The Pollinating Power of Bumble Bees

The Pollinating Power of Bumble Bees

  There are five social species of bumble bees (Bombus spp.) native to Florida, and each is an important pollinator throughout the state. European honeybees provide about 85 percent of our pollinating activity that is vital for supplying one-quarter to one-third...
Emerging Vegetable Alternatives for the Panhandle

Emerging Vegetable Alternatives for the Panhandle

Are you a farmer looking to try something new?  Or maybe you just acquired some land and want to put it to good use to earn a profit.  There are so many options that can work in the Panhandle; your specific situation will determine which options are realistic for...
Jerusalem Artichoke (Sunchoke) – A Crop for the Back Forty

Jerusalem Artichoke (Sunchoke) – A Crop for the Back Forty

Thanksgiving is next week, Christmas is next month, and spring is just around the corner.  A mostly forgotten crop that can be planted in early spring is the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.), also known as a sunchoke and not to be confused with a globe...
Dealing with the Sweetpotato Weevil

Dealing with the Sweetpotato Weevil

Sweet potatoes are widely grown in Florida, especially on small farms. Foliar pests such as whiteflies, leafminers, and armyworms are generally of minor concern. The most serious insect pests are the immature stages of insects that feed on the roots and tubers; among...
May 23 Watermelon Crop Update

May 23 Watermelon Crop Update

Downy Mildew Alert There have been several reports of downy mildew in watermelon in the southern part of the Suwannee Valley region the past couple days. We will get lab confirmation as soon as possible, but we are confident downy is here. I can also indicate we did...