central florida and fruit crops update - citrus...
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August 2013
Upcoming Events
Pruning Blueberry Plants for Potential Mechanical Harvest Florida Agriculture Financial Management Conference
2013 Farm Labor Supervisor Core Trainings Regional Educational Opportunities for Those Engaged in
Agricultural Pile Burning Florida Blueberry Growers Association Fall Seminar
Fresh Citrus Growers Participate in “Fast Track Program”
Meetings Basin Management Action Plans and BMPs
Farm to School Program CHMA Map of the Month
Central Florida
and Fruit Crops Update
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Upcoming Events
August 21 Certified Pile Burner Training at the Polk Co. Extension Off. in Bartow
August 29 Packinghouse Day—Citrus Res. and Education Center in Lake Alfred
September 5 Cert. Pile Burner Trn. at the Volusia Co. Extension Off. in DeLand
September 19 Florida Blueberry Growers Association Fall Seminar at the Trinkle
Center in Plant City
September 26 Fruit Production Workshop at the Osceola County Extension Office
in Kissimmee
October 4 Commercial Shade Houses, Greenhouses, High Tunnels and
Hydroponics at the Volusia County Extension Office in DeLand, FL
October 9 Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) Seminar at the Lake County Agricultural
Center in Tavares
October 10 Building Your Own Farm’s Food Safety Manual at the Lake County
Agricultural Center in Tavares
October 21-22 Florida Agricultural Financial Management Conference in Orlando
October 25 Farm Safety Day at the Lake County Agricultural Center in Tavares
November 21 Hydrogen Cyanamide Use in Commercial Blueberries Workshop at
the Lake County Agricultural Center in Tavares
December 10 Winter Weather School at the Lake County Agricultural Center in
Tavares
Pruning Blueberry Plants for Potential Mechanical Harvest
Most producers of perishable crops in Florida agree that the future of an
abundant work force to assist with production and harvest is at best uncertain. With this in mind, there has been an enhanced effort by growers
to explore mechanical harvest as a supplement to or replacement of hand harvesting of perishable fruit crops.
Blueberry growers have become especially interested in the potential of
implementing mechanical harvest of fresh market fruit. Several growers have purchased mechanical harvesters to supplement their hand harvest
operations.
Several factors, including appropriate cultivars and horticultural practices, are necessary considerations for successful mechanical harvest of
blueberries for the fresh market. One of the most important horticultural
practices for enhancing the success of mechanical harvest of blueberries for the fresh market is proper pruning techniques starting at initial planting and
including every successive season.
Bill Cline, a blueberry researcher from North Carolina State University, gave an excellent presentation on “Blueberry Pruning for Mechanical Harvest” at
the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, GA in January. In the presentation, Bill reviewed experiences of mechanical
harvest in North Carolina and the cultivars that may be adapted. He did point out that at this time, no one is mechanically harvesting their entire
crop and it is typical to start with one or two hand harvests then transition to mechanical.
In the presentation, Bill emphasized the benefits of pruning such as
managing height, enhancing development of strong new growth which
bears the majority of marketable fruit, preventing over-cropping and altering ripening period. During the period starting after planting through
the life of the bush, Bill recommends promoting strong upright growth and eliminating cross-over branching and weak (twiggy) growth. The
presentation has an excellent depiction of step by step pruning instructions presented in the form of color coded drawings and photos of the blueberry
bush. This is good pruning information whether you plan to utilize mechanical harvest or not.
Bill provided a copy of his presentation which I have linked below for your
review: http://lake.ifas.ufl.edu/agriculture/citrus/documents/
ClineBBpruningSavannah12jan13b.pdf
Florida Agriculture Financial Management Conference
The 2013 Florida Agriculture Financial Management Conference will be held
at the Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate on October 22-22. This is an excellent opportunity to learn the latest in business management
practices, including possible compliance impacts of the new Patient Protection Affordable Care Act, from a knowledgeable group of presenters.
To find out more information on this important conference sponsored in part by FDACS through a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, follow the link
below:
http://lake.ifas.ufl.edu/agriculture/citrus/documents/2FAFMCPressRelease.pdf
2013 Farm Labor Supervisor Core Trainings
Farm Labor Supervisor Core Trainings will be held throughout the state
during September and October. Please follow a link below for more information:
English: http://lake.ifas.ufl.edu/agriculture/citrus/documents/SinglePageFlyer2013E.pdf
Español: http://lake.ifas.ufl.edu/agriculture/citrus/documents/SPSinglePageFlyer2013.pdf
Regional Educational Opportunities for Those Engaged in
Agricultural Pile Burning
The on-site burning of vegetative material associated with the cultivation of the land, including fruit crop production, is included in the definition of
Agricultural Pile Burning. One who conducts agricultural pile burning must obtain a permit from the Florida Division of Forestry, the agency that
regulates such activity throughout the state.
There are two designations where organizations may be able to receive a burn permit for agricultural related pile burning operations during times
when the general public would normally not be able. First, the Citrus Spot Burner Designation is for a landowner who will conduct pile burning on a
particular spot on their property that has been approved by a Division of Forestry Local Forester (http://www.floridaforestservice.com/
field_operations/county_foresters/). The second designation is the
Certified Pile Burner. Participants in this program normally burn 20 or more days a year. Typically those with Certified Pile Burner designation can burn
on days when the general public cannot; additionally they may be able to start burning earlier and end later in the day.
Those wishing to participate in the Citrus Spot Burner program should
attend a training scheduled for Thursday, September 26, 2013 in Bartow. Follow link for additional information:
http://lake.ifas.ufl.edu/agriculture/citrus/documents/
citrus_spot_burner_letter_2013.pdf
Those wishing to participate in the Certified Pile Burner program must attend a training and pass an exam, then complete a Certification Burn
within one year. The certification period is 5 years and does not expire if
you register at least 5 burns within that time frame.
Certified Pile Burner Classers scheduled within the region are linked below:
Polk County—August 21, 2013: http://lake.ifas.ufl.edu/agriculture/citrus/documents/
pile_burning_polk_aug2013.pdf
Volusia County—September 5, 2013; http://lake.ifas.ufl.edu/agriculture/citrus/documents/
pile_burning_DeLand_sept2013.pdf
Florida Blueberry Growers Association Fall Seminar
The time for the annual Florida Blueberry Growers Association Fall Seminar
time has been moved up a month and will take place on Thursday September 19, 2013 at the Trinkle Center on the Campus of Hillsborough
Community College in Plant City.
Some topics of interest being covered: Blueberry Cultivars
US Highbush Blueberry Council Research and Promotion Efforts
Hydrogen Cyanamide and Pruning On Farm Research
Chili Thrips Management
Registration form below:
http://lake.ifas.ufl.edu/agriculture/citrus/documents/sep_registration.pdf
Fresh Citrus Growers Participate in “Fast Track Program” Meetings
Over the last couple of weeks, the New Varieties Development and
Management Corporation, UF/IFAS Extension Researchers and Florida Foundation Seed conducted meetings around the state with growers who
may be interested in the “Fast Track” program for evaluating promising new citrus cultivars. The meetings were informative and generated good
question and answer opportunities.
Growers who participate in this program will be able to purchase trees at a reduced royalty and also have a head start on other growers, should the
cultivar(s) they choose to evaluate proceed on to commercial release to the Florida citrus industry.
If you did not have a chance to participate in one of the meetings, I have
placed some information about the program and how to contact New
Varieties Development and Management Corporation below: http://lake.ifas.ufl.edu/agriculture/citrus/documents/the_new_age_of_variety_evaluation_may_29_2013.pdf
http://www.nvdmc.org/contact.html
Basin Management Action Plans and BMPs
In an effort to address the issue of “impaired” waters, the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has created an approach known as Basin Management Action Plans (BMAP). BMAPs are issued for
individual watersheds or systems. The mission in each BMAP is to reduce pollutant loading to the point that
it is below the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) established for
the particular watershed.
The map at the left depicts adopted, under development and
future BMAPs along with areas undergoing restoration. DEP
plans to utilize tactics such as
limits on wastewater facilities, urban and agricultural best
management practices, conservation programs, financial
assistance and revenue generating activities, etc.--
designed to implement the pollutant reductions established
by the TMDL for each watershed contained within a BMAP. Input
from local stakeholders are utilized to develop a BMAP before
they are adopted and made enforceable. To see a detailed
look at past, present and future meetings, etc. for all BMAPs, follow the link
below: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/bmap.htm
You will note that one of the main tactics being utilized to meet the TMDL
for each BMAP is agricultural best management practices (BMPs). BMPs are science based programs developed to assist the agricultural industry to
profitably produce their particular commodity(s) with presumed compliance with TMDLs by regulatory agencies. Participation in an appropriate BMP
program for your operation is recommended, as the alternative in most BMAPs would be a costly monitoring program. For information, contact
your Extension Office or follow the link below: http://www.floridaagwaterpolicy.com/BestManagementPractices.html
Farm to School Program
Florida growers will have the opportunity to connect with local school systems to potentially supply fresh Florida produce. The Press Release
below outlines some of the highlights of the program. If you are interested in potentially participating in the program or would like further information,
please contact our District Farm to School Coordinator, Amy Warwick, whose contact information is included in the Press Release.
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, Dr. Nick Place, Director, in cooperation with the
United States Department of Agriculture, publishes this information to further the purpose of the May 8 and June 30, 1914 Acts of Congress; and is authorized to provide research, educational
information, and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation,
marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations. Single copies of extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from
county extension offices. Information about alternate formats is available from IFAS Communication Services, University of Florida, PO Box 110810, Gainesville, FL 32611-0810.
CHMA Map of the Month
The map below is for the Seminole/East Orange CHMA from June 21. The red arrows
represent increasing psyllid populations in that area. In depth interpretation of these
results can be obtained by logging in to the CHMA Sectional Mapping Program on the
CHMA Website Main Page:
http://www.crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/chmas/index.shtml
Central Florida Citruslines and Fruit Crops Update is published 6 times a year by the Central Florida Fruit Crops Advisory Committee and Central Florida Fruit Crops Extension Program: Gary K. England—Multi-county Extension Agent III [email protected]