Category: Crops

Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY083/IN240)

Figure 1. Adult female oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), laying eggs by inserting her ovipositor in a papaya.The oriental fruit fly is a very destructive pest of fruit in areas where it occurs. It is established in numerous areas in Asia, and is often intercepted in the United States, sometimes establishing infestations that were previously eradicated.This 6-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems, J. B. Heppner, J. L. Nation and T. R. Fasulo, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in240

How to Calculate Fertigation Injection Rates for Commercial Blueberry Production (HS1197)

Figure 1. For a 4-foot irrigated band within an 8-foot row spacing, the area that receives fertigation is half of the total, or "real estate," area. Thus, the actual band area of the farm equals 50% of the farm area. However, all IFAS-recommended fertilizer rates are given on a "real estate" acre basis. The amount of fertilizer to apply is calculated based on the entire area of the blueberry farm, regardless of the width of the band to which the fertilizer is applied. To increase nutrient and water use efficiencies and reduce nutrient leaching and environmental concerns, fertigation is recommended for commercial blueberry production. In fact, successful fertigation can enhance sustainability and maximize profitability for commercial blueberry enterprises. One of the key factors in fertigation is the correct calculation of fertilizer injection rate and time for the acreage. This publication helps blueberry growers correctly calculate fertigation injection rates and times and provides reference tables for checking injection rates and times needed for a variety of production scenarios. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Guodong Liu, Jeffrey Williamson, Gary England, and Alicia Whidden, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1197

Weed Management in Pecan (HS95/WG022)

Pecan tree grove in North Florida. UF/IFAS Photo: Thomas Wright.Weeds compete with pecan trees for light, nutrients, and water. Weed interference can be minimized with proper cultural practices and herbicides. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Peter J. Dittmar and Jeffrey G. Williamson, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wg022

Secuestro y Distribución de Carbono Orgánico del Suelo Bajo Diferentes Sistemas de Manejo de Pasturas (SL363/SS564)

Ciclo global carbónico. Los mantos (en negro) son gigatoneladas de carbono. Los flujos (en morado) son Gt de carbono por año. El secuestro de carbono en el suelo es el proceso de transformación del carbono del aire al carbono orgánico, almacenado en el suelo. A través del secuestro de carbono, los niveles de CO2 atmosférico pueden reducirse en la medida que los niveles de carbono orgánico del suelo aumentan. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Alejandra María Jimenez Madrid, José Trinidad Reyes Sandoval, and Maria L. Silveira, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss564

Papaya Fruit Fly, Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY21/IN148)

Adult female papaya fruit fly, Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker.The papaya fruit fly is the principal insect pest of papaya throughout the tropical and subtropical areas of the New World. The insect was introduced into Florida in 1905, most likely from the West Indies on papaya shipments. It first became established in the Florida Keys and Miami, then spread throughout the state wherever papayas are grown. Papaya fruit fly larvae and adults have been found in Florida in every month of the year. This 6-page fact sheet was written by H. L. Selman, J. B. Heppner and T. R. Fasulo, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in148

Cherry Fruit Fly, Rhagoletis cingulata (Loew) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY203/IN360)

Adult female eastern cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cingulata (Loew).The cherry fruit fly (adult) or cherry maggot (larva) attacks cherry and causes wormy fruits. In Florida it attacks wild cherries and is of little economic importance. Across its range, it breeds in all varieties of cherries including the sweet cherry. This 3-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems Jr., and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in360

Intercropping, Crop Diversity and Pest Management (ENY862/IN922)

Squash with living mulch of buckwheat.Growing different crops in the same field and/or planting different crops on the same plot during different times of the year can reduce insect pest populations, increasing beneficial insects, and suppress weeds. In addition, non-crop plants such as weeds, cover crops, and habitat plantings can be combined in space and time to influence numbers of pest and beneficial arthropods on the main crop. This 7-page fact sheet was written by Hugh A. Smith and Oscar E. Liburd, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in922

Food Safety on the Farm series

Universty of Florida Extension Agent, Andy Andreasen, Chipley, Florida, farm, harvest, farmer, October, Washington County, watermelon. UF/IFAS Photo: Josh Wickham.These brief fact sheets are part of a collection that reviews the generally recognized principles of GAPs as they relate to produce, primarily at the farm level and with particular focus on fresh Florida crops and practices. Written by Keith R. Schneider, Renée M. Goodrich-Schneider, and Alexandra Chang, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, March 2012.

Lettuce Cultivars for Insect Resistance in Southern Florida (HS1196/HS1196)

Russell Nagata, associate professor at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at Belle Glade, Florida , examines leafminer colonies on romaine lettuce. He is using genetic engineering to make lettuce resistant to the tiny leafminer insect that tunnels through leaves and makes lettuce unmarketable. The improved lettuce will lower pesticide cost for growers and produce higher quility lettuce for consumers. Photography by Milt PutnamFlorida’s subtropical climate facilitates lettuce production from fall through spring, but the warm, moist conditions are also favorable for insect proliferation and damage. Information about current cultivar response to common insect pests in Florida is limited, so UF/IFAS researchers conducted a study to evaluate cultivar response to insect infestation under field conditions and to identify resistance useful for integrated pest management. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Huangjun Lu, Alan L. Wright, and David Sui, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1196

European Food Safety Certification: The GlobalG.A.P® Standard and Its Accredited Certification Scheme (FSHN0801/FS145)

GlobalG.A.P.Many European importers and retailers will only buy produce, meat, and grain-based products that come from GlobalG.A.P-certified farms. Despite its environmental origins, the main concern is food safety, followed by worker welfare, and then ecological matters. There are slightly different versions for fresh fruit and vegetables, meat products, flowers and ornamentals, and combinable crops (grains and pulses). There is also an Integrated Farm Assurance version for farms with several types of operations taking place at once. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Richard C. Yudin and Keith R. Schneider, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs145

Banana Market (FE901)

US imports of organic bananas, 2000–2010 (tonnes) [Source: Liu, exporting agencies in Peru and Dominican Republic, and authors' calculations for Ecuador and Colombia]The United States is the largest single-country importer of fresh bananas. With a per capita consumption of about 25 pounds, the banana market appears to be saturated, but consumption of organic bananas in the United States is increasing. Any expansion of the banana production in the United States should focus on the niche market for organic bananas and specialty varieties as Florida growers do. This 10-page fact sheet provides an overview of the world and US markets for fresh bananas, with special reference to the US market for organic bananas. Written by Edward Evans and Fredy Ballen, and published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe901

Lesser Pumpkin Fly, Ethiopian Fruit Fly, Cucurbit Fly, Dacus ciliatus (Loew) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY258/IN539)

Adult female.The lesser pumpkin fly is one of several fruit flies found in Africa and Asia, which could become serious pests of Florida agricultural crops if introduced into this state.This 2-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems, Jr., and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2012. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in539

Growing Heirloom Tomato Varieties in Southwest Florida (HS921/HS174)

Figure 1. Common heirloom varieties growing in South FloridaHeirloom tomatoes have seen a rebirth in popularity because of increasing demand for fresh, fully ripe, tasty tomatoes. A tomato must meet three criteria to be considered an heirloom variety: The variety must be reproduced by seed, must have been cultivated for more than 50 years, and must have a history. Heirloom tomatoes are known for their singular taste, shape, and color, which include purple, orange, and yellow, in addition to the common red tomatoes. This 9-page fact sheet was written by Monica Ozores-Hampton, Charles S. Vavrina, and Aline Coelho Frasca, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs174

Diagnosing Herbicide Injury in Cotton (SSAGR358/AG367)

3) Figure 4. Dicamba injury from a post-emergence application.This 10-page fact sheet aids in the diagnosis of herbicide injury by providing pictures and descriptions of behavior in plants and symptoms associated with different herbicides organized by mode of action. Written by Sarah Berger and Jason Ferrell, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag367

Control of Lantana in Pastures (SSAGR359/AG368)

Figure 2. Lantana flowers of (A) purple/white and (B) red/yellow are common.Lantana is currently one of the top 10 most troublesome weeds in Florida. Although it is still sold as an ornamental, commercial varieties are sterile and considered to be non-invasive. It can quickly invade disturbed sites by producing plant toxins in its roots and stems, that either slow the growth of other plants or totally remove them. These leaf toxins are damaging to grazing animals. If animals consume the leaves, they often begin to show symptoms of skin peeling or cracking. Once animals show these symptoms, there is little or no treatment that can reverse the process. Although lantana’s leaves are poisonous, its berries are not. Birds readily consume the fruit and disperse the seed. This 2-page fact sheet was written by J. Ferrell, B. Sellers, and E. Jennings, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag368

Irrigation Scheduling for Tropical Fruit Groves in South Florida (TR001)

Figure 3. Tensiometer installed in very gravelly loam soil. Irrigation scheduling can be accomplished using different tools, each with its benefits and weaknesses. It is critical to use each tool as it is intended to ensure tropical fruit trees have the irrigation water they need. This 6-page fact sheet was written by K. W. Migliaccio and Y. C. Li, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/tr001

Reproductive Growth and Development of Blueberry (HS976/HS220)

Figure 2. Bumble bees sonicate flowers and efficiently transfer pollen from one flower to another.This 7-page fact sheet discusses flower bud initiation and development, pollination and fruit set, fruit development and yeild, and the use of plant growth regulators. Written by J. G. Williamson, J. W. Olmstead, and P. M. Lyrene, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs220

Weed Management Guides: Blueberry, Nectarine, and Plum

These 6-page fact sheets were written by Peter J. Dittmar and Jeffrey G. Williamson, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, February 2012.

Florida’s Commercial Blueberry Industry (HS742/AC031)

gure 1. Southern highbush blueberry planting with bark beds and drip and overhead irrigationThe Florida blueberry industry has grown rapidly because Florida growers can produce high-quality fruit when few fresh berries are available and berry prices are high. Although southern highbush blueberry acreage has expanded significantly in Florida, Georgia, California, and Mexico during the last several years, better cultivars and improved cultural practices have increased grower production efficiency during the last several years, with promising production trends for the future profitability. This 4-page fact sheet was written by J. G. Williamson, J. W. Olmstead, and P. M. Lyrene, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ac031

Weed Management in Peach (HS93/WG020)

Figure 1. Weed-free strip under peach trees and grass strips between rowsProper weed management is important for a healthy peach orchard. Peach trees and weeds compete for water, nutrients, and light. And they serve as hosts for insects that cause catfacing and nematodes that carry viral diseases. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Peter J. Dittmar and Jeffrey G. Williamson, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wg020