They’re back! In 1966, a child smuggled three giant African land snails into south Florida which were released in their garden. Seven years later, more than 18,000 snails had been found and it took 10 years and $1 million to eliminate them. Florida is once again faced with an invasion by this snail. It feeds on hundreds of different plants and can transmit meningitis and other diseases to humans. Learn more in this 3-page fact sheet written by John L. Capinera and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in904
Category: Crops
Bio-based Products from Biomass (AE483)
Biomass is renewable biological materials, such as trees, plants, grasses, vegetables, algae, food wastes, animal manures, and other organic wastes. Like fossil fuels, biomass can produce a wide selection of bio-based by-products while producing renewable energy. Learn more in this 5-page fact sheet written by Zhaohui Tong, Letian Wang, and Clay B. Olson, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, September 2011.(AP photo/University of Florida/IFAS/Thomas Wright)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae483
A Summary of N, P, and K Research with Tomato in Florida (SL355/CV236)
More than 60 years worth of tomato fertilization research has been conducted in Florida. During this time, many changes have occurred in tomato production practices, including changes in cultivars and the introduction of new cultural systems, such as polyethylene mulch and drip irrigation. The research reported here covers tomato production with polyethylene mulch. Tomato crop and fertilizer management recommendations, such as plant and row spacing, have changed over time following new developments in research. This 38-page fact sheet summarizes tomato fertilization research leading to current University of Florida recommendations and summarizes needs for additional research. Written by George Hochmuth and Ed Hanlon, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, August 2011. (UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/cv236
Controlled-Release Fertilizers for Potato Production in Florida (HS941/HS187)
The recent emphasis on the development of vegetable production best management practices has prompted a re-examination of fertilization practices in Florida potato production in the St. Johns River watershed. The numbers provided in this 5-page fact sheet serve as a starting point for discussion about the value of using controlled-release fertilizers, which can be a win-win-win opportunity for producers, manufacturers, and regulatory agencies by helping all meet their production, business, and environmental goals. Written by Guodong Liu, Eric H. Simonne, Yuncong Li, Chad M. Hutchinson, Mark Warren, and Steven Lands, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, October 2011. (UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs187
Comparison of Hay or Round Bale Silage as a Means to Conserve Forage (AN266)
Florida’s climate makes conserving forages for later feeding challenging. Traditional hay harvest systems require optimal cutting, drying, and baling weather conditions. The use of round bale silage overcomes several of the challenges to hay production in Florida and offer an attractive compliment to traditional hay harvest systems. Learn more in this 6-page fact sheet written by Matt Hersom, Todd Thrift, and Joel Yelich, and published by the UF Department of Animal Science, August 2011. (Photo: Thomas Wright, UF/IFAS)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an266
Prickly Pear Cactus Control in Pastures (SSAGR354/AG363)
Prickly pear cactus is not a problem in every pasture in Florida, but where it is found, it is often the biggest and most difficult issue to manage: mowing prickly pear fragments the pads and dramatically increases the infestation, and although prickly pear doesn’t form dense canopies and doesn’t outcompete desirable forage grasses, its impact on grazing can be just as severe because of its barbed quills. This 2-page fact sheet was written by J. A. Ferrell and B. A. Sellers, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, September 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag363
Flat-top Goldenrod (Euthamia caroliniana): Biology and Control in Pastures (SS-AGR-353/AG361)
This perennial plant, which flowers September – November with flat-topped inflorescence consisting of many yellow ray and disk flowers, is a common weed found in pastures with low levels of management. Learn more in this 3-page fact sheet was written by B. A. Sellers and J. A. Ferrell and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, September 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag361
Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium): Biology and Control (SSAGR224/AG233)
Dogfennel is currently the number one most commonly occurring pasture weed in Florida. Many people think it is only unsightly, but it causes significant bahiagrass yield loss and can cause dehydration when ingested by cattle. This 3-page fact sheet was written by B. A. Sellers and J. A. Ferrell and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, September 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag233
Pecan Cultivars for North Florida (HS106)
Pecan recommendations for Florida have been updated to include new information about cultivar performance. Check out this 13-page fact sheet to select the best cultivars for yield, performance, resistance to disease, and resistance to limb breakage. Written by Peter C. Andersen, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, September 2011. (UF/IFAS Photo: Thomas Wright.)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs106
Reclaimed Water Use for Edible Crop Production in Florida (SL360/SS561)
Irrigating edible crops with reclaimed water is a promising, cost-effective solution to Florida's overuse of freshwater resources. Learn more in this 4-page fact sheet written by Jamie Lewis and Alan L. Wright and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, September 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss561
Managing Thrips and Tospoviruses in Tomato (ENY859/IN895)
Several invasive species of thrips have established in Florida and are causing serious economic losses to vegetable, ornamental, and agronomic crops. Damage to crops results from thrips feeding and egg-laying injury, by the thrips vectoring of plant diseases, the cost of using control tactics, and the loss of pesticides due to resistance. This 12-page fact sheet describes the biology and ecology of thrips and tomato spotted wilt virus, and recommends a management program. Written by Joe Funderburk, Stuart Reitz, Steve Olson, Phil Stansly, Hugh Smith, Gene McAvoy, Ozan Demirozer, Crystal Snodgrass, Mathews Paret, and Norm Leppla, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in895
Alternative Opportunities for Small Farms: Peach and Nectarine Production Review (RFAC018/AC018)
Florida produces some of the earliest commercial-quality peaches and nectarines in North America. During the last 10 years, many new, improved peach and nectarine cultivars have been released by the University of Florida. They have increased the potential for expansion of commercial peach and nectarine acreage throughout much of the Florida peninsula and along the Gulf Coast regions of the southeastern United States. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Mercy Olmstead, Jeff Williamson, Jose Chaparro, and Tim Crocker, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, September 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ac018
Rainfast Time for Postemergence Herbicides Commonly Used in the Everglades Agricultural Area: Quick Reference Sheet (SSAGR351/AG359)
If rainfall occurs soon after herbicide application, it can affect the effectiveness of postemergence herbicides. And they each differ in their time requirements for rain-free periods following application. This 2-page fact sheet shows rainfast time for postemergence herbicides commonly used in the Everglades Agricultural Area for sugarcane and vegetable production. Written by D.C. Odero and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, August 2011. (Photo by Eric Zamora UF/IFAS)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag359
Grasshopper Nematode: Mermis nigrescens Dujardin, 1842 (EENY500/IN900)
These large nematodes can sometimes seen leaving grasshoppers, especially those that have been injured. On rainy mornings in spring or summer they can be found depositing their eggs on leaves for grasshoppers to eat. Because they are so large (up to 160 mm or about 6 inches in length), they attract attention. Learn more in this 5-page fact sheet written by John L. Capinera, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in900
Economic Feasibility of Biofuel Crops in Florida: Sugarcane on Mineral Soils (SC090)
This 9-page fact sheet provides estimates of costs and returns to produce ethanol from sugarcane, rather than sugar. These preliminary estimates should guide researchers as to whether sugarcane varieties are economically feasible to be considered for biofuel/energy production. Written by José Álvarez and Zane R. Helsel and published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, August 2011. UF/IFAS Photo by Tom Wright.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sc090
Economic Potential of Sweet Sorghum for Ethanol Production in South Florida (FE896)
Sweet sorghum has been designated as “potentially viable” as a biofuel crop. This 8-page fact sheet evaluates the economic potential of producing sweet sorghum as an annual bioenergy crop in the state of Florida. Written by Zane R. Helsel and José Álvarez, and published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, August 2011. UF/IFAS cover photo: Tyler Jones.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe896
Iron (Fe) Nutrition of Plants (SL353/SS555)
Iron is one of 16 essential elements for plant growth and reproduction. Most annual plants have a requirement for Fe on the order of 1 to 1.5 lb Fe per acre, compared with nitrogen (N) at 80 to 200 lb per acre. This 8-page fact sheet provides a detailed basic understanding of soil science and plant physiology for diagnosing and correcting Fe problems in plants and soils. Written by George Hochmuth and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss555
Farmer Perceptions of Wildlife Damage to Row Crops in North Florida (WEC311/UW356)
How can we determine the just how much of an impact wildlife damage has on growers? This 4-page fact sheet presents the results of a survey of a sample of growers across the state. Written by Holly K. Ober, Gerald R. Edmondson, William M. Giuliano, David L. Wright, John Atkins, Andy Andreasen, Shep Eubanks, Libbie Johnson, Charles Brasher, and Greg Hicks, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, July 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw356
Field Observations During the Eighth Microwave Water and Energy Balance Experiment (MicroWEX-8): from June 16 through August 24, 2009 (AE476/AE476)
In order to really accurately predict weather and near-term climate, it is necessary to take into consideration soil moisture in the top meter of soil: it governs moisture and energy fluxes at the land-atmosphere interface, and it plays a significant role in partitioning of the precipitation into runoff and infiltration. This 68-page report presents the observations of an experiment using remotely sensed microwave observations with a view towards incorporating the findings into the models used to estimate energy and moisture fluxes and improve root zone soil moisture estimates. Written by Tara Bongiovanni, Heather Enos, Alejandro Monsivais-Huertero, Blaire Colvin, Karthik Nagarajan, Jasmeet Judge, Pang-Wei Liu, Juan Fernandez-Diaz, Roger De Roo, Yuriy Goykhman, Xueyang Duan, Daniel Preston, Ramesh Shrestha, Clint Slatton, Mahta Moghaddam, and Anthony England , and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae476
Groundnut Ringspot Virus in Florida (PP282)
Groundnut ringspot virus was recently identified in tomatoes in South Florida — the first report in the United States. It can infect tomato plants at all stages of growth and lead to unmarketable fruits or plant death. This 4-page fact sheet shares what is known about the symptoms, host range, disease transmission, and management. Written by Eugene McAvoy, Scott Adkins, Craig Webster, Charles Mellinger, Loren Horsman, Galen Frantz, Stuart Reitz, and Shouan Zhang, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, July 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp282