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Recent & Revised Publications

Using Mulch for Weed Control in Container Plant Production

Yuvraj Khamare and Chris Marble

Weed management in container plant production is a serious problem and remains one of the most expensive and time-consuming aspects of the plant nursery industry. Weeds compete for light, water, nutrients, and space, which ultimately results in decreased crop growth and yield. Weed management in container nurseries is primarily based on the use of timely preemergence (PRE) herbicides and supplemental hand weeding. The most challenging downside to applying PRE herbicides is often crop safety for many herbicide-sensitive crops commonly produced by Florida growers. Also, herbicide labels typically preclude application on bearing plants or for up to 12 months before fruit can be harvested. Due to these concerns, among the most commonly adopted non-chemical approaches to weed management in recent times is the utilization of mulch. This publication discusses best mulching practices, mulch types, application techniques, cost, and other management practices in container plant production.

CP 03-1912: A Sugarcane Cultivar Expanding on Sand Soil in Florida

Hardev Sandhu, Matt VanWeelden, Amandeep Sharma, and Wayne Davidson

The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide basic information and yield and disease information for CP 03-1912 to assist growers in a decision-making process of whether to further expand acreage of this cultivar with a clearer expectation of potential insect pest and disease issues that may need to be addressed through pest management strategies. Written by Hardev Sandhu, Matt VanWeelden, Amandeep Sharma, and Wayne Davidson, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, September 2024.

Southern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars from the University of Florida

D. A. Phillips, J. G. Williamson, P. M. Lyrene, and P. R. Munoz

Cultivar selection involves weighing the advantages and disadvantages of a cultivar relative to the grower’s needs. Unfortunately, there are no perfect cultivars suited for every location and management system. The following discussion categorizes southern highbush cultivars into three groups: (1) new cultivars; (2) established cultivars; and (3) secondary and obsolete cultivars.

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Warts in White-tailed deer (Cutaneous Fibromas)

Juan M. Campos Krauer and Samantha M. Wisely

Deer warts, or cutaneous fibromas, are skin tumors caused by papillomavirus infection that affect white-tailed deer and other deer. These growths are generally benign, but in rare cases may proliferate and impede functions like sight, movement, or feeding. Deer immune systems usually eradicate the infection over time. Found exclusively on the skin, usually around the eyes, neck, face, and forelegs, warts may be diverse in appearance and size, ranging from small fleshy nodules to larger, pendulous masses or clusters. Transmission mechanisms are suspected to involve skin contact or possibly insect vectors but remain unclear. Diagnosis is by visual examination and histopathological analysis of the wart tissue. Wild deer populations usually do not require treatment, but surgical removal is an option for captive herds. Vaccine development remains plausible but has not yet been pursued extensively.

Escarole and Endive: Nutritious Leafy Vegetables with High Potential for Floridians

Germán Sandoya, Makou Lin, Jeongim Kim, and Steven Sargent

Escaroles and endives are two leafy vegetables of the Compositae family rich in nutrients and minerals. Both crops are uncommon in the United States, but both are planted in wintertime in Florida and in other states such as California and New Jersey. This publication aims the public and inform of their use in the leafy vegetable industry in Florida. As other leafy vegetables, escaroles and endives are susceptible to pests and diseases and other physiological disorders such as pink rib at postharvest. Using the correct management practices and the correct cultivars adapted for Florida could help producers in fields and in the home garden to achieve a successful crop.

Presence of a Non-Pest Mite Tarsonemus confusus Ewing (Acari: Tarsonemidae), in Florida Strawberry Fields

Lovely Adhikary and Sriyanka Lahiri

This publication aims to benefit growers and Extension agents by increasing awareness of a fungus-feeding mite, Tarsonemus confusus, commonly found in strawberry fields. Tarsonemus confusus may be misidentified as other pest mites. In fact, without help from an expert mite taxonomist, incorrect species identification can be a major concern. Although this mite species typically does not achieve pest status on most crops, an incorrect pest identification may lead to unnecessary application of miticides, triggering a secondary pest outbreak.

Using Wolbachia Bacteria to Control Mosquitoes and Mosquito-Borne Disease

Leena A. Salama, Abdullah A. Alomar, Daniel W. Pérez-Ramos, and Eric P. Caragata

This publication is intended for both the general public and mosquito control professionals. It outlines the use of the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis as a tool to control mosquito populations and reduce the spread of mosquito-borne disease. Biting mosquitoes transmit many pathogens that cause deadly diseases in people, our pets, and our livestock. Collectively, malaria, dengue, West Nile, filariasis, and other mosquito-borne diseases result in millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. Effective vaccines for most of these have not been developed or are not yet available to the general public, and disease management is focused on controlling mosquito populations. Insecticides have become less effective over the past fifty years as mosquito populations all over the world have developed resistance. This has driven scientists to explore new options for controlling mosquitoes, including using the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis.

Breastfeeding Benefits and Resources: Breastmilk feeds more than just babies!

Diana Hazard Taft

This publication explains the importance of breastmilk to the infant gut microbiome. First, the gut microbiome is defined, then the source of infant microbes is introduced, and finally the role of breastfeeding in infant gut microbiome and infant health. It is intended for a general audience of all educational backgrounds.

Breastfeeding Benefits and Resources: How does breastmilk fight infection in infants?

Diana Hazard Taft

This publication is a brief introduction to how breastmilk helps keep babies healthy and helps them recover faster when they do get sick. This publication is meant to provide information about breastfeeding benefits for babies.

An Extensionist’s Guide to Farm and Site Visits

Marcelo Wallau, Bob Hochmuth, Tatiana Sanchez-Jones, Mark Warren, Carissa Wickens, Prissy Fletcher, and Cheryl Mackowiak

Farm and site visits are a major component of Extension work, whether as a county faculty or state specialist. They serve various purposes, such as informal check-ins, relationship building, problem solving, sharing technology, and information collection. While time-consuming, farm visits are often the most effective method for addressing problems and developing deeper connections with stakeholders (Petrzelka, Padgitt, and Windestenn, 1999). These visits provide firsthand knowledge of the issues clients face and are effective in establishing collaborations, assessing needs, understanding agricultural production systems, and validating research applications (Oakley and Garforth, 1985; Seevers and Graham, 2012). This publication explores different facets of farm and site visits, including preparation before the visit, the investigative (problem-solving) process during the visit, and post-visit procedures. Additional resources are included to support client visits and troubleshooting.

Promoting Turf Recovery Following a Hurricane

J. Bryan Unruh, A. J. Lindsey, Marco Schiavon, and L. E. Trenholm

Devastation from hurricanes can cause multiple problems for turfgrass managers, sod producers, and homeowners. Damage may include visible factors such as prolonged periods of standing water, uprooted trees, shading and obstruction from demolished structures, deposition of silt or mud, and damage to irrigation systems. Less visible problems may include damage to root systems resulting from compacted soil from heavy equipment used during cleanup and recovery, reduced drainage, and injury resulting from effects of saltwater intrusion. Suggested guidelines for correcting these problems are included in the text.

The Use of Reflection as an Effective Leadership Practice: An Introduction

Christy Chiarelli

The purpose of this publication is to emphasize the practice and importance of reflection for leaders. By highlighting reflective leadership, this publication aims to provide additional resources for leaders navigating their daily leadership responsibilities. This reflective leadership series discusses the importance of reflection, the benefits and barriers to employing reflective leadership, models of reflective leadership, and finally, suggested practices for implementing reflection into one’s leadership practice.

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$526 billion

Cost of Hurricane Damage in Florida

The cost of damage from hurricanes in Florida since 1990 is equal to that of the whole rest of the United States. Major hurricanes caused 87% of the damage.

18,728

Pest Management Jobs

The Florida pest management industry accounted for more than 14% of the industry’s establishments in 2021

13% of people

Food Insecure in the U.S.

Urban agriculture provides diverse benefits and support to local communities. However, there are also limitations to developing or expanding operations and programs.

14.1%

OJ Inflation

Orange Juice prices experienced high inflation, peaking at 14.1% in January 2023, but the number of active consumers slightly increased.

65,479

U.S. residents have their identity stolen each day

This publication is based on the insights of individuals who have been through this experience, researched it in depth, and have attempted to break it down into understandable segments.

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