said. “Don’t buy it, just do without it. They’re going to put us out of business if we don’t stop it somehow.

    “When you’re dropping $22 to $12 (for squash), you cut your profit to nothing.”

    Hearings

    Brim was one of the Georgia producers who testified during a virtual hearing on Aug. 20 with the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office. He and other farmers and industry leaders like Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, testified that if action was not taken, Mexican imports will continue to drive down market prices and make it impossible for producers to continue farming.

    USTR Response

    The USTR responded with a plan to support American producers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables. It includes a Section 201 global safeguard investigation into the extent to which increased imports of blueberries have caused serious injury to domestic blueberry growers.

    The USTR also announced plans to pursue senior-level government-to-government discussions with Mexico to address industry concerns regarding the imports of Mexican strawberries, bell peppers and other products.

    While it may take some time for any subsequent action to be taken, producers like Brim remain vulnerable to the constant barrage of imports coming in from Mexico.

    “When they start pulling all of this stuff from Mexico, these brokers and these people that are doing these for Kroger or Wal-Mart or whoever they are, they’re going to buy the cheapest product that they can get. They’re going to try to make as much money off of it as they can get. It’s just a matter of trying to convince the Krogers and Wal-Marts of the world not to buy from Mexico and buy from us,” Brim said.

    “If they don’t, we’re going to be out of business. They’re not going to have any choice for anything else.”

  • Whiteflies Vary in Impact in Florida Vegetables This Fall

    Whiteflies infest fall cucurbits.

    According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, whiteflies are varying in impact in vegetables in South and Central Florida.

    Around the Central Florida area, respondents report that whiteflies remain active in tomato and melons at mostly low numbers. 

    Growers and scouts in Southwest Florida report that whitefly pressure has declined with recent rains. Scouts report finding mostly low numbers in cucurbits, eggplant and tomato. But there are flare-ups reported with higher numbers showing up in eggplant and squash.

    Scouts are reporting finding mostly low numbers of whitefly in eggplant on the east coast.

    Reports from Homestead indicate that whiteflies are present in oriental vegetables.

    Management

    Management of whiteflies later in the season depends on early suppression of whitefly populations. Growers need to be aggressive with the best systemic materials like Venom, Sivanto Prime and Verimark, early in the season. Growers who are on seepage and not drip are at a particular disadvantage if whiteflies and virus are high early in the season.

    Preventative soil applications of either imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, flupyradifurone or cyanatraniliprole should be used preventatively in tomato and cucurbits.

    Proper scouting is essential to manage silverleaf whitefly. Over the years, University of Florida entomologists have developed usable action thresholds that have been successful for many tomato farmers. However, these thresholds are only guidelines. Farm managers may modify them to fit their situations and expectations.

    Thresholds

    Silverleaf whitefly thresholds

    0-3 true leaves 10 adults/plant

    3-7 true leaves 1 adult/leaflet

    Field hygiene should be a high priority and should be an integral part of the overall strategy for managing whitefly populations, whitefly-vectored viruses and insecticide resistance. Growers are advised to be alert for volunteer tomato or cucurbits that may be present in row middles and field margins as these may be a source of whiteflies and virus.

    For more whitefly management tips – see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in695.

  • Tomato Juice with UF/IFAS-Bred Garden Gem Pleases Palates

    Sam Hutton in a greenhouse. Photo taken 01-17-17.

    October 21, 2020

    By: Brad Buck, bradbuck@ufl.edu

    Florida-grown tomatoes – particularly the UF/IFAS-bred Garden Gem – pack a tasty punch for tomato juice, new University of Florida research shows.

    By and large, the biggest market for Florida tomatoes remains food services. They’re not generally harvested for processed products, such as juice, paste and more. But they’re still fresh, whole tomatoes.

    For years, researchers have toiled to help breeders develop the genetic traits to give UF/IFAS-bred tomatoes more flavor.

    Now, for a newly published study, scientists used six UF/IFAS varieties to process into six different tomato juices. In three testing panels comprising a total of 255 consumers, researchers asked the testers at the UF Sensory Lab how they tasted and smelled. The verdict: two “thumbs-up.” While other varieties fared well in the tests, panelists consistently rated juice made from the Garden Gem significantly higher for aroma, flavor and texture.

    “I think this study shows that Florida tomatoes are viable for making processed tomato products,” said Paul Sarnoski, a UF/IFAS associate professor of food science and human nutrition. “Our juice exhibited better flavor – with more fresh and fruity attributes closer to that of a fresh-picked tomato.”

    Better Tasting Tomatoes Lead to Improved Tomato Juice Flavors

    Sarnoski, lead author of the new paper that summarizes the research, said better-tasting tomatoes lead to improved tomato juice flavors. So, it behooves tomato growers to produce tomatoes that go beyond the bland flavors of the past and deliver tasty products to consumers.

    Sam Hutton, a UF/IFAS associate professor of horticultural sciences and tomato breeder at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, believes the new data on tomato juice will help his efforts to develop tastier tomatoes for farmers to grow.

    “This research is interesting to me because the chemistry of better-tasting juice is very similar to the chemistry of better-tasting tomatoes,” Hutton said. “So, these results help to direct my program’s efforts to develop varieties with improved flavor, especially ones with more of these fruity attributes. Such varieties may then be more preferred by consumers and could help boost demand and consumption of Florida tomatoes.”

    Better Marketing Opportunity?

    Now that researchers know Florida-grown tomatoes are good for tomato juice, scientists want to know whether Florida tomatoes can be marketed at a cost-effective price. Once they clear those hurdles, scientists hope to help producers stock grocery stores with Florida-grown tomato products. Generally, processed tomatoes are sold for less money than fresh-market ones and need to be processed into a juice, sauce, paste and so forth, Sarnoski said.

    Toward that end, scientists need to find out whether — working with farmers — they can produce tomatoes at a cost that’s competitive with other regions. They also need to know whether Florida has the food-processing infrastructure in place. If not, does the industry need to adapt existing food processing infrastructure to produce processed tomato products?

    “I think these two questions relating to costs need to be answered before juice from Florida processed tomato products end up in a supermarket,” Sarnoski said. “Right now, in Florida, most of the juice processing is focused toward citrus. Perhaps some of that infrastructure can be modified to make tomato juice.”

  • N.C. Pecan Growers Expect Plentiful Crop

    File photo shows bag of pecans.

    Contact: Dexter Hill, pecan marketing specialist
    NCDA&CS Marketing Division
    252-527-7125; dexter.hill@ncagr.gov

    RALEIGH – After several years of weather-related setbacks, North Carolina pecan growers are reporting a strong crop. That is welcome news for farmers such as Tim Haithcock, who has been growing pecans for over 25 years.

    “My trees have been heavy,” Haithcock said. “They are looking very, very good with plenty of pecans on every variety.”

    Haithcock owns Indian Springs Pecans in Goldsboro. The 107-acre farm has about 30 acres of pecan trees as well as a nursery that grows trees for other commercial pecan operations. Haithcock attributes the good crop to adequate moisture and sunshine throughout the growing season. In addition, no major storms impacted eastern North Carolina during this year’s hurricane season.

    Haithcock began hand harvesting early-variety pecans at the end of September. He plans to start full-scale harvesting in the coming weeks. North Carolina’s pecan season will ramp up in early November and run through the end of the year.

    “Consumers should have no trouble finding North Carolina pecans this season,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Local pecans will be available in retail stores, at area farmers markets and directly on the farm. Wherever you shop, be sure to look for the Got To Be NC logo to know you’re getting a quality product from North Carolina farmers.”

    North Carolina is one of the top 10 pecan-producing states in the nation. Local farmers grow between 4-to-5 million pounds of in-shell pecans annually. While pecan trees can be found across the state, most commercial orchards are in eastern and southeastern North Carolina. To find a local orchard near you, go to www.buyncpecans.com.

  • Alabama Hemp Growers Dealing With Low Quality Crop

    Photo by Luis A. Monserrate shows hemp.

    Hemp harvest is under way in Alabama, but quality may not be what farmers had hoped for in their second year of production.

    It’s understandable, though, considering the challenges that producers dealt with during the growing season, says Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist.

    “It’s not fantastic. I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of good quality hemp out there, just between disease, insects and rain and late plantings. I fear that we’re not going to have the quality that a lot had hoped for,” Kesheimer said. “I’ve gotten calls from buyers that are looking for smokable flower grade hemp and they can’t find enough. Folks from Georgia are looking in Alabama and I was like ‘eh’; a lot of it is going to be harvested and extracted but the flower, and quality just isn’t there that I think a lot of the buyers are looking for.”

    Kesheimer said the price of CBD oil has dropped significantly, which doesn’t make it economically feasible to extract the oil and then sell. This has forced buyers to consider other options.

    Tough Growing Season

    Hot and dry conditions highlighted last year’s production season. But it’s been much different this year with the wet environment the hemp has grown in. It’s led to countless battles with plant diseases. Ant swarms were also problematic throughout the season.

    “The price of CBD oil has gone down so much and it’s going to cost you to extract that oil and it’s not always economically feasible to pay someone to get the oil out of that plant and then sell it. You can’t afford it. You’re not going to make a profit,” Kesheimer said. “The other option is large quantities of high grade smokable flower, but it can’t be full of bud rot or have caterpillar damage or any other disease. I think some of the large groves didn’t end up with the great quality that some buyers are looking for, and then there are some people that will process it but they won’t buy your end product. We’ve been talking about this for a year but the supply chain, it’s not there yet.”

  • UGA Research Aimed at Protecting Produce Packing Plants from Listeria

    Diez

    One University of Georgia (UGA) research project in 2021 will be aimed at protecting produce packing plants from Listeria, according to Francisco Diez, Director and Professor at the UGA Center for Food Safety in Griffin, Georgia.

    The lead investigator is Diez. The grant project is funded by the Center for Produce Safety and covers the entire 2021 year. His objective will be to see if the antimicrobial blue light, which has shown antimicrobial effects and is considered safe for humans, can kill the Listeria monocytogenes.

    “It’s been found by a number of reports that blue light can be lethal for some bacteria. There’s been applications of blue light in some settings like hospitals in which they can leave the blue light on and eventually that protects if there’s any presence of bacteria on the surface in the room; on floors, on walls or other materials,” Diez said. “What we’re trying to address in this proposal is under simulated conditions in the laboratory that will resemble surfaces that would be found in a packing plant is whether we can kill Listeria monocytogenes.”

    Grant Description

    According to the award description, Listeria monocytogenes as dried cells or biofilms will be placed on a wide range of surfaces (stainless steel, plastic, etc.) and exposed to blue light to evaluate its antimicrobial efficacy.

    Diez stresses that this research would not replace the normal sanitizing and cleaning procedures that are already in place at packing plants across the Southeast. Blue light would be used only as a supplement. It could really be useful in case a piece of equipment or spot on a wall or floor was missed and was left exposed to the Listeria pathogen.

    “Listeria is not so easy to control. Most treatments can kill listeria. A good sanitizing program with a combination of good cleaning and sanitizing may control listeria in most cases but the organism is so capable of surviving that it can remain on surfaces or equipment, in small niches and crannies,” Diez said. “If a piece of equipment has a little corner that didn’t get cleaned or sanitized properly and gets in contact with vegetables, either packing or cutting or cleaning, then (the bacteria) could get into the product.”

    What is Listeria?

    Listeria is one of the major food-borne pathogens that is extremely dangerous if consumed.

    “Fortunately, it doesn’t cause as many cases per year as salmonella. But we’re very concerned because Listeria Monocytogenes has a relatively high death rate. About 20% of people that contract Listeria, they die or they develop serious conditions,” he said. “Listeria is a very pervasive organism in nature. It’s found in many, many natural environments. Plants or plant tissues could be colonized by Listeria.”

  • HELM Agro US Launches New Gamma™ Herbicide for Grapes

    Tampa, FL – HELM Agro US, Inc., a global manufacturer of high-quality crop protection and fertilizer products announced that Gamma™ herbicide has received federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    Gamma is a non-selective PPO-inhibitor herbicide with a novel active ingredient called Tergeo™ for directed postemergence applications in grapes.

    In product development trials and regulatory studies, Gamma has demonstrated extremely promising performance ratings in burndown control for more than 50 broadleaf and grass weeds, including ALS, triazine and glyphosate-resistant species. 

    Additional characteristics of the new herbicide include an ultra-low use rate, broad tank mix compatibility and a signal word of Caution. The new product is also fast-acting with herbicidal effects occurring within 24 hours after application.

    Classified as a Group 14 herbicide, Gamma is formulated as a water-dispersible granule (WG) and contains 0.70 pounds of active ingredient per pound of formulated product.

    “HELM is excited to bring new weed control technology to the U.S. grape industry,” says Dave Schumacher, President of HELM Agro US. “Not only will Gamma help with long-standing weed challenges, but as a new herbicide with a novel active ingredient, this product will be a critical option for growers to add to their toolbox specific to resistance management.

    Tergeo is a new molecule discovered by Farm Hannong, a Korean agrochemical company, and developed and registered by ISK Biosciences Corporation, a subsidiary of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd., for use in the United States. Earlier this year, HELM Agro US and ISK Biosciences Corporation agreed to collaborate regarding the distribution of Gamma herbicide for the U.S. crop protection market.

    “At a time when few new herbicides are being brought to market, Gamma is truly breakthrough technology,” says Schumacher. “At HELM, we have a passion for discovering new technology that will help shape the future of agriculture while creating greater value and profitability for our customers.”

    To learn more about new Gamma herbicide, go to discoverhelm.com, call 813-621-8846 or contact your local HELM sales representative.

  • Extension Economist Doesn’t Expect Hemp Acres to Increase in Southeast in 2021

    File photo shows a field of hemp

    With hemp harvest beginning across the Southeast, predictions are already being made about what next year’s crop might look like. One Extension economist believes there will not be an acreage increase in 2021.

    Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension economist Adam Rabinowitz does not expect acres in the Southeast to increase until the market shows significant recovery.

    Rabinowitz

    “I don’t think we’ll see more acres in the Southeast. We’re not seeing the price rebound back up to the point to where there was this huge interest of getting into that production,” Rabinowitz said. “I think we’re going to have to see a little bit more of the market really play out in terms of what the real consumer demand is and get a better understanding of that, and then potentially, try to find some efficiencies in the production practice before we’ll see an acreage increase.”

    Alabama Hemp Applications

    Hemp applications for the 2021 season are already being accepted in Alabama. They are available at agi.alabama.gov/hempapp.  The final day to apply for a hemp license is Nov. 30, 2020 by 5:00 pm (CST).

    It will be the third year that the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries has administered the program.

    Georgia Hemp

    According to Tim Coolong, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist, he estimates that between 300 and 400 acres were planted this year with 108 licenses issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Some of those, though, may be processors and others may be farmers who decided not to plant.

    Florida Hemp

    According to Holly Bell, director of cannabis for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), “Florida is becoming the leader in the country – if not the world – on how we’re getting our hemp rolled out and the standards we’re setting.” On April 27, FDACS began issuing hemp cultivation permits for the 2020 growing season. As of mid-August, 550 permits were issued and another 400 were being processed. The 550 permits encompass 18,000 acres of indoor- and outdoor-grown hemp.