tolerant

Growers Must Settle for HLB-Tolerant Trees While Waiting for Resistance

Dan CooperEvents, HLB Management, Varieties

The dream of citrus varieties being totally resistant to huanglongbing (HLB) disease (citrus greening) is still a distant reality for Florida growers. For now, they must depend on tolerant varieties to lessen the disease’s impact, which is widespread throughout most of the state. Michael Rogers, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center …

Whitefly Research: UGA Vegetable Specialist Discusses Management Option for Growers

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Whiteflies are almost a guarantee for South Georgia vegetable producers in the fall. Growers need protection against whitefly-transmitted viruses which can devastate cucurbits. Ted McAvoy, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension vegetable specialist, is researching multiple cucurbit crops to see which ones are more tolerant of the different viruses that frequently accompany whitefly pressure. “Since about 2017, we’ve …

Blueberry Field Day: Helping Growers Remain Sustainable Now, Into the Future

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry producers hope to remain sustainable now and into the future. That is why Thursday’s Florida Blueberry Growers Association spring meeting and field day at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Plant Science Research and Education Center in Citra, Florida, was so important. UF/IFAS researchers and graduate students provided vital information …

USDA Expands Insurance Option for Nursery Growers to All States

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding crop insurance tailored for nursery producers to all counties in all states. Nursery Value Select (NVS) is a pilot program that enables nursery growers to select the dollar amount of coverage that best fits their risk management needs. Its expansion is part of USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) efforts to …

Citrus Health Forum Helps Cold-Hardy Growers

Dan CooperCold Hardy

Production in the cold-hardy citrus region is still in its infancy. Growers and industry leaders need events like the Citrus Health Forum to obtain the necessary information to help this young industry continue to flourish. The latest forum took place at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy …

Can’t Depend on China: Country’s Own Pecan Production Progress a Concern for SE Growers

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson China’s presence as an export destination for U.S. pecans is a thing of the past. Southeast (SE) producers should not rely on China continuing to import substantial amounts of pecans, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist. “From this point on, I would not count on China anymore. We may see years where they …

vote

Georgia Citrus Growers to Vote on Marketing Order to Fund Research

Dan CooperGeorgia, Research

Georgia’s citrus industry started with the help of University of Georgia (UGA) Extension. Research assistance from UGA could help the industry flourish. Georgia citrus growers will have an opportunity to vote on a marketing order that will help fund potential research, explains Ken Corbett, chairman of the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Citrus Fruits and a producer at Corbett Brothers …

El Niño Impact: What Blueberry Diseases are Most Concerning for Growers This Year?

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida, Weather

By Clint Thompson The excessive wet weather associated with El Niño this winter has provided ideal conditions for blueberry diseases to pop up. Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), highlighted the two disease concerns growers should be wary of heading into harvest season. They are botrytis gray …

Georgia Vegetable Growers to Vote to Continue Marketing Order

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

Georgia’s vegetable growers are voting this month on whether to continue the Georgia Vegetable Commission marketing order which allows assessment of one cent per marketing unit of vegetables as described in the current marketing order. The marketing order applies to producers with at least 50 acres of the total annual production of vegetable crops. These include beans, bell pepper, specialty …

Under the Microscope: Melon Growers Should Consult Extension When Diagnosing Disease

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Anthracnose and downy mildew provide similar disease symptoms in watermelons. Producers should be careful in self-diagnosing the potential disease in their crops this season. Bhabesh Dutta, University of Georgia Extension vegetable plant pathologist, implores growers to consult Extension personnel when deducing what problem they might have. A wrong diagnosis could have financial repercussions. “What we recommend is …