By Clint Thompson Florida strawberry growers are on the brink of planting this season’s crop. One University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) expert is cautioning producers about disease control. One disease specifically comes to mind, says Natalia Peres, professor of plant pathology at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. “I think Neopestalotiopsis is still …
UF/IFAS Leader: Plant Pathology Department Has Broad Reach on Variety of Crops
By Clint Thompson Mathews Paret’s appointment as the new head of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant pathology department starts on Sept. 15. It is a critical time for Paret to take over the department considering the plethora of plant diseases that specialty crop growers must manage every year in Florida. “It’s a department …
UF/IFAS Research: On Verge of Developing Domestic Industry for Valuable Spice
Vanilla takes the crown as the second most valuable spice (after saffron) and the world’s most popular flavor among consumers. University of Florida researchers in Homestead are on the verge of developing a domestic vanilla industry, poised to transform agriculture in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for interested small growers and investors. Thanks to nearly $400,000 in grants from …
Interim Senior Vice President: UF/IFAS Vision is to Become Silicon Valley of Agriculture
By Clint Thompson A legislative success story this year for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) will help pave the way for the future of agriculture. Rob Gilbert, interim senior vice president at UF/IFAS, discussed the financial backing that was provided to support the new artificial intelligence (AI) center at the Gulf Coast Research and …
UF/IFAS Research: Lahiri Studies Chilli Thrips on Borders of Fields
By Clint Thompson University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research has yielded confirmation on why chilli thrips are an annual problem for strawberry growers, especially early in the season. Sriyanka Lahiri, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, talked …
Bumper Crop: Florida Watermelon Growers Still Lead Nation in Production
While many enjoy sweet, cool watermelon as a treat or snack this summer, remember where it comes from. Some Florida growers claim they had their best season ever. Florida continues to lead the nation in watermelon production. From 2010 to 2021, Florida growers ranked No. 1 in the United States with an average of 22,616 acres of watermelon harvested per …
New Research Looks to Pollen for Plant Heat Stress Resilience
People aren’t the only ones stressed by heat waves. For many plants, higher-than-anticipated temperatures can lead to water loss, wilted foliage and unsuccessful pollination. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are investigating how to improve plant resiliency to high temperatures. Kevin Begcy, assistant professor in the UF/IFAS environmental horticulture department, is looking to how pollen …
Algorithm to Help FAWN Be Even More Reliable
A new algorithm is set to further bolster the credibility of the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN), a system that farmers count on for such data as temperature, humidity, wind and rain. Among other improvements, the technology will send an email to FAWN technicians, letting them know when readings are out of a normal range, said Rick Lusher, director of …
Combining UV light, Predatory Mites Could Help Manage Strawberry Pest
Strawberry growers can use ultraviolet light and predatory mites to help control a devastating, but new University of Florida research adds a cautionary note. This integrated approach to managing twospotted spider mites comes as helpful information for growers in Florida’s $400 million-a-year strawberry industry. Sriyanka Lahiri, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) entomologist, first found …
Neopestalotiopsis Disease Management Update
By Natalia A. Peres and Vance Whitaker As the Florida strawberry season comes to an end, it is a good time to reflect on what has been learned over the past five years about managing the emerging disease caused by the fungus Neopestalotiopsis sp. This fungus has been present for as long as strawberries have been grown but was considered …