BLOG

Striking a Balance

Proper Summer Irrigation, Fertilization Needed for Productive Fields

by JEFF WILLIAMSON & DOUG PHILLIPS

Read More

It Starts at the Nursery

How to Spot Common Problems Early to Ensure a Healthy Start

by PHIL HARMON & DOUG PHILLIPS

Read More

Pests and Pollinators

Are We Spraying the Bees Away?

by JOHN TERNEST & DR. RACHEL MALLINGER

Read More

President's Letter: I Hear Harvest 2022 Went Pretty Well

I have heard this common theme from a number of growers. The 2022 season was described as “decent,” “an OK year,” or “I’m pretty happy with the season.”  Not bad praise coming from a bunch of farmers. 

Read More

USHBC Update

It’s Time to Put Blueberries in the Spotlight

by JENNI SPARKS, North American Blueberry Council

Read More

Grower 411

Summer Highbush Blueberry Management Items

   

Read More

Publisher's Interlude: Changing Times

It’s amazing to observe how inflation, cheap imports, and labor costs are changing the landscape of agriculture across the country regardless of the crop. The swift changes are forcing farmers to think on their feet and quickly adapt in order to stay relevant and in business. Fortunately, these are traits most farmers, especially those right here in Florida, already possess. (I could rattle off a list of all the qualities our growers exhibit, but chances are good you already know them because you’re one of them.)

Read More

Thrip Threat

Be On the Lookout for Chilli Thrips This Summer

Chilli thrips are a significant pest on southern highbush blueberries in Florida with the potential to cause heavy foliage damage from late spring through early fall. Although there are insecticides with efficacy on chilli thrips, the numbers of applications used and cost of products have become a significant management issue for Florida growers. 

Read More

Right On Target

Monitoring and Managing Target Spot in Southern Highbush Blueberry

Target spot, a fungal leaf disease, is caused by the Corynespora cassiicola pathogen. It was first reported in blueberry in the US (on “Jewel” in Central Florida) in 2014. Florida growers have reported significant defoliation due to target spot on many southern highbush blueberry (SHB) cultivars since then. 

Read More

Prudent Pruning

Strategies for New and Mature Southern Highbush Blueberries

Read More

Plan to Celebrate and Capitalize on National Blueberry Month

It’s April, which means National Blueberry Month is just three months away! The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is gearing up for an epic celebration. 

Read More

Top Threat

Tips to Help Mitigate Damage From Chilli Thrips

Read More

Post-Harvest Primer

Summer Fungal Leaf Disease Management

Read More

Executive Director's Letter: Showcasing Florida’s Blueberry Industry

It is harvest season 2022, and we have already had quite a packed spring in Florida!

Read More

President's Letter: Dealing With Mother Nature and the Designs of Society

As I pen this in mid-March I’m not sure how the season will turn out, but I’m hopeful and as ready as I can be for what comes at harvest. Ever since Thanksgiving, our business has been steering through white waters I hardly expected to see till harvest. As growers, you know it’s been a bit of an odd year due to both the political and economic designs of our society and the inescapable influence of Mother Nature. Despite this, the Florida growers I talk to have all been working hard and figuring out how to adjust their operations to capture a good harvest.

Read More

The Wedgworth Way

By J. Scott Angle

Read More

Publisher's Interlude: The Pursuit of Knowledge

Field days in agriculture are essentially show-and-tell for adults, and it’s every bit as exciting as it was when I was in school. Don’t get me wrong, the advanced principles, techniques, and subject matter are far from child’s play, but the principles remain the same: Share, learn, and grow

Read More

Preparing for the Freeze

Your Winter Crop Survival Checklist 

Read More

President's Letter: The Blueberry Grower’s Pancake

… Or how Florida growers are getting squeezed between cost increases and pricing pressures.

Read More

Grower’s Thoughts: Minimize the Risk of Anthracnose Fruit Rot

Anthracnose fruit rot (AFR) is the most significant disease that directly affects the fruit of blueberries in Florida. In years past, AFR, also known as ripe rot, has been of minor concern for Florida growers; however, within the last three to five years, reports of substantial losses are on the rise. In this article, we will try to understand the disease cycle, factors that can promote disease, and management tools to reduce disease risk in your field. AFR is a real heartbreaker that can not only reduce the amount of harvestable fruit just as the year’s investment starts to pay out but then come back with the sucker punch of reducing the quality and quantity of the harvested berries due to fruit spoilage, lower pack-outs, and shorter shelf life. 

Read More