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Tara Wade

Specialist

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Tara Wade

Orcid ID0000-0003-0993-5665

Specialist

associate professor, Department of Food and Resource Economics, UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, Immokalee, FL

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Publications

thumbnail for publication: Constructing a Southwest Florida Bell Peppers Enterprise Budget

Constructing a Southwest Florida Bell Peppers Enterprise Budget

Tara Wade, Barbara Hyman, and Eugene McAvoy

Enterprise budgets can assist with forecasting as well as help managers coordinate resources, make production decisions, examine expenditures, and anticipate outcomes from changes in production practices. They can help producers determine what to produce, how many acres to produce, the cost of production, and the necessary price to be profitable. Describes the process used to create the 2018-19 enterprise budget for bell peppers in southwest Florida.

thumbnail for publication: Constructing a Southwest Florida Tomato Enterprise Budget

Constructing a Southwest Florida Tomato Enterprise Budget

Tara Wade, Barbara Hyman, Eugene McAvoy, and John VanSickle

Enterprise budgets are effective planning tools for growers in search of help with forecasting, resource coordination, and better production decisions. In essence, enterprise budgets can help producers determine what to produce, how many acres to produce, the cost of production, and the necessary price to be profitable. Describes the process used to create the 2017/18 enterprise budget for tomatoes in southwest Florida and includes resources for producers interested in creating enterprise budgets for their own operations.

thumbnail for publication: How Ecosystem Services are Measured and Why it Matters for Florida

How Ecosystem Services are Measured and Why it Matters for Florida

Charles Wallace, Anna Braswell, Mysha Clarke, Andrew Ropicki, Tara Wade, Frank Asche, Ashley Smyth, Armando Ubeda, and Ed Camp

This publication describes some of the ways to measure ecosystem services and explains how the different approaches to assess ecosystems might be selected, depending on what is most important to the user.

thumbnail for publication: A Review of Bell Pepper Production and Price Trends from 2010 to 2022

A Review of Bell Pepper Production and Price Trends from 2010 to 2022

Tara Wade, Kelvin Amon, Zhengfei Guan, and Craig Frey

In the United States, bell peppers are cultivated for both fresh and processed markets, with California, Florida, and Georgia producing most of the crop. Production varies across states, and, in Florida, bell pepper production varies by region within the state with growing seasons ranging from July to March for northern Florida and August to February for southern Florida. This publication provides information on conventional bell pepper acreage, volume, and pricing for the top three producing states: California, Florida, and Georgia. It will be useful to producers, Extension agents, and others interested in trends concerning specialty crop commodities. It serves as a single location where important information about the specialty crop market and production trends can be found.

thumbnail for publication: Cover Crops for Florida Citrus: Practical Considerations and Their Impact on Soil Microbes

Cover Crops for Florida Citrus: Practical Considerations and Their Impact on Soil Microbes

Emma Dawson, Davie Kadyampakeni, Ramdas Kanissery, Tara Wade, and Sarah L. Strauss

Recently, cover crops (CCs) have regained popularity as interest in soil health and agricultural sustainability increases among growers and consumers. However, their use in perennial agroecosystems and within subtropical climates is less common due to the climatic conditions and management practices of perennial systems. The aim of this publication is to provide Extension agents and growers with practical information to help them successfully cultivate CCs in Florida citrus groves. Written by Emma Dawson, Davie Kadyampakeni, Ramdas Kanissery, Tara Wade, and Sarah L. Strauss, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, September 2025.

thumbnail for publication: A Review of Watermelon Production and Price Trends from 2010 to 2021

A Review of Watermelon Production and Price Trends from 2010 to 2021

Tara Wade, Kelvin Amon, Kevin Athearn, and Craig Frey

Eight states produce most US watermelons. Most of the fruit (almost 80%) are grown in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas, with Florida leading in domestic production. In 2019, Florida’s watermelon output accounted for 25.2% of total US production, 24.7% of national watermelon acreage, and 29.6% of the overall US crop value. The value of Florida's watermelon output accounted for 13.2% of the state's total vegetable production. This publication provides information on both seeded and seedless conventional watermelon acreage, volume, and pricing for California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas from 2010 through 2021. It is one of a series illustrating trends in Florida’s five most economically important specialty crops, excluding citrus: tomatoes, bell peppers, watermelons, sweet corn, and strawberries. This information will be useful to producers, Extension agents, and others interested in specialty crop commodities trends.

thumbnail for publication: Capitalizing on Carbon

Capitalizing on Carbon

Jehangir Bhadha, Mark Clark, Michael Andreu, Yuchuan Fan, Tara Wade, and Young Gu Her

This infographic illustrates the global carbon cycle and discusses sources, sinks, carbon markets, and carbon sequestration.

thumbnail for publication: Nitrogen Fertilization Guidelines for Potato Production in Florida

Nitrogen Fertilization Guidelines for Potato Production in Florida

Lincoln Zotarelli, Tara Wade, Gary K. England, and Christian T. Christensen

This new 11-page publication focuses on the nitrogen (N) fertilizer best management practices (BMP) for potato crop in Florida. The aim is to provide management strategies that comply with statewide BMP guidelines to maximize yield and economic return while minimizing N losses to the environment. Written by Lincoln Zotarelli, Tara Wade, Gary K. England, and Christian T. Christensen and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department.

thumbnail for publication: An Introduction to Carbon Credit Markets and Their Potential for Florida Agricultural Producers

An Introduction to Carbon Credit Markets and Their Potential for Florida Agricultural Producers

Sawssan Boufous, Tara Wade, Shourish Chakravarty, Michael Andreu, Jehangir H. Bhadha, Young Gu Her, and Ziwen Yu

This publication is part of a larger body of work initiated by the UF/IFAS Extension Climate and Carbon Extension Educators that informs a general audience about climate issues and mitigation strategies. It was prepared to help Extension agents, farmers, and ranchers interested in carbon credit programs better understand the process of carbon credit trading, from credit generation to markets. Note that because carbon markets are relatively new, programs and prices are likely to change over time. This publication includes a list of resources for further information.

thumbnail for publication: A Review of Strawberry Production and Price Trends from 2010 to 2022

A Review of Strawberry Production and Price Trends from 2010 to 2022

Tara Wade, Kelvin Amon, Zhengfei Guan, and Wael Elwakil

This publication provides information on conventional fresh strawberry acreage, volume, and pricing for California and Florida from 2010 through 2022. It is one of a series of EDIS publications that illustrate trends in Florida’s five most economically important specialty crops, excluding citrus: strawberries, bell peppers, tomatoes, watermelons, and sweet corn. The information in this publication will be useful to producers, Extension agents, and others interested in trends concerning specialty crop commodities. It serves as a single location where valuable information about the specialty crop market and production trends can be found.

thumbnail for publication: An Introduction to Florida Commodity Enterprise Budgets: A Tool to Improve Farm Business Planning

An Introduction to Florida Commodity Enterprise Budgets: A Tool to Improve Farm Business Planning

Kimberly L. Morgan, Tara Wade, Kevin Athearn, Chris Prevatt, Ariel Singerman, Edward “Gilly” Evans, Trent Blare, Hayk Khachatryan, and Zhengfei Guan

Enterprise budgets help farmers and ranchers estimate expenses, potential revenue, and profit. UF/IFAS provides enterprise budgets for a variety of Florida-grown commodities. These are typically built collaboratively by economists, horticulturists and agronomists, ranchers, and growers. This publication highlights key aspects of the enterprise budget as a planning tool for farm businesses. Includes links to UF/IFAS enterprise budgets and related documents specific to several Florida commodities.

thumbnail for publication: Florida’s Agricultural Carbon Economy as Climate Action: The Potential Role of Farmers and Ranchers

Florida’s Agricultural Carbon Economy as Climate Action: The Potential Role of Farmers and Ranchers

Young Gu Her, Tara Wade, Sawssan Boufous, Jehangir Bhadha, and Michael Andreu

This article introduces concepts related to carbon sequestration, credits, and markets to help Extension agents, farmers, and concerned residents to better understand how agriculture can help to mitigate climate change, and thus become a part of Florida’s carbon economy. Written by Young Gu Her, Tara Wade, Sawssan Boufous, Jehangir Bhadha, and Michael Andreu, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, May 2022.

thumbnail for publication: Oxytetracycline Injections in Citrus: Cost Estimates for Early Adopters

Oxytetracycline Injections in Citrus: Cost Estimates for Early Adopters

Shourish Chakravarty, Tara Wade, Ute Albrecht, Ozgur Batuman, and Thomas H. Spreen

This publication provides per-tree and per-acre costs of adopting oxytetracycline (OTC) trunk injections for large-scale orange production in southwest Florida. The values represent the costs observed by early adopters (i.e., the 2023–24 season). This information will be helpful to citrus growers, Extension agents, and other citrus industry stakeholders interested in understanding the costs of trunk injection and OTC applications in tree crop production. The values shared are estimates; costs will vary depending on the operation’s application methods, products used, tree density, and other grove characteristics. Written by Shourish Chakravarty, Tara Wade, Ute Albrecht, Ozgur Batuman, and Thomas H. Spreen, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Food and Resource Economics, June 2025.

thumbnail for publication: A Review of Fresh Market Sweet Corn Production and Price Trends from 2010 to 2022

A Review of Fresh Market Sweet Corn Production and Price Trends from 2010 to 2022

Kelvin Amon, Tara Wade, Anna Mészáros, and Tori Rumenik

This publication provides information on conventional fresh market sweet corn acreage, volume, and pricing for the top four producing states: California, Florida, Georgia, and New York. (Other states produce a substantial amount of processed market sweet corn but are not the focus here.) This is one in a series of Ask IFAS publications focused on trends in Florida’s five most economically important specialty crops (excluding citrus): fresh market sweet corn, bell peppers, tomatoes, watermelons, and strawberries. This information will be useful to producers, Extension agents, and others interested in trends concerning specialty crop commodities. This publication serves as a unique source summarizing important information about the specialty crop market and production trends.

thumbnail for publication: Costs of Using Cover Crops in Citrus Production, 2022–23

Costs of Using Cover Crops in Citrus Production, 2022–23

Tara Wade, Shourish Chakravarty, and Sarah Strauss

This publication presents the results from a static one-year cost analysis assessing the viability of planting cover crops in citrus row middles in a Florida grove to determine whether implementing them will be economically feasible for citrus growers. The authors developed a partial budget for cover crops in a typical Florida orange grove, calculating breakeven prices for oranges in terms of price per box (equivalent to 90 lbs of oranges) and price per pounds solids (amount of soluble solids per box of oranges). We also incorporated additional net costs for citrus grove cover crops across historical yield and quality scenarios. Given that cover crops are effective in improving soil quality and suppressing weed growth and have short-term savings in the form of reduced mowing, we believe that the results from our study will benefit citrus growers considering planting cover crops in their grove row middles.