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One of the great parts of working in Florida agriculture is that every year we get to start fresh. If we learn from past successes or mistakes, then we have another opportunity to do a better job in a new season. But putting last season behind us will not be easy for some. While those fortunate few who had a good season or those who had crop or whole farm revenue insurance will be okay, many other farms are strained‑financially.

This edition of the Blueberry News will publish as harvest time is really getting kicked into high gear. While the last few months of 2016 did not give our crops as many chill hours as we’ve seen in years past, it was not a complete lack of chill accumulation. That being said, we know all too well that Mother Nature is not always kind to everyone. Our hearts go out to our brother growers in Georgia as they grapple with the  effects of the recent inclement weather. The freeze events to the north that occurred in March may open up opportunities for a longer harvest season for Florida growers. Although it is nearly impossible to predict the volume, most of the Florida fields should have a pretty good harvest.
Remembering last year’s challenges (and, honestly, how can we forget?), here are a few important reminders for harvest time that will hopefully help increase efficiency, volume, and have a positive impact on the price.

Making Headway on Studies of Sparkleberry-Grafted Blueberry Plant Varieties

By the time you hold this in your hands, by God’s grace our harvest will be well underway. On our family blueberry farm in Medulla, Kirkland Farms, we experienced more chill hours in the latter part of 2016 than we did in 2015. This season, we measured 80 chill hours, compared to the season before, which counted for a mere two. There’s no question, when you look at the historical data, our cultivars perform better when there is at least something close to 100 hours of chill.

from the 2017 Southeastern Blueberry Integrated Management Guide

Growers’ Perspective on Optimizing Irrigation Methods for Blueberry Crops

As each season comes and goes, I hear about more farms opening their  elds to the public and inviting them for a u-pick or we-pick experience. This does not surprise me, because when done right, it’s an alternative method to help get berries off the bush and supplement income for the agriculture operation.

Get a Bird’s Eye View of All the Entertainment and Pomp That Will be Putting the Spotlight on Florida’s Little Blue Dynamos

Focusing on the 4Rs of Nutrient Stewardship

Growers Seek to Protect the Industry from Mexican Competition and Innovate through Good, Old Fashioned Ingenuity

Florida blueberry growers are battling Mexican farmers for their lucrative spring marketing window.  With the Mexican blueberry crop up 70 percent, supplying more than double the estimated Florida crop of 18 to 20 million pounds in 2017, the Florida Blueberry Growers Association is supporting an update of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Make Sure the Farm is Up-to-Date on All Crop Insurance Dates and Coverage

Blueberry crop insurance has been available in Florida for over 15 years.  It started as a pilot program in Alachua and Highlands counties and is now available in 14 counties.  There have been improvements in the traditional crop insurance as well as the introduction of the newer Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP).  There are many Florida blueberry growers protecting their investments with crop insurance.  There are still many new farmers who are unfamiliar with it.  From time to time, it is always a good idea to review the basics.  Crop insurance is no exception.

Successful farmers are the most innovative bunch you’ll ever meet.  On the flipside of those successful farmers, however, are the people formerly known as “farmers”— the ones who didn’t innovate, change with the times, and try new things.  The failure to innovate comes down to a handful of excuses: