April 25, 2024
Agriculture
Florida scientists talk laurel wilt in California
University of Florida scientists are traveling to California in early August to share information on ways to combat laurel wilt in avocado trees.
Read more »
Published on 8/2/2017
UF Researchers on the cusp of Citrus Greening Cure
As the University of Florida's Citrus Research and Education Center prepares to celebrate its centennial anniversary, researchers there say that they're on the cusp of developing a cure to the most serious threat facing the citrus industry worldwide: citrus greening.
Read more »
Published on 8/1/2017
Florida tomato group asks for greater protections against Mexico
Specialty crop growers need more trade protections against imported Mexican vegetables sold at below the cost of production, Reggie Brown told the House Agriculture Committee seeking input to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Read more »
Published on 7/28/2017
Do you love seedless watermelons in the hot summer? UF scientists are on the case
Some people love to eat a juicy, seedless watermelon for a tasty, refreshing snack during a hot, Florida summer day. University of Florida scientists have found a way to stave off potential diseases while retaining that flavor.
Read more »
Published on 7/25/2017
Florida Citrus Commission approves preliminary budget for 2017-18 season
The total preliminary budget is $17.5 million.
Read more »
Published on 6/23/2017
Citrus Commission Slicing Spending
Reflecting the industry's sagging fortunes, the Florida Citrus Commission is recommending a 22 percent spending cut.
Read more »
Published on 6/23/2017
Ph.D Candidate Researches Florida's H-2A Farmworker Program
An anthropologist pursuing his Ph.D. at Brown University spent the past few months researching the H-2A guest worker program in Florida's citrus industry. He heads to Mexico this summer to spend time with those workers in their own communities.
Read more »
Published on 6/21/2017
Scientists find way to surgically strike out weeds that impede crop growth
By using a combination of fumigants, scientists believe they can surgically strike out some weeds that otherwise get in the way of vegetable growth. Researchers say this will help growers as they try to manage pests in areas where they cause the most trouble.
Read more »
Published on 6/7/2017
Hop to it: UF professor's project leads to Florida-produced hops
Brian Pearson was in England five or six years ago, vacationing with family after finishing his Ph.D...
Read more »
Published on 5/24/2017
UF-developed mandarin shows increased tolerance to greening
While citrus greening disease has blemished the Florida industry, University of Florida scientists have developed a mandarin hybrid that seems to be winning the battle. Now, researchers are learning what makes this fruit a fighter.
Read more »
Published on 5/17/2017
Could hemp replace oranges as Florida's agricultural powerhouse?
Hemp, Inc. reports Florida legislators are looking to ease restrictions on industrial hemp research. According to the Florida State Senate, house bill 1217 that "authorizes specified universities in state to engage in industrial hemp research projects" has been "pending review of CS under Rule 7.18(c)"
Read more »
Published on 4/25/2017
USDA Announces $21.8 Million in Funding to Combat Citrus Disease
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced $21.8 million in available funding to combat and manage citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB).
Read more »
Published on 4/14/2017
Florida wildfires burn two-and-a-half times more acreage than same time last year
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that Florida wildfires have burned 250 percent more acreage during the first three months of 2017 than last year during the same time period.
Read more »
Published on 3/23/2017
Statement by Commissioner Adam Putnam on the historically low citrus crop forecast
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its monthly citrus crop forecast for the 2016-2017 season, which is down four-percent from the February forecast:
Read more »
Published on 3/10/2017
The Andersons enters into agreement to sell farm center locations in Florida
The Andersons, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANDE) announces it has signed an agreement to sell its farm center locations in Florida to Wedgworth's Inc., of Belle Glade, Florida. This agreement includes real estate and assets owned by The Andersons at Zellwood, Clewiston, and Lake Placid as well as the assets and operations located in Immokalee.
Read more »
Published on 3/7/2017
Florida orange estimate drops 1 million cartons
Florida's troubled citrus industry continues to trend downward, with orange production estimates slipping another million boxes in the past month, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture production report.
Read more »
Published on 2/13/2017
USDA Invests $13.6 Million in Citrus Greening Research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced four grants totaling more than $13.6 million to combat a scourge on the nation's citrus industry, citrus greening disease, aka Huanglongbing.
Read more »
Published on 2/9/2017
University of Florida Celebrating a Century of Citrus Research
Nearly a century ago, a group of Polk County citrus growers raised about $14,000 to buy land for a research station. Now, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center.
Read more »
Published on 2/3/2017
UF-led team discovers key to restoring great tomato flavor
What's wrong with the supermarket tomato? Consumers say they lack flavor, so a University of Florida researcher led a global team on a mission to identify the important factors that have been lost and put them back into modern tomatoes.
Read more »
Published on 1/26/2017
APHIS issues dtay on final rule to allow lemons from N.W. Argentina into the United States
Statement from the USDA
Read more »
Published on 1/25/2017
USDA files action against American Fruit & Produce Corporation in Florida for PACA violations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative action under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) against American Fruit & Produce Corporation.
Read more »
Published on 1/19/2017
APHIS Confirms New World Screwworm in Miami-Dade County, Florida
The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) in a stray dog near Homestead, Florida.
Read more »
Published on 1/10/2017
Fresh From Florida takes on tomatoes
“The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services implemented a robust marketing campaign in 2016 to promote Florida tomatoes,” said Jackie Moalli, senior marketing and development manager.
Read more »
Published on 12/15/2016
Florida orange production holds steady in December forecast
The USDA forecasts 72 million boxes of Florida oranges, 9.3 million boxes Florida grapefruit.
Read more »
Published on 12/13/2016
Hive rustlers: Thefts sting Florida beekeepers
A series of bee-hive thefts has stung Florida's beekeepers.
Read more »
Published on 11/28/2016
