AgNet DEMO

Category: Florida

  • UF/IFAS Findings Show Less Need for Pesticide to Control Strawberry Pest

    Photo shows strawberries damaged by chilli thrips. Photo is “courtesy, Babu Panthi.”

    By: Brad Buck, 352-875-2641 (cell), bradbuck@ufl.edu

    It’s harvest season for Florida’s $300 million-per-year strawberry season, so those who grow this fruit need help to control pests such as the tiny (up to 2-millimeters long), destructive chilli thrips.

    Farmers often use pesticides to control thrips, but they would like to use minimal chemicals. University of Florida scientists may have found a good reason to use pesticides at lower volumes and less frequently.

    Chilli thrips usually arrive in Florida strawberry fields after plants bear new leaves, a couple of weeks after they are planted. Adult thrips come to the strawberry field from nearby crop fields or from vegetation. They feed on new strawberry plants and cause bronzing and darkening of leaves, which stunts the plant’s growth and reduces yield.

    When these bugs feed on strawberry plants, they don’t stay in one place.

    In a new study, University of Florida research shows chilli thrips tend to stay in one basic area for about two weeks, then move and infect nearby plants. That can be a fortuitous two weeks for growers.

    With this finding, farmers can use less pesticides to control the bugs. Farmers who use less pesticides save money on chemicals and help preserve the environment, UF/IFAS scientists say.

    “Our findings will reduce the overall input costs of strawberry production and, therefore make Florida strawberry growers competitive in the market with strawberries from Southern California and Mexico,” said Babu Panthi, a former doctoral student in entomology and nematology at the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and now a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University.

    Specifically, the study’s findings mean Florida strawberry growers can reduce the number of insecticide applications by spraying the areas infested with chilli thrips and delay insecticide application by at least a week after they discover the bugs, said Sriyanka Lahiri, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of entomology at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC).

    Additionally, the findings should help strawberry growers with their overall approach to mitigate pest damage.

    “With very few effective products available for insecticide rotation, this approach will assist with integrated pest management practices to control chilli thrips and create opportunity to include biological control agents more effectively,” Lahiri said.

    Panthi cites these reasons to reduce insecticide use:

    • Excessive reliance on chemical insecticides is not sustainable to control thrips.
    • Strawberry growers must determine whether limited applications of highly effective insecticide products per season should be used against chilli thrips early in the season or reserved for flower thrips later.

    Because chilli thrips confine their damage to Florida strawberries, these findings impact only the state’s growers. But because it’s an invasive species that’s rapidly expanding its geographic range, strawberry growers in other U.S. states can learn and prepare to manage this pest in the future, Lahiri said.

    Panthi did his doctoral studies under the supervision of Lahiri, Justin Renkema, a former UF/IFAS assistant professor of entomology at GCREC and Oscar Liburd, an entomology Professor at UF/IFAS in Gainesville. His research wasn’t limited to a pesticide finding. Panthi looked at managing chilli thrips from a wider perspective.

     “I established a threshold for chilli thrips and developed a sampling plan to make control decisions,” Panthi said. “Such a plan allows growers to make accurate control decisions with fewer samples compared to whole field scouting and avoid making unnecessary insecticide applications. This is more important for Florida strawberry growers since the early-season chilli thrips population is not widespread in the field and still low to cause any significant damage.”

  • Potential Frost in Forecast for Areas in Florida

    Graphic shows temperature outlook for December.

    In an email, Gary England, UF/IFAS Extension Agent IV Emeritus, cautions Floridians about potential frost that could linger in some areas throughout the week.

    Lows in South Georgia and along the I-10 Corridor are expected to bottom out in the low-to-mid 30s tonight and mid-to-upper 30s in the Hastings area and further south.

    “NWS/JAX is including patchy frost as Tuesday morning approaches for south Georgia on down to the Ocala area tonight. Tuesday night and Wednesday morning should be the coldest weather for the week, with potential for a light freeze from south Georgia down to Gainesville and low-to-mid 30s further south to central Florida,” England said. “Widespread frost is in the forecast for the middle of the Florida Peninsula down to the Marion/Lake County line for Wednesday morning; patchy frost in the Hastings area.

    “Temperatures should remain slightly below normal for the week, with some improvement by Friday. Could be a little more frost for north Florida Wednesday night/Thursday morning and we’ll have a better idea in a day or so.”  

  • Four to Join Citrus Hall of Fame

    The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame will induct four new members in 2021. They are John L. Jackson of Sorrento, Florida; the late Lew J. Prosser of Plant City, Florida; Adam H. Putnam of Memphis, Tennessee; and Steven D. “Steve” Sorrells of Arcadia, Florida. They will be inducted during a luncheon tentatively scheduled for Nov. 5 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. The luncheon is normally held in March but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    JOHN JACKSON
    Jackson was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame last year and was a county Extension agent (professor) for almost 40 years before heading up the Florida Citrus Industry Research Coordinating Council. The council determined citrus industry research priorities and projects.

    Jackson

    Jackson was responsible for such innovations as Florida’s Automated Weather Network and Water Conserv II, encouraging citrus producers to use reclaimed water for irrigation. He established the Mid-Florida Citrus Foundation (MFCF) as the research arm of the effort and served as the MFCF manager for more than 20 years. Jackson is the only Extension agent in Florida ever to have been recognized twice with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s distinguished Award of Superior Service: one for his work with reclaimed water, the other for his work with FAWN.

    Some of Jackson’s other noteworthy accomplishments include the establishment of an annual equipment operator’s school, now known as Farm Safety Day; the Central Florida 4-H Citrus Project, which over a 20-year period engaged more than 2,000 middle and high school students in agriculture; and grower meetings for citrus producers.

    He was a member of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame for more than 40 years, serving as chairman from 2006 to 2019. He led the organization from near-bankruptcy to a partnership with Florida Southern College that now has an endowment of more than $300,000. The endowment helps preserve and promote the heritage of the Florida citrus industry through an engaged learning program with fellowship students.

    LEW PROSSER
    Prosser, who lived from 1899 to 1996, began his career in citrus in 1921, working for R.W. Burch Inc. and eventually assuming ownership in 1928. Two years later, he had become the third largest independent citrus shipper in Florida. He created the first farm production credit association in the Plant City area, sponsored by a forerunner to the Federal Production Credit Association.

    He organized the first and only citrus canning plant in the area, Citrus Products Co., and created the Florida Mixed Car Company, which specialized in marketing mixed carlot shipments of citrus and produce on one rail car. He underwrote a case against the Interstate Commerce Commission in the mid-1930s that resulted in significant relief for produce growers and shippers by requiring express companies to provide full refrigerated car service for produce at reduced rates. The landmark ruling resulted in increased shipments of produce from Plant City, eventually paving the way for the state’s largest farmers’ market.

    Prosser traveled extensively with A.F. Camp to research citrus production practices in other countries, which resulted in the development of two patents that became widely used throughout the state. One patent was for the use of the trisodium phosphate bath, which retarded decay and eliminated the need for individually wrapping each piece of fruit. The other patent was for a color-added process to improve fruit appearance. Prosser was the author of “Early History of the Produce Industry in Plant City.”

    ADAM PUTNAM
    Putnam is a fifth-generation Floridian and third-generation farmer whose public service career began in the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000. He was then elected to the United States House of Representatives for five terms. He served as the Florida commissioner of agriculture from 2011 to 2019. During his tenure, he assisted and coordinated virtually every political aspect of the Florida citrus industry’s needs to preserve and protect the industry. He helped to obtain much needed funding to combat a variety of problems over the years, such as canker, hurricanes and citrus greening.

    citrus crop
    Putnam

    Putnam has provided leadership on food safety laws, water issues, government transparency and the preservation of the Florida Everglades. He created the Fresh from Florida campaign to raise awareness and access to fresh fruits and vegetables from Florida. His efforts in maintaining international market access for Florida citrus trade helped keep export markets viable. His leadership in recovery efforts after the hurricanes in 2004 helped farmers get back on their feet.

    Currently the CEO of Ducks Unlimited, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, Putnam owns Putnam Groves Inc., a family-owned and operated citrus farm and cattle ranch located in Central Florida.

    STEVE SORRELLS
    Sorrells grew a family citrus business from 400 acres in 1972 to its current production of 5,500 acres. One of his biggest contributions to the industry was being the first grower to utilize the U.S. Department of Labor’s H-2A visa program to obtain labor to harvest citrus more than 20 years ago. He helped promote the program to other growers and to make it a common practice that has modernized the industry’s labor force and state regulations.

    Sorrells has served on numerous industry boards and organizations and is the only two-time president of Florida Citrus Mutual, where he led the industry through the tariff and anti-dumping battles with Brazil. Sorrells chaired the Citrus Tariff Oversight Committee, which directed the industry strategy on how to preserve the tariff on imported orange juice while also making sure that exporters were playing by the rules. An innovator in production, Sorrells served as chairman of the original Florida Citrus Production Research Advisory Council and has embraced new technology and practices in rehabilitating groves. A 20-year member of the board for Orange Growers Marketing Association, he has helped maintain that group’s position as Florida’s Natural Growers’ largest fruit supplier.

    EVENT TICKETS
    Tickets to the Hall of Fame luncheon, which is co-sponsored by Florida Citrus Mutual and the Florida Department of Citrus, are $100 for patron seating or $1,500 for a sponsor table, which includes preferred seating for eight.  The event will be followed by the Florida Citrus Processors’ Association’s OJ Meet & Greet with the inductees.

    A portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales will go to fund an educational outreach program to help promote the history of the Florida citrus industry. More information is available from Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Executive Director Brenda Eubanks Burnette at 561-351-4314.

    Learn more about the Citrus Hall of Fame here.

    Source: Florida Citrus Hall of Fame

  • Commissioner Nikki Fried on U.S. House Passage of MORE Act

    more act
    Cannabis and its usage. Marijuana leaf and marijuana products.
    Cosmetics, hemp milk, hemp oil, cookies, brownies and nutritional supplements.

    (FDACS) — The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.3884, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, by a vote of 228-164. This comprehensive, bipartisan cannabis reform package would decriminalize marijuana and take much-needed steps to address the racial injustices of prohibition. As of November 2020, a record-high 68 percent of Americans support marijuana legalization.

    Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a noted cannabis advocate, offered the following statement:

    “This vote marks the monumental progress our country continues to make as states – and now the U.S. House of Representatives – recognize the urgent need to end the federal government’s misguided cannabis prohibition, and begin to right the wrongs of the War on Drugs and its damage to communities of color. I applaud the leadership of cannabis’ congressional champions and the diverse group of organizations whose tireless work made this historic legislation and vote happen. I am hopeful that this long overdue measure will be prioritized in the 117th Congress, on behalf of the countless families whose lives were upended by the War on Drugs, patients who need safe and secure access to medical marijuana, and the diverse array of entrepreneurs seeking the economic potential of this growing industry, including hemp farmers right here in Florida.”

    Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

  • CFAP 2 Deadline is Dec. 11

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds vegetable and specialty crop producers who wish to apply to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) 2 that the deadline is Friday, Dec. 11.

    This program provides relief to farmers facing market disruptions and associated costs due to COVID-19.

    Rabinowitz

    It is a program that Adam Rabinowitz, Assistant Professor and Extension Economist at Auburn University, encourages all eligible farmers to take advantage of.

    “CFAP 2 covers a wide range of fruit and vegetables and specialty crops. It’s much broader coverage that’s typical from other government programs. For those that have experienced any type of marketing and production effects as a result of COVID-19, this is an excellent opportunity based on sales, just comparison sales. It’s a self-certification process, so there’s very little paperwork. It’s very easy access to be able to get these funds to assist with covering those losses,” Rabinowitz said.

    “It covers such a broad range of specialty crops, well over 200 different specialty crops. I think all fruit and vegetable producers really need to look at this and make sure they get to their FSA office and sign up for this program.”

    For More Information

    Producers can find eligible commodities, payment rates, calculations and options to apply on farmers.gov/cfap.

    CFAP 2 is a separate program from the first iteration of CFAP, now referred to as CFAP 1. Participating in CFAP 1 is not a prerequisite for participating in CFAP 2. Additionally, producers who applied for CFAP 1 will not be automatically enrolled in CFAP 2. They must complete a new application to be eligible for assistance.

  • FFVA Urges DeSantis to Prioritize Vaccines for Agricultural Workforce

    Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) Chair Aaron Troyer, on behalf of FFVA members, sent a letter to Gov. DeSantis this week urging for priority distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine for Florida’s agricultural workforce.

    While FFVA strongly supports that healthcare workers and long-term care facilities receive first priority, Troyer urged for prioritizing Florida agriculture after those groups to ensure a continued safe and abundant food supply.

    “The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the essential nature of agricultural workers, who are on the front lines putting healthy, nutritious food on consumers’ tables,” the letter stated. “As you well know, Florida is the ‘winter bread basket’ for the entire country and a key economic driver for the state. The health and well-being of the agriculture workforce is the top priority for Florida growers.”

    Florida growers have already taken extraordinary measures, completed extensive training and made substantial investments in workforce protection against COVID-19 since the start. However, there is still concern for COVID-19 impacts on the workforce without access to a vaccine in the coming months.

    See attached letter:

    December 2, 2020

    The Honorable Ron DeSantis

    Governor, State of Florida

    The Capitol400 S. Monroe St.Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

    Dear Governor DeSantis:

    On behalf of the members of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, I am writing to strongly urge that the state include agricultural workers among its top priorities for the COVID-19 vaccine allocation. We understand the state has begun preparations for the rollout of the initial vaccine and strongly support priority allocation to healthcare workers and long-term care facilities. Respectfully, prioritizing vaccinations for Florida’s agricultural workforce (after the aforementioned groups) is vital for a safe and abundant food supply.

    The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the essential nature of agricultural workers, who are on the front lines putting healthy, nutritious food on consumers’ tables. As you well know, Florida is the “winter bread basket” for the entire country and a key economic driver for the state. The health and well-being of the agriculture workforce is the top priority for Florida growers, who have taken extraordinary measures, completed extensive training and made substantial investments in workforce protection against COVID-19 since the start. However, our growing season has only just begun, generating concern of anticipated impacts on our workforce heading in to the winter months if there is still no vaccine available.

    Now more than ever, Florida agriculture plays an important role in our communities, and its workforce plays an even greater one in helping to feed the state and country. Despite best efforts, this virus has proven unstoppable, and no industry is immune to its impacts. But, this industry is resilient, and we will continue to do all we can to protect our workers. That said, priority distribution of a vaccine to agricultural workers ensures a healthy workforce and that food will continue to flow from the farm to consumers.

    Thank you for your leadership and consideration of this request. We stand ready to partner to ensure all of Florida’s essential workers have access to vaccines when available.

    Sincerely,

    Aaron Troyer

    Troyer Brothers FL, Inc.

    Chair, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association:

  • Marketing: The Next Challenge for the White Strawberry

    Producing a white strawberry was the first challenge for University of Florida/IFAS strawberry breeder Vance Whitaker. The next is figuring out how to market it so it could be a viable option for Florida producers in the future.

    Whitaker said there are 12 acres test marketed in different chain stores this year. They will have a better grasp on how the fruit’s outlook after this season.

    “There’s some interest certainly in the industry in trying to make it the fifth berry in the berry category. It has a unique look. It has a unique flavor. It doesn’t taste like a typical strawberry,” Whitaker said. “The key is just trying to get somebody to try it. They first look at it and say, ‘What is that?’ If they try it, they generally like it. I think it’s a product that the growers here are just going to have to figure out how do you introduce this. It’s just a very different type of situation.”

    Future in Food Service

    The fruit could potentially have a future, especially in the food service industry, particularly with high-end restaurants.

    “Growers tell me that the chefs that they’ve sent them to so far really like them. It’s definitely a unique element to use in food as far as just a visual decorating kind of standpoint as well as the different kinds of uses,” Whitaker added. “I think that’s going to be another important aspect with the leading edge being kind of the foodie crowd that looks for new things and maximize the advantages of things that are unusual.”

    White Strawberry’s Origin

    The idea of the white strawberry gained most notoriety in Japan where it was very popular. But those varieties were not conducive to Florida agriculture. According to Whitaker, in 2012, strawberry seeds from Japan were sown at the University of Florida, and a few small plants recovered. The plants’ pollen were crossed with a Florida variety. The seedlings from this fruit ranged from white to pink to red.

    “It has a sweet taste, similar to a strawberry but the aroma is different. The flavor is different,” Whitaker said. “It’s a little bit hard to describe but there is a little bit of pineapple aroma sometimes when you bite into it. For that reason, people are calling it a pineberry. Pineberry is a name that’s been used for some white-fruited strawberries that have existed in small amounts over the years.”

  • New UF/IFAS App to ID Toxic Plants

    Photo by UF/IFAS photography/A new UF/IFAS app, similar to the one shown here, helps residents, farmers and ranchers identify and avoid toxic plants.”

    Some livestock, pets and even children occasionally nibble on poisonous plants, presenting a potential pitfall to the animals and youth. Now, a new, free app designed by UF/IFAS researchers and Extension faculty helps you identify toxic plants.

    Not only is this the first app to identify strictly Florida plants, it’s also the first to distinguish between toxic weeds.

    “This app focuses on the most common and the most toxic plants in Florida, considering the plants and weeds that people, pets and livestock are most likely to encounter in landscapes and other places,” said Chris Marble, an assistant professor of environmental horticulture at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, Florida.

    As a mobile web app, you view this online, UF/IFAS researchers said. It can be used on computers and mobile devices to compare the photos of the plants to the plant in question. Click here to access the app.

    The app features 166 plant species and 455 photos, so each plant has more than one photo. Not everyone knows plant species, so the images should come in handy for people who lack experience with flora, Marble said.

    Additionally, he said, “Many plants change their appearance as they age, which is one of the reasons we included so many photos of each plant.” 

    The app includes all sorts of plants — including invasives and weeds — such as those you’d find in landscapes, parks and farms.

    “I think it’s important that this app contains weeds because so many of the reference sources that are online only cover toxic landscape or household plant species,” said Brent Sellers, an agronomy professor and director of the UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research and Education Center (RCREC), in Ona, Florida. “There are plenty of print references on toxic plants for livestock, but this would be the first app that I’m aware of.” 

    In addition to photos, the app supplies general toxicity levels of “low,” “medium,” “high” and “very high.”

    For example, a plant such as oxalis can be toxic if consumed in very large quantities. Livestock might eat a lot of oxalis, for example. But the plant wouldn’t cause much harm otherwise, Marble said. By contrast, something like the seed from a sago palm is extremely toxic to dogs.

    “It is common for young animals – especially heifers – to graze on poisonous plants,” Sellers said. “This is especially true in cases when they are brought in from a different area and put in pastures with toxic plants.”

    But it’s also common for mature cows to graze toxic plants when desirable forage is scarce, Sellers said.

    In addition to Marble and Sellers, other UF/IFAS faculty who helped design the app are Sandra Wilson, a UF/IFAS professor of environmental horticulture; Esen Momol, director of the Florida Friendly Landscaping ™ program – along with her staff – and the UF/IFAS Office of Information Technology, all of whom are based in Gainesville, Florida.

    To find out more, contact Marble at marblesc@ufl.edu.

  • December 2020 Final Outlook Shows No Strong Trend

    Graphic shows a drought outlook for the country for December.

    According to the UGA Extension Climate and Agriculture blog, the NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center released the latest 30-day climate outlook on Monday. It shows that there is no strong trend towards warmer or colder conditions in December except in southern Florida.

    Early December will be colder than normal. It is still expected to be warmer than normal in late December. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist, said the combination for the month as a whole could go either way, leading to a forecast of equal chances.

    The precipitation is also for equal chances of near, above or below normal except for a slight tilt towards dry conditions in Alabama. The latest drought outlook shows a large part of eastern Georgia and adjacent areas of South Carolina and Florida with likely development of drought.

  • Cold Week Good for Florida Strawberries

    File photo shows harvested strawberries.

    Cold temperatures this week in Florida were just what the doctor ordered for the state’s strawberry crop – especially since temperatures were not well below freezing.

    Vance Whitaker, strawberry breeder at the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, said the cold weather Floridians experienced this week should aid in the development of the strawberry plants.

     “If it gets nice and cold for a few nights, but without freezing, that’s great. It sweetens them up and firms them up. We’ve had pretty warm weather up to now. This is definitely a nice change,” Whitaker said.

    “Definitely for the quality, it’s really good if it gets nice and cold. We don’t have to run water. Ultimately, that’s great for the quality of the berries, the flavor of the berries, the firmness and the shelf life and all that good stuff. It was a warm November. I’d say it was especially helpful in a year like this.”

    This Year’s Crop

    UF photo shows Vance Whitaker.

    An estimated 10,000 acres of strawberries were planted this year. Florida is the country’s second largest producer of strawberries behind California. Whitaker likes how the strawberry plants are faring so far, though this year’s crop is still in its early stages.

    “Everything’s looking very good in general. The transplant quality coming in was good. I’ve seen a lot of pretty fields, good stands of plants. I would say it’s been a great start,” Whitaker said.

    Neopestalotiopsis Disease

    There is somewhat concern about Neopestalotiopsis disease which has also been confirmed in Georgia strawberries. It is a disease Florida producers are familiar with.

    “There is some (disease) around. Thankfully, it hasn’t been a super wet season so far, outside of that tropical storm (Eta). When that came through, those wet days got a little bit of that disease started,” Whitaker said.

    “It’s definitely something the growers are worried about. But it’s not something that’s like an epidemic yet. They’re also much more familiar with what it is being such a new thing it is, than they were the last couple of years. I think they’ve got a lot more perspective on how to handle it than they did before as well.”