Column - Central Florida Ag News

From the Editor’s Desk: Congrats to FAMU president on new trade policy post

Elmira Mangum, Ph.D, chosen to serve on U.S. Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade IN RECENT agricultural news, the president of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), Elmira Mangum, Ph.D, will be serving on the country’s Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) for Trade. Selected by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack via a […]

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Facing the threat of greening

IT’S RARE TODAY to read an article or column about Florida citrus without seeing a reference to citrus greening (Huanglongbing, or HLB), the tree disease that has seriously compromised citrus production all across the state since it was first found in Florida, near Homestead, in August 2005.

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Important lingo of the cold-storage operation

EVERY INDUSTRY has its own lingo — words and phrases understood by those who work in or have some familiarity with that industry. At a cold-storage operation, the unique vocabulary can be lengthy for a couple of reasons: One, it’s actually part of two industries — public refrigerated warehousing (PRW) and the broader cold supply

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Publisher Letter: Happy anniversary, Central Florida Ag News!

THIS EDITION of Central Florida Ag News has a very special theme, one that I believe captures the spirit of our agriculture community. In this year’s Annual Citrus Report, we present the latest numbers on the recent harvest and the cutting-edge research under way to help find long-term solutions for citrus greening. Also in the

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A proposed expansion of overtime eligibility for salaried workers

PRESIDENT OBAMA and his U.S. Labor Department have proposed a major expansion of overtime eligibility for middle-level salaried workers, and now the public has the opportunity to tell the government what it thinks about it.

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Summertime for citrus: Your irrigation check-up

ALTHOUGH SUMMER is when most Florida citrus growers take a collective sigh of relief after the harvest season, it’s still a busy time for the industry, and it’s one where farmers should pay close attention to irrigation and water usage. Since citrus harvesting is at its end, it’s time to start preparation for next season’s

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See lawn improvements with regular feeding, mowing

THIS TIME of the summer, during the peak of the grass-growing season, you can easily tell if your lawn is receiving the nutrition it needs. Just look for weeds. Hungry lawns usually are weedy lawns. Why? Because weeds sprout at a lower fertility level than do turf grasses.

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Citrus study offers lesson in ‘irresponsible science’

SCIENCE IS A BELOVED ASPECT of agriculture, as it has long influenced agriculture in such a positive way. A shining example of science’s positive impact would be all the research that is ongoing on curing citrus greening. From biology to chemistry to earth science, science has helped agriculture to grow and raise more food with

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Soil life challenges

OUR SANDY SOILS in Florida are a constant challenge to all growers of all crops. We have an inadequate amount of organic matter to give us the platform we need to work from.

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Summer irrigation checkup

SUMMER IS A BUSY time for Florida blueberry growers, and it’s one where growers should pay close attention to irrigation and water usage. Since berry picking is over, plants are pruned to encourage important new growth that will carry next year’s berries. It’s a crucial time for water management, according to a study conducted by

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