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Cover crops are an investment in soil health, and many citrus growers are looking to utilize cover crops to improve the health of their citrus trees. The thought is that healthier trees will be better able to combat citrus greening and other diseases, and to bounce back faster after hurricane damage. Research is still ongoing […]

As I reflect on Independence Day and into the future, I am reminded that our country has always excelled at innovation.  Consider The Gilded Age, a period from roughly 1877 to just after the turn of the century. This short, 23-year period of growth produced hundreds of things we take for granted, including the telephone,

The American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends core vaccines be given to your horses at least yearly. Core vaccines include the West Nile Virus (WNV), Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE), tetanus, and rabies. Due to the year-round mosquito population, vaccination boosters are recommended every six months for EEE/WEE and WNV. While vaccines do not

Florida’s citrus growers have faced significant challenges in recent years due to the devastating effects of citrus greening. As they seek alternative crops, one plant that holds immense promise is bamboo. Beyond its traditional applications, bamboo offers a plethora of opportunities for growers, ranging from textiles and culinary ventures to pharmaceutical breakthroughs, high tech applications,

If you’re a Florida citrus grower using treatments like gibberellic acid (GA), oxytetracycline injections, and/or intense nutrient management programs to improve the health and yields of your citrus trees, then consider using the Canopy Assist program. Developed by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC),

If you talk to just about anyone in the ag industry, you’ll likely learn they own or manage a small business. I, too, am a self-professed entrepreneur. We’re not 9-to-5 people; small business is a 24-7 commitment.  In fact, did you know that 97 percent of all U.S. farms are family-owned? Small businesses are part

In military campaigns the only way to achieve total victory is with “boots on the ground.” For the Florida citrus industry’s ongoing battle against HLB though, it’s “trees in the ground.” Technology can be wonderful; however, all the advances we’ve made will be for naught if the industry does not initiate and maintain a robust

Horses will always find a way to injure themselves, so it’s important to provide a safeenvironment and have a well-stocked first aid kit. The correct supplies will allow youto perform “triage” until your veterinarian arrives. Critical areas that need assessment and treatment as soon as possible are deeplacerations, wounds near a joint, and eyeballs. If

While the news cycle reaction to the announced May citrus forecast focused on thenumbers, there was an underlying sentiment about the future impact this season mayhave on the citrus industry.  In a statement about the citrus forecast, Florida Department of Citrus Executive DirectorShannon Shepp noted that the “(c)urrent crop forecast numbers serve as a testament

If there’s one point I consistently try to hammer home, it’s the importance of working together. That’s why a new project out of the University of Florida has particularly piqued my interest.  The Southeast Grazing Exchange aims to “play matchmaker” between ranchers with livestock and landowners with grazing space.  The program is free to users