Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told lawmakers this weekend that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is ending the Farmers to Families Food Box program. However, the United Fresh Produce Association was critical of the decision. Here’s its statement:On behalf of the millions of Americans who gained access to healthy fresh produce throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we […]

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) will soon have a new chair of the Horticultural Sciences Department. Christopher Gunter will join UF/IFAS, with an official start date of June 7. Gunter will lead experts and programs specialize in research, plant breeding and genetics, fruit and vegetable production […]

Florida is on track to receive heavy rainfall thunderstorm activity through this weekend, says Gary England, UF/IFAS Extension Agent Emeritus. In his email, England alerted producers that the main precipitation accumulation is expected Saturday through early next week, mainly Monday and Tuesday. Most of north and north central Florida could receive at least two inches […]

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will issue its initial seasonal outlook for the 2021 hurricane season in late May. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Beginning with this year’s hurricane season outlooks, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) will use 1991-2020 as the new 30-year period of […]

California citrus growers joined their fellow farmers and ranchers in suffering through the worst wildfire season in California history. Some groves were directly threatened by wildfire, and many were located in growing areas that were blanketed with smoke for weeks or months. Smoke exposure resulted in employee time loss due to respiratory illness, and an […]

Proper irrigation and nutrient management are necessary to maximize root density and tree health, especially in trees infected with HLB. Davie Kadyampakeni, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor, shared a few irrigation and nutrient research updates during the March episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. IRRIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS […]