Holding Out Hope for a Good 2024 Season

I started this letter listing a bunch of threats facing Florida Blueberry growers in 2024.  As I penciled my list, I began to realize I was being too negative and had no business inviting my fellow growers to a pointless pity party. After all, as I write, the excitement of a new year is right around the corner. Now is the time to look on the bright side, and I submit the glass is half full and we have many reasons to anticipate a prosperous season. I’m going on the record that I’m optimistic about the 2024 Florida blueberry crop and its potential for a big improvement over the past few years. 

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USHBC Update

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A Florida Blueberry Season for the Fall, Too? Recent Report Has Us Buzzing

Happy New Year! At The Blueberry News, we like to start the year with optimism and hope.

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This Month in Florida Blueberries

Click here to download and read This Month in Florida Blueberries

Blueberry Gall Midge Management

Blueberry gall midge larvae feed on blueberry floral bud tissues, causing brown lesions, and bud death and abortion (Figure 1). When there is heavy gall midge injury, the bloom will typically be lighter since many of these buds will abort, resulting in decreased fruit set. It should be noted that poor fruit set and excessive dropping of undeveloped green fruit can also be caused by poor pollination.

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Meet a Board Member: Jack Green of Clear Springs

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A Great Way to Better Your Blueberry Farm

Pretty much everyone in the Florida Blueberry Industry knows what a challenging year it was. Remember Hurricane Ian, the December holiday freezes, huge crop input inflation, labor cost escalation and labor regulation, overall lower grower prices for our fruit, even increasingly serious insect pressure despite our best efforts. 

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The Phosphorus Factor

Latest Research Shows Blueberry Roots Mining for the Essential Element

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No Rest From Pests

What to Watch For This Season: Southern Red Mite & Blueberry Gall Midge

The two primary blueberry pests to monitor and control in fall and early winter are southern red mite and blueberry gall midge. 

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The Label Is the Law

Good Pesticide Application Practices Require Following All Parts of the Label

 

Many have heard the phrase “The Label is the Law,” and while true, labels convey so much more than the law. Every pesticide that is registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must go through rigorous testing, and then painstaking precision is used to write the label that goes on every product. These labels have information about what the product is, safety information, use information, storage, and disposal. Essentially, the label is the instruction manual for the pesticide. Although it may be tempting to simply jump straight to the application rate for your particular crop, this disregards very important information contained on the label. You must read and follow the entire label, not just the application rate for your crop. 

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The Farmer's Toolkit: Education & Optimism

We’ve officially made it through the first half of hurricane season. Now, we hold our breath through the month of October, which is typically the most active period for our state. 

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When Chill Is a Challenge

Considerations for Hydrogen Cyanamide Use This Winter

As fall approaches, some blueberry growers are likely considering the possibility of using hydrogen cyanamide (HC) to minimize the negative effects of inadequate winter chill accumulation, which can be a common occurrence in Florida. HC is not compatible with the evergreen or organic production systems. However, conventional growers who use the deciduous production system may find a use for HC depending on a number of factors.  

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2023 FBGA Fall Meeting and Short Course

Thursday, October 25, 2023 

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Grower 411: Fall and Early Winter Suggested Blueberry Management Items

The table below lists suggested blueberry management items for October through January. Suggested management items for the entire calendar year are available in an EDIS publication, Calendar for Southern Highbush Blueberry Management in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1363). Specific disease, insect, and weed controls are listed in the 2022 Florida Blueberry IPM Guide (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS380), as well as in subject-specific publications referenced below. Also, a list of all UF EDIS blueberry publications can be found at www.blueberrybreeding.com/blog, along with a summary description and link to each.

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USHBC Update: From Reports to Podcasts and Networking, Here’s How You Can Get Involved





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Take Advantage of the App!

The UF/IFAS Blueberry Growers Guide app contains modules with a scouting guide, a monthly management calendar, a pesticide guide, and detailed information on UF southern highbush blueberry cultivars, in both English and Spanish. It is available for download at https://tosto.re/blueberryuf.

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Pruning Southern Highbush Blueberry in Florida

Pruning is an essential part of blueberry production. It is used to promote postharvest growth
of new foliage and fruiting wood, balance vegetative and reproductive growth, reduce disease
and insect pressure, assist in mechanical harvesting efficiency, promote new cane growth and
plant longevity, and help establish new plantings.


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Summer Fungal Leaf Diseases

Fungal leaf diseases can be a problem for Florida blueberry growers during summer months, including anthracnose, Phyllosticta leaf spot, rust, and target spot. This post is a quick reference guide to identifying these diseases from the symptoms (although some of these diseases can have symptoms that appear to be similar) and suggested chemical controls. Additional information on leaf diseases can be found in UF EDIS Publication PP348, Florida Blueberry Leaf Disease Guide (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PP348).

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Suggested Blueberry Management Items for Summer and Early Fall

The table below lists suggested blueberry management items for summer and early fall. Suggested management items for the entire calendar year are available in an EDIS publication, Calendar for Southern Highbush Blueberry Management in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1363). Specific disease, insect, and weed controls are listed in the 2022 Florida Blueberry IPM Guide (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS380), as well as in subject-specific publications referenced below. Also, a list of all UF EDIS blueberry publications can be found at www.blueberrybreeding.com/blog, along with a summary description and link to each.

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Sign Up for a Summer Packed With Opportunities

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