AgNet DEMO

Category: Florida

  • Cup of Joe in the Sunshine State? UF Researchers Using AI to Study Coffee’s Potential

    A changing climate could lead to a new crop for Florida producers.

    A coffee plant in a pot in a greenhouse. The red berries contain coffee beans. Photo by Juan Giuliani.

    University of Florida (UF) scientists are already growing coffee plants at the UF/IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit. This could lead to coffee being produced in the Sunshine State one day.

    The project, which is a collaboration between the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and UF/IFAS, is funded by a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

    “We believe that there is the potential for coffee as a novel crop in Florida,” said Diane Rowland, chair of the agronomy department and UF/IFAS’ research lead on the project.

    “Coffee is a crop of global interest that is already facing major challenges due to climate change. At present, the world knows very little about coffee plant roots, their architectures and their function under climate change conditions. The roots are key points in this process,” Rowland said.

    Use of Minirhizotrons

    Researchers are using minirhizotrons, which are clear plastic tubes with tiny cameras inside. This helps them better understand how coffee grows in the field. The devices record images of their roots, as they are placed underground next to the plants.

    Because Minirhizotrons collects so much data, UF/IFAS scientists are collaborating with Alina Zare and Sanjeev Koppal in the College of Engineering to apply artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology to improve and speed up the process.

    Zare will develop artificial intelligence approaches to automatically process and understand the minirhizotron imagery. Koppal will develop new computer vision-based hyperspectral imaging systems to capture more information about the roots and the soil surrounding them than can be obtained from current minirhizotron systems.

    “Minirhizotron datasets are extremely large, require lots of image processing, and are fraught with tremendous measurement variability given the small apertures involved. All of these problems are amenable to machine learning approaches,” Rowland said. “We believe that current algorithms under development by our collaboration will be able to automate and accelerate substantial portions of data collection from minirhizotron data.”

    Minirhizotrons will collect data from the coffee plants growing at the UF/IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit, where the researchers have planted coffee alongside existing citrus trees.

    “Coffee is very sensitive to the cold, so our thought was to try to grow it with another tree that could shelter it. In addition, the citrus grove has freeze protection systems installed, so that could also protect the coffee,” Rowland said.

    While the researchers are growing coffee alongside citrus for practical reasons right now, the combination could one day be economically advantageous, they said.

    “As we thought more about it, we could also explore the combination of citrus and coffee as a possible cropping system in Florida — perhaps a future option the citrus growers might consider. This is a ways off — different questions and logistics would have to be worked out — but definitely worth exploring,” Wilson said.

    The research team is growing Arabica coffee. Globally, Arabica is the most commonly grown variety and the most valuable one on the market.

    For more information, see UF/IFAS News.

  • H-2A Reform: Is Farm Workforce Modernization Act the Answer?

    If it’s not at the top of the list of concerns for vegetable and specialty crop producers, it’s near the top – immigration reform, specifically H-2A reform.

    One potential remedy could be on the way. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, introduced last week by two members of the House of Representatives, is the latest attempt to help farmers who are utilizing the H-2A guestworker program.

    Allison Crittenden, director of Congressional Relations at the American Farm Bureau Federation, commented on this potential solution.

    “Our organization acknowledges that there are severe shortcomings in the Farm Work Modernization Act. While this is a bill introduced in the House, we recognize that in the Senate, there’s a real opportunity for an Ag Labor Bill to come forward that better meets agriculture’s needs,” said Crittenden. “With that being said the main points of the Farm Work Modernization Act are that it does provide legal status to undocumented farm workers; it seeks to make some changes to the H-2A program; and then it also requires farmers in the agriculture industry to adhere to mandatory E-Verify after a certain time period.”

    State of Crisis

    Farm labor is in a state of crisis. Farmers in states like Florida and Georgia are largely dependent on foreign workers to meet the demands on the farm, especially since the supply of U.S. workers is low.

    Reforms to the current H-2A program are mainly needed because wage rates have increased dramatically.

    “What we hear from our membership about is the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). AEWR is calculated by regions, but if you create a national average, that national average has increased by 20% in the last five years. But we know that the prices that farmers are receiving for their crops has not kept up at that same rate,” Crittenden said. “Your labor costs have increased so drastically but what you’re getting paid for your product has not kept up. It’s getting to a point where a farmer’s ability to stay in business is becoming harder.”

    Wage Impact

    The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would reform H-2A wages to better reflect real-world wages, while protecting against sudden wage increases. It would disaggregate wages for agricultural occupations and freeze wages for one year and cap wage fluctuations for most of the country at 3.25% for the next nine years.

    That may be too little too late, though, with respect to the recent AEWR.

    “We see there’s a financial benefit to freezing the AEWR and capping those increases, but we’re already starting at a rate that has increased so drastically over the past five years. Farmers are already struggling with the 2021 AEWR,” Crittenden said.

    Click here for a full text of the bill. U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren, D-CA, and Dan Newhouse, R-WA, reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, H.R. 1537 on Wednesday, March 3.

  • Uphill Battle: Florida Strawberry Producers Challenged This Year

    UF/IFAS photo: Shows strawberries produced.

    One of Florida’s most challenging strawberry seasons is nearing the homestretch of its 2020-21 season. Between insects, Neopestalotiopsis disease and rising imports from Mexico, strawberry farmers have faced an uphill battle all season, says Dustin Grooms, strawberry producer with Fancy Farms in Plant City, Florida.

    “Things have been challenging this year. It’s been a tough year. The volume was off for pretty much, and it’s still off, all year. We’ve been dealing with chili thrips that seem to be giving us a fit. They’ll actually bronze the berry and take away from that red look. It becomes unmarketable,” Grooms said. “They’ll eat the plant down to nothing. We’ve been fighting them all year. We’ve got spider mites that this year have been relentless and have thrown everything and the book at them. They just keep on coming.”

    Neopestalotiopsis Disease

    The main problem has been Neopestalotiopsis. The disease was first discovered during the 2018-19 season and has increased in instances and intensity ever since. It develops quickly, produces spores on the leaves and causes leaf spots on strawberry plants. It can cause severe leaf spotting and fruit rot under favorable weather conditions.

    “This year we’ve seen it right away. It’s been a thorn in our side all season. I think everybody has tried everything they can think of and other people’s thought of, nothing seems to combat it very well,” Grooms said. “It appears that it can actually live in the crown of the plant and if we transplant next year, it may pick it up. That’s where we’re at right now, thinking about next year of what we can do to mitigate that problem.”

    Grooms said the disease flares up with rain and hot weather, a consistent combination in Florida. One weather event of rain and extreme heat contributed to the disease exploding overnight.

    “It’s just been one problem after another. It seems that we can’t get out of one problem before we’re in another one. We’ve just been dealing with all this off and on all year. None of it has ever went away,” said Grooms, who estimates that about 40% of his 125 acres have been impacted by the disease.

    End of Season

    Florida strawberry producers are nearing an end to this season. Grooms added that how long it lasts will depend on how long the chain stores continue buying.

    “We always like to say we’d like to go to Easter. On my personal farm, I couldn’t tell you the last time we went to Easter was. It’s been probably a decade ago,” Grooms said. “We would love to get to the end of the month. The fruit’s here. It’s just, what’s going to happen? We don’t know.”

    Easter is April 4 this year.

  • Lights Out: UV System Helpful Against Strawberry Pathogen

    When the light goes on, it’s lights out for a ruinous strawberry pathogen.

    Just imagine this: Pulling an ultraviolet lamp behind a tractor out into your farm in the middle of the night, pointing the UV light at the strawberries and zapping powdery mildew right out of the leaves and fruit.

    Natalia Peres

    That’s the idea behind new research led by UF/IFAS plant pathology Professor Natalia Peres. A new study she led shows that UV light kills powdery mildew, a disease that can significantly damage strawberries. “UV treatments applied once or twice weekly were as effective as the best available fungicides applied on similar schedules for control of strawberry powdery mildew,” Peres said. “It’s not a one-time fluke.”

    The UV equipment has to be custom-built, but the cost is much lower than that of sprayer equipment, and there is no additional cost other than labor after the unit is built, she said. Since UV applications have to be done at night, Peres and her team have been collaborating with Saga Robotics from Norway on a UV robot-like system that could reduce the labor cost.

    Benefits of the UV light system come as good news to strawberry farmers. UF/IFAS economic research shows strawberries are about a $300 million-per-year industry in Florida.

    Click here for more information.

  • Industry in Decline: Citrus Greening, Irma Impacting Florida Citrus Production

    Citrus greening has contributed to the industry’s decline in Florida.

    Florida citrus production has decreased for almost two decades. According to Marisa Zansler, director of economic and market research at the Florida Department of Citrus, the two main factors for the state’s steady decline are citrus greening (huanglongbing, known as HLB) and Hurricane Irma.

    Staggering Statistics

    Zansler presented staggering statistics during the Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference on Feb. 26 that showed how production has decreased since 2003–04. It was the season before citrus greening emerged as a threat to the state’s citrus industry.

    Florida is projected to produce 56 million boxes of oranges this season, which would be the state’s second smallest citrus output in the last 20 years.

    “Florida citrus production is projected to decrease 18.5% compared to last season. That’s largely due to an increase in fruit drop this season. This could very well be a lingering effect from Hurricane Irma back in September 2017 just as harvesting of the crop was set to commence,” Zansler said.

    Fruit Drop

    According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, postbloom fruit drop affects all cultivars of citrus but cases can be severe depending on bloom emergence in relation to rainfall. Navel and Valencia oranges experience the most damage because they can have multiple blooms.

    Due to Hurricane Irma’s impact, Florida’s 2017–2018 citrus season yielded the smallest orange output at around 45 million boxes. To put that into context, the season before HLB took a stranglehold on the state’s citrus industry, Florida produced 242 million boxes of oranges.

    “Orange production right now, which accounts for 91% of Florida’s certified citrus production or is projected to exceed 90% this season, is estimated to decline nearly 20%,” Zansler said. “Florida production of oranges today at 56 million boxes (the USDA forecast for February) is actually less than a quarter of what it was back in the 2003–04 season.”

  • Immigration Reform: Ag Leaders Sound Off on Timely Topic

    A farmworker cuts romaine for harvest.

    The USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum recently highlighted various topics surrounding the future of the industry.

    Two agricultural leaders discussed one issue that has been at the industry’s forefront in the Southeast – immigration reform.

    National Council of Farmer Cooperatives President and CEO Chuck Conner said immigration reform has long been a hot issue discussed in Washington D.C. but has failed to yield any change over the last decade; despite a shortage of farm workers and increasing wages within the H-2A program.

    “This problem is still out there. In fact, it’s getting worse. We’ve got a lot of undocumented workers on our farms and ranches. They need some kind of legal status. We talk about the amazing accomplishments of American agriculture throughout COVID,” Conner said. “We couldn’t do what we do every day without the existence of these workers, pure and simple, so we need to keep them on our farms and ranches. We need to pull them out of the shadows and give them the legal authority to work on those places.”

    American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall echoed Conner’s sentiments.

    “It’s the biggest limiting factor that agriculture has. We’ve got young people coming out of college that want to have jobs in agriculture. We’ve got farmers that are ready to bring their children back home. They’ve got the land and resources and the water. But they don’t have the labor to expand to be able to afford to bring their children back home with them,” Duvall said. “We’ve got to solve this program. I hope that Congress will take it head on and find some solutions to it.”

    H-2A Program

    The H-2A program allows farmers who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs. But H-2A wages for 2021 just increased and are threatening to skyrocket if the Biden Administration gets its $15 minimum wage. As costs increase and Mexico continues to dump produce and drive market prices down, farmers are struggling to stay afloat.    

    “We have a vibrant guest worker program in this country where we temporarily bring people into the country to do agricultural work. This is a very difficult and cumbersome program for our farmers, and in particular, for our smaller farmers who are trying to make ends meet,” Conner added. “The bureaucracy and the cost of our H-2A guest worker program is just making it almost prohibitive for them to survive. We need reform for that guest worker program.”

    Duvall added, “It’s got to be affordable. Our employees deserve to be paid a good salary. But our farmers have got to be able to afford it because we’re price takers, not price makers. They’ve got to be able to afford it so we can continue to provide those jobs and continue to grow food on our farms.”

  • Mighty Mites: UF Scientists Provide Information for Hemp Producers

    UF/IFAS photo/This is a photo of a predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis feed on a twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)

    University of Florida researchers have released information about mites that could impact the state’s hemp producers.

    The mites can cause devastation to hemp produced in fields and greenhouses. These include hemp russet mites, broad mites and spider mites.

    “These pests can attack hemp by distorting growth, causing defoliation and even killing plants,” said Lance Osborne, a professor of entomology at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, in a UF/IFAS press release .

    A 30-minute presentation on mites can be viewed at the following website, Mites of Industrial Hemp in Florida. Osborne narrates the video, while Juanita Popenoe, a UF/IFAS Extension agent specializing in commercial fruit production for Lake, Orange and Marion counties, and research entomologist Cindy McKenzie of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS) at the U.S. Horticulture Laboratory, co-authored the new document.

    “The video explores the most important groups of mites, how to identify them, latest research available on chemical and biological control methods and more,” Osborne said.

    Producers can learn how to prevent mites from entering their greenhouses and how to scout for them in fields. Growers can also learn about symptoms to look out for.

    Click here for more information.

  • Increasing Infestations: Asian Bean Thrips Remain a Problem for Florida Farmers

    UF/IFAS photo shows an Asian Bean Thrip.

    Asian bean thrips (ABT) continue to be problematic for vegetable producers in South Florida. According to the University of Florida/IFAS, populations are increasing consistently across the region.

    Reports from the Homestead region indicate Asian bean thrips are the predominate species, though have decreased from 100% ABT to 70% ABT and 30% F. palmi. Other thrips species are increasing north of Homestead. Most farms are reporting thrips infestations besides ABT.

    ABT populations increased to 1.0 ABT per bloom in northeastern Hendry County, with an increase during vegetative stages. In the southeastern part of the county, base populations range from 0.2 to 0.8 ABT per bloom in plantings that are at full bloom. Populations of up to 1.3 ABT per bud were also reported. Later plantings have also reached 4.2 ABT per bloom in early pod development.

    ABT was reported at 0.4 ABT per bloom in plantings in northern Collier County, reaching 2.2 ABT per bloom in plantings nearing harvest.

    Aggressive insecticide programs have slowed populations to 0.3 ABT per bloom in eastern Palm Beach County.

    Click here for management recommendations.

  • COVID Impact: Financial Sting Comparable to Hurricane Irma

    COVID-19 adversely affected Florida’s vegetable and specialty crop producers in 2020. The financial impact was staggering, comparable to hurricanes that ravage the region almost every year.

    Christa Court, an assistant professor of regional economics at the University of Florida/IFAS, compares the pandemic’s impact to Hurricane Irma, which impacted the state in 2017.

    Court

    “The one that I typically compare it to is the estimates we have that are relatively comparable for Hurricane Irma. If you remember, Hurricane Irma came straight up the peninsula of Florida and impacted nearly every county that had agricultural production in some way where it was large enough that the tropical storm forced winds covered just about the entire state,” Court said. “That I believe was just over $1 billion. Looking at (COVID’s impact of) $895 million of just that one season, it’s not $895 million for all production that occurred in 2020 but just what was going on in that March-to-mid-May season.

    “It’s a significant impact and comparable to some of these larger hurricanes that we’ve experienced.”

    As restaurants closed down nationwide, farmers felt the sting of a normal sales outlet not being an available option anymore. Farmers had to think inside the box with their marketing strategies. Many resorted to selling boxed produce direct to consumers. While they didn’t recoup all the profits they would have gotten selling to restaurants, their marketing efforts helped make people aware of the importance of buying American.  

  • What’s Next? Georgia Producer Concerned About Future of American Farmer

    Georgia vegetable producer Sam Watson may not be a blueberry farmer, but he had a vested interest in the International Trade Commission’s recent decision regarding the impact of blueberry imports.

    Watson

    Watson, like his farming brethren, was disappointed that the ITC did not find that imports do have a significant injury to the domestic industry.

    “It’s just really frustrating and disheartening. We all know what’s happening,” Watson said. “I’m just afraid corporate America, these corporate farms and politics have played a big role in it.”

    The decision was made despite staggering statistical evidence of how the rise of imports in previous years from countries like Mexico has led to diminished prices.

    Another ITC Hearing

    Watson, managing partner of Chill C Farms in Colquitt County, Georgia, produces squash, zucchini, bell pepper, cabbage, eggplant and cucumbers. Squash and cucumbers are scheduled for a similar hearing with the ITC on April 8.

    The future of the American farmers is at stake with these hearings. With all of the competitive advantages that Mexico has, how can Southeast farmers compete? They can’t, says Watson.

    “When you go to talk about the regulatory side, the labor side, the subsidy side, the fact that they can just outright do it cheaper than we can … it doesn’t matter how much is coming because they’re just going to eventually put us out anyway. They can just do it cheaper,” Watson said.

    The USITC is currently seeking input for two additional investigations regarding the impact of imported cucumbers and squashes on the U.S. seasonal markets. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) requested the investigations in a letter. The USITC will hold a public virtual hearing regarding the investigations on April 8 at 9:30 a.m.