File photo shows downy mildew disease on a cucurbit plant.
Fungicide resistance remains a concern for Florida vegetable farmers trying to manage downy mildew disease.
Scientists like Gary Vallad, a Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Florida/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, implore producers not to be too reliant on one specific fungicide. It can lead to resistance issues.
“Orondis is one that is kind of the industry standard. It’s probably the most effective product available. But it also is in that category of being high risk for resistance,” Vallad said.
“What we’re trying to do here is show growers there are a number of other products that are very effective and would be very good to rotate them in with your Orondis program. What we want to do is make sure the industry is not just relying on Orondis that they are utilizing these other tools they have in the toolbox as well.”
Consequences of Misdiagnosis
Vallad also cautions growers about the consequences of misdiagnosing downy mildew.
“The symptoms can vary based on the cucurbit host itself. Symptoms on cucumber are very classic, but if you get some of the other cucurbit species, the symptoms can vary. A great example is there were some watermelon samples that came in the lab where folks thought it was gummy stem blight and it actually was downy mildew,” Vallad added.
“If you’re not careful, you can misdiagnose. The bad thing is, a lot of things we use for gummy stem blight, fungicides for that management, are not going to work very well on downy mildew, and vice versa. Like all diseases, getting a proper diagnosis is very critical to properly managing it.”
Downy Mildew Background
Downy mildew disease can destroy plant foliage and cause the leaves to curl and die. Without healthy leaves and vines, a plant is vulnerable to blisters and sunscald during hot days. The pathogen thrives in wet, humid conditions and needs moisture on the surface of the plant for successful spore germination and further infection.
“It is an extremely aggressive pathogen, especially under the growing conditions in Florida. A big reason why we have so many big issues here in Florida is because of our environmental conditions. Most of our varieties don’t have any type of resistance to it, which means we’re highly reliant on fungicides for management,” Vallad said.
“We’re sub-tropical so we always have warm weather. Our relative humidity is really high. Of course, it’s Florida so we get lots of rainfall as well. These are very ideal conditions for this fungus.”
The disease is favored by a temperature range of between 41 degrees F and 86 degrees F; relative humidity greater than 90%; period of near-saturated relative humidity for sporangia formation, which includes heavy morning dew, foggy mornings and rain. Spores are easily dispersed by wind and rain.
In the age of COVID-19, sanitizer applications are essential for producers to keep their workforce healthy.
Laurel Dunn, Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Georgia, offers several guidelines for using sanitizers and other cleaning products in facilities where vegetable and specialty crops are cleaned and packaged.
Not All Sanitizers are Appropriate
Dunn
The first step is to realize not all sanitizers are appropriate for equipment or other areas where produce is being handled.
“Sanitizers in general are a bit trickier because it depends on where you’re using them. If you’re using them to clean your floors or your bathrooms or things like that, you can use whatever,” Dunn said.
“If you’re using anything that’ll contact your food contact surfaces; your conveyors, packing equipment and stuff like that, then you have to go through your EPA registrations and make sure you’re using something that’s appropriate and approved for use on the food and is also adequate to inactivate something like the coronavirus.
“You might be trying to deal with your microbial concerns by using that sanitizer, and in doing so, put a chemical hazard right in your food product.”
Other Tips
Another tip to remember is that sanitizers work better on surfaces that are free of dirt. Also, remember that sanitizers need time to work so don’t spray and then wipe off immediately.
“Another thing we see a lot too, and I’m guilty in my own house, is using a sanitizer and spraying it on dirt, which, that doesn’t do a lot of good. You need to have it pretty clean,” Dunn said.
“Then also spraying a sanitizer and wiping it off immediately. A lot of our sanitizers need like 30 seconds to a couple of minutes to work. You have to make sure you’re using the right thing, but also make sure you’re using it correctly.”
Dunn said COVID-19 is a “relatively puny virus” compared to others so it will react quickly to the various sanitizers available.
Photo submitted by Patricio Munoz/Shows Sentinel variety.
The University of Florida’s (UF) newest blueberry variety possesses the quality all growers want in the Sunshine State.
“It can make you money,” said Patricio Munoz, UF blueberry breeder.
Munoz emphasized the attributes that make the Sentinel variety highly sought after from Florida farmers.
“We can go around to yield, quality and everything but, yes, this one can make you money. I think we have consistent data since 2017 when the plant was already two years old and we started looking at it,” Munoz said.
“It’s a consistent variety in terms of high yields and a consistent variety in terms of different locations. We have good supporting data for releasing this variety for consistent yields across locations and across years and in the best time of the season, which is early.”
Years of Research
Sentinel, released in October, was the culmination of 12 years of research by three different plant breeders, including Munoz. His relationship with Florida growers is vital to producing a variety that exceeds expectations. Communication is key to know what their needs are.
“If you ask the growers what do they want, they say we want yield, high fruit quality and in the right time of the season, which is early for us in Florida,” Munoz said. “Their wish is long and very complex.”
Munoz insists there is no perfect variety and doubts there will ever be.
“In some cases you compromise fruit quality to produce the yield, and in other cases you compromise yield to produce quality. The more fruit you produce, usually the quality decreases,” Munoz said. “We use an index of selection where we combine all of these traits. We give them different weights and based on that, we try to compromise.”
Sweet Flavor
One characteristic of Sentinel that does not disappoint, though, is flavor.
“Flavor is very subjective. One of us, if we tried the same blueberries, we might have different perceptions of how that blueberry tastes. It’s a difficult job for the breeder because he needs to breed for what he believes the people will like,” Munoz said. “We are trying to take subjectivity out of the equation here by doing tasting panels. We provide the fruit to a bunch of people at a tasting panel and they give us scores. What do think about it? In this case, this (Sentinel) cultivar was tasted by over 200 people and they put it in a very good place regarding the commercial cultivars that we have.
“We need to breed for the growers, but we also need to breed for the consumers, because if the consumers are not happy with the fruit that they are consuming, they’re not going to go back. If they don’t go back to buy more fruit, the growers are not going to have a place to sell the fruit. We need to please the whole chain.”
Munoz said Sentinel is a good cultivar for central and north Florida. It is not recommended for growers in south Florida where conditions are different.
Rows of watermelon in North Florida, trees, leaves. UF/IFAS Photo: Thomas Wright.
On July 1, 2020, new record-keeping requirements went into effect for nitrogen and phosphorus amounts applied by growers enrolled in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Best Management Practices (BMP) program. These records are required due to the passage of Senate Bill 712, the Clean Waterways Act.
Growers have been asking many questions about this new requirement and what they must do to be in compliance with the law. This article is comprised of questions and answers designed to help growers understand their requirements as a FDACS BMP program participant, and the records submission process moving forward.
Matt Warren, environmental manager with the FDACS Office of Agricultural Water Policy in Hardee County answers some of the common questions from growers:
Q: Who does this new law apply to?
A: Any grower enrolled in the FDACS BMP program, regardless of whether or not they are located in an area with a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP).
Q: The new requirement states that growers must submit their application records for nitrogen and phosphorus to FDACS. When do I submit my records?
A: You will submit your records of nitrogen and phosphorus applications only when requested by a FDACS representative during an implementation verification visit. These visits are done by FDACS to verify that a grower is in compliance with the program, by properly implementing the BMPs they committed to in their Notice of Intent to Implement BMPs.
Q: When will these implementation verification visits take place?
A: The visits will be done once every two years. Initially, priority will be focused on visits to growers located in BMAP areas, but every grower enrolled in the BMP program will be visited.
Q: Who will be conducting the implementation verification visits, and how will I be notified when I am receiving a visit?
A: A FDACS field representative will contact the grower to schedule a visit. The visits are not unannounced.
Q: I received a letter in the mail with record-keeping examples and instructions. Do I need to submit my records online?
A: The letter was to inform you of the new requirements and offer a form that you may use to record your nitrogen and phosphorus application information. Do not submit any records at this time. You will only be required to submit your records to the FDACS field representative during your implementation verification visit.
Q: What information am I required to record for submission?
A: Growers are required to keep a record of the total pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus (in the form of P2O5) that are applied to their fields on a monthly basis. Total pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus must be accounted for from all sources applied, including biosolids. Growers do not need to submit records of other nutrient applications, such as minor elements or soil amendments such as lime.
Important note: Growers must continue to keep records for their own files on all nutrient and soil amendment applications, in order to be in compliance as stated in their Notice of Intent to Implement BMPs and BMP checklist requirements.
Q: What form do I use to record my nitrogen and phosphorus application information?
A: FDACS has provided a suggested form for you to use. You are not required to use this form, but it is easy to follow and clearly shows what information is needed and where to input it. FDACS has this form available as a hard copy, printable PDF or in electronic form as an Excel spreadsheet. The Excel spreadsheet is recommended, as the information can be uploaded automatically.
Q: Do I have to give them my only copies of my records?
A: No, you must keep your original copies of your records. Give the FDACS representative a copy of the form mentioned above, or something similar, as your records submission.
Q: How far back do my records need to go for this new requirement?
A: You must submit nitrogen and phosphorus monthly totals for the past two years from the date of your scheduled implementation verification visit. For example, if you have an implementation verification visit scheduled for Dec. 20, 2020, you must submit nitrogen and phosphorus application records dating back to Dec. 20, 2018.
Q: How does FDACS determine if I am in compliance? Is it based on University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recommendations for crop production? What about soil and leaf samples?
A: UF/IFAS recommendations are used to determine if a grower is in compliance. For more information, please refer to these FDACS publications at fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Water/Agricultural-Best-Management-Practices:
Water Quality/Quantity Best Management Practices for Florida Vegetable and Agronomic Crops
Water Quality/Quantity Best Management Practices for Florida Specialty Fruit and Nut Crops
Soil and leaf samples are a requirement under the FDACS BMP program, and the results will also be used to determine if a grower is in compliance with the BMP program. Be sure to keep up with soil and leaf samples, as they may also be needed for justification.
Q: What if I do not have this information available for my FDACS field representative at the time of the implementation verification visit?
A: You will have to work with your FDACS representative. You may be placed in remedial action and given a certain time period to submit your records. If you choose not to submit your records, you may be referred to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for regulatory action.
Q: Are my nitrogen and phosphorus application totals considered public records once they are submitted?
No, they are not considered public record. But, FDACS must provide them to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, if requested, as long as the confidentiality specified for the records is maintained.
See blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/clue/2020/08/31/from-senate-bill-712-to-the-clean-waterways-act-and-agricultural-best-management-practices for more details and information about the Clean Waterways Act.
If you have more questions or would like a copy of the suggested record-keeping form, contact your FDACS Office of Agricultural Water Policy field representative or your UF/IFAS Extension agent.
Here’s hoping for a bountiful blueberry crop and good market in 2021.
Florida farmers are used to adversity. Between occasional hurricanes, unpredictable market prices and challenging international trade from competitors like Mexico, no season is stress free in the Sunshine State.
“It’s not an easy profession. It seems like more paperwork, more everything all the time; more disease, more pests, more regulations,” said Florida blueberry producer Ryan Atwood. “You throw the (coronavirus) pandemic on top of it.”
COVID-19 was an added challenge no one saw coming which makes producers like Atwood glad this year is nearly over and can focus on the 2021 season.
“It was a difficult year as you know. The coronavirus hit right in the middle of our season. It was a big challenge. Thankfully, we limped our way through it. I’m looking forward to a better year next year, I can tell you that,” said Atwood, who lives in Mount Dora, Florida and is one of the state’s blueberry leaders. “I’m kind of beyond it now. It’s in the past. It’s in the rearview mirror. I’m looking forward to 2021 and looking at what does that bring us. I’m looking forward instead of looking back nowadays.”
COVID-19 Impact
If there ever was a time of not reflecting on the past, it is this season. Atwood’s blueberry crop was early in 2020 due to a mild winter and high temperatures that accelerated growth. However, when Atwood started picking high volumes of blueberries, which was around March 18, is when the pandemic shut down the country.
Blueberry growers in Florida and Georgia adapted to restaurants being closed and new guidelines and regulations for keeping their workforce healthy. But part of Atwood looking forward is understanding the challenge of producing a crop during a global pandemic. He and others will not be caught off guard when harvest season rolls around in 2021.
“When it hit last year, it was totally unknown. Sometimes the fear of the unknown is the greatest fear. You’re not sure if you should stop. You don’t know if you should keep going,” Atwood said. “I think this year it’s better in the sense at least you know what you’re dealing with. You have systems and procedures in place, which we implemented last year, too. We sanitized our restrooms more. We had things we implemented more and more but you created them as you were on the go. This year we have those procedures in place for this coming season.
“I feel more confident on handling it. Probably the more important part for us, the marketplace shouldn’t be as disrupted.”
International Trade
As if a pandemic was not enough, Atwood and other farmers had to contend with imports from Mexico that drove market prices down. Atwood is fan of America having its own domestic food supply.
“I just don’t see where it’s in our best interest to allow these foreign competitors into our market when we have a domestic supply of fruit,” Atwood said in April.
You’ve finished your holiday meal, including perhaps, seconds. The aroma of traditional foods still wafts from the kitchen. Lots of people will make leftovers, whether it’s turkey sandwiches or a veggie dish. But some UF/IFAS Extension agents suggest wise alternatives to prepare.
From stuffed bell peppers to shepherd’s pie, here are some thoughts from family and consumer sciences (FCS) agents. Each specializes in nutrition.
For instance, Suzanne Fundingsland, the FCS agent at UF/IFAS Extension Collier County, said she loves to serve cranberry jalapeño relish with holiday meals.
“It’s so easy to make: Coarsely chop fresh cranberries, orange segments and a seeded jalapeño in a food processor,” she said. “Some recipes call for more sugar than others. Start with less. You can always add more. It’s low in calories, high in fiber and includes lots of vitamin C and antioxidants.”
Fundingsland uses the leftover relish on turkey sandwiches and as a partner to a light cream cheese for a cracker spread. It’s also a nice change from all the sweets that are everywhere during the holidays, she said.
In Hillsborough County, FCS agent Kimberly Bragg-Armatrout, said she likes to use a spin on the “famous stuffed bell pepper.”
Instead of a traditional stuffed pepper using beef and rice, Bragg-Armatrout uses leftover turkey and stuffing, assuming you made a healthier stuffing. Otherwise, you can use quinoa. If you want to be creative, you can add any of the other fixings you like. You can even top it off with some cranberry sauce.
“By using turkey instead of beef, you will save on saturated fat and calories,” she said. “Also, to save even more on fat and calories, you can use mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan mix, instead of a cheddar blend. Overall, this would be a healthier option than the traditional stuffed bell pepper.”
Stuffed bell pepper with turkey has about 272 calories, and a traditional bell pepper will have about 308 calories – and it’s high in potassium.
“Now, keep in mind that stuffed peppers can be made in many ways, using lots of healthy ingredients. So be creative,” Bragg-Armatrout said.
Andrea Nikolai, the FCS agent for UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, recommends shepherd’s pie topped with sweet potatoes with a leftover turkey and vegetable mix for the bottom.
Sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber and potassium, and they are high in vitamins A and C.
“Sweet potatoes are also great to helping prevent disease and helping you feel your best,” Nikolai said. “Vitamin A, for example, comes from the beta-carotene, an antioxidant that gives sweet potatoes their orange color. Vitamin A is important for eye heath and helping support immune function. Potassium is great for your heart.”
How about that turkey sandwich?
“If you are looking for a lean protein, turkey is a winner,” Nikolai said. “Make sure to remove the skin to also get rid of much of the fat. Turkey has B vitamins to help with energy and brain function, and zinc and selenium, both of which are involved in many cell processes from normal growth and development.”
Risks come with any crop farmers attempt to produce in the Southeast. Between diseases, pests, input costs, unpredictable weather and instability in the marketplace, producing a crop and making a profit is not a guarantee.
Hemp production is no different. Producers need to do the appropriate research before planting their crop next spring. This is especially important since hemp is a newer crop that is trying to find its footing.
Adam Rabinowitz, Assistant Professor and Extension Economist at Auburn University, implores interested producers to do their homework. They need to know who they are contracting with before seeds are planted.
“It is important that if you are going to get involved in hemp production that you not just understand the production risks involved, how difficult it is to grow and the labor needed to grow in this region but make sure that you’re contracting with a reputable company for the inputs,” Rabinowitz said.
“Whether it be for your seed or your transplants but also for your finished product, most of that product in this area is going to CBD oil; for that oil production, you need to have a reputable company. We know where there have been contracts where even though a contract existed, processors have gone out of business or just didn’t honor it. That is a concern making sure you know who you’re dealing with.”
Applications for new Georgia Hemp Grower Licenses and Hemp Processor Permits will be accepted beginning in January, 2021. Hemp applications and registrations are closed for Alabama.
NOAA graphic shows rainfall for Southeast on Thursday.
Heavy rainfall is expected in the southern and eastern parts of the country on Christmas Eve. Stephanie Ho has the report with USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.
Around SW Florida, whiteflies continue to bounce up and down, as heavy rains and cool nights slowed them down a few days in most places. Population numbers and nymphs are building in a number of mature fields. Growers should increase monitoring efforts as pressure is likely to increase over the next few weeks while older fall fields are terminated. Growers are reporting some problems such as sooty mold in older fields with high whitefly numbers.
In the Manatee Ruskin area, respondents indicate that whitefly numbers have declined in the face of colder weather, and pressure is mostly light.
On the East Coast, reports indicate that whiteflies are reaching high numbers in some older eggplant. Growers and scouts report persistent pressure in tomato with growers spraying as needed.
Reports from Homestead indicate that whiteflies are increasing in a number of crops and that tomato yellow leaf curl virus is widespread in tomato.
Here is the weekly scouting report of the Asian Bean Thrip (ABT) in various counties in Florida.
According to UF/IFAS, outside of Miami-Dade County, high population densities of ABT continue to be in isolated occurrences only.
Photo graphic by UF/IFAS.
The highest instances of ABT continues to be in eastern Palm Beach County. Populations are as high as 4.0 per bloom. However, it has not been reported in western Palm Beach County.
In southeastern Hendry County, population density averaged between 0.1 and 1.6 ABT per bloom. In northeastern Hendry County, populations are reported from 0.1 to 0.6 ABT per bloom. In western Hendry County, ABT population density was reported at 0.2 ABT per bloom. In central Hendry County, ABT was identified only in a single flower.
For the first time, ABT was reported in southern Glades County at 0.1 ABT per bloom.
In northern Collier County, ABT was not identified this week. This suggest population density is near sampling threshold. In southern Martin County, ABT was not identified this week, with a previous report of only one ABT identified in a single flower.
Isolated incidences of higher populations have been discovered at various sites after harvest in an adjacent field.
