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Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
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________________________________________________ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences |
SOUTH FLORIDA
VEGETABLE PEST AND DISEASE
HOTLINE
Oct 17, 2003
Looks like we have made it through another long hot wet south Florida summer. The last few days have finally bought a long awaited exquisite taste of fall to south Florida with drier air and lower temperatures marking the end of the rainy season.
Temperatures have been relatively balmy with daytime highs in the mid to upper 80’s and night time lows in the 60’s. Over the past two only trace amounts of rain fell over most west central and south Florida growing areas. Fort Pierce was the exception reporting nearly an inch and a half for the period.
Warm dry weather and sunshine over the past two weeks has been favorable greatly assisting crop growth and development. The cooler, drier air will probably do more for disease problems than anything growers can spray. Fall planting and land preparation continues across south Florida. Light amounts of cucumbers, okra, squash and peppers are coming to market and tomatoes should begin coming onto the market out of the Ruskin area in the next week.
FAWN Weather Summary
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The short-term forecast from the National Weather Service in Miami calls for continued warm dry condition as a reinforcing front brings another shot of dry air into south Florida over the weekend. Daytime highs will remain in the upper 80’s with nighttime lows in the low 60’s. Skies will be partly cloudy with a little chance of scattered showers through midweek.
For additional information, visit the National Weather Service in Miami website at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/newpage/index.html
Insects
Growers and scouts continue to report fairly light insect pressure across the area.
Worms
Respondents in the Manatee/Ruskin area note a slight up tic in worm pressure with worms increasing as crops near maturity. Worms include a mixed bag of hornworms, beet armyworms and loopers. Reports indicate heavy melonworm pressure in melons and squash.
Around southwest Florida, worm activity has picked up with an increase in hatches and egg masses being detected. Growers and scouts report finding lots of southern armyworms, beet armyworms and loopers, as well as the occasional tomato fruitworm. There has been a notable increase in melonworm pressure in squash and cukes. Despite persistent pressure, growers report no major worm problems, as they have been able to maintain good control with available lep materials including Bt, Confirm and Avaunt.
Reports from east coast production areas also report increased worm pressure for the period. Low to moderate numbers of mostly southern armyworm on tomato and beet armyworm in pepper has been noted. Scouts report a big increase in loopers in particular, with a strong hatch in progress over the past several days. Growers also note an increase in melon and pickle worm activity with some fruit damage being reported. Some diamondback moths have been noted in specialty crucifers.
In Homestead, worms continue to be heavy on all crops. There has been strong pressure from fall, beet, and southern armyworm over the past few weeks and growers report a big jump in looper, fruitworms, melonworms, pickleworms, and bean leaf rollers over the past two weeks.
There is some confusion over the difference between melonworms and pickleworms. Both caterpillars attack only cucurbits. Although the pickleworm prefers summer squash, it may severely damage cucumber and cantaloupe also. The melonworm prefers foliage of muskmelon, squash, and cucumber. It very rarely attacks watermelon.
The pickleworm (Diaphania nitidalis) moth has pale yellow hind wings with a wide, dark brown border and a large, pale yellow spot near the center of each dark brown forewing. A cluster of dark brush-like hairs is present on the tip of the abdomen. The newly hatched pickleworm larva is almost colorless except for slightly darker jaws and a black spot on each side of the head. Third and fourth instar larvae are about 6 to 12 mm long and pale yellow with dark spots, each spot containing a large bristle. The dark-headed fifth instar larva has a yellow-green body with no spots and may be 1 –1 ¼ inch long.
The melonworm (Diaphania hyalinata) moth has a brown head and a white-tipped abdomen with bushy hair-like scales. Its white wings have a narrow dark band around the margin and span up to 43 mm. The larval stages have two dorsal white stripes running the length of the body otherwise; they resemble the pickleworm larvae can grow 1-¼ inches long.
The most important economic damage is caused by the pickleworm due to its habit of attacking the fruit. Young pickleworms usually feed for a time among small leaves at the growing tips of vines or within blossoms. A favorite place is the large staminate flowers of cucurbits where larvae hide under the ring of stamens at the base of flowers. When about half grown, pickleworms normally bore into the sides of fruits or stems and continue to feed there, causing internal damage and producing soft excrement. Both young and old fruits are attacked, but they prefer young fruits before the rind has hardened. After the rind has been punctured, the fruit soon becomes "sour.”
Insecticide applications should begin immediately when pickleworms or their damage appears. More frequent applications may be needed if populations and temperatures are high. Apply in early evening to minimize bee kills.
When the crop is young, Bt insecticides are recommended for the control of melonworms but are less effective against pickleworm due to their habit of boring into fruit. With the Bt’s, best control is often obtained with the two-strain products such as Xentari. These contain both the azawi and kurstaki strains of Bt. Some of the single-strain products that worked well a few years ago are now only effective under low pressure.
Grower must remember that it's absolutely essential to use insecticides that will not harm the bees are required for cross-pollination of melons and other cucurbits. Secondly avoiding "harsh" insecticides early in the crop will help preserve the beneficials that keep leafminers from getting out of hand. In addition to the range of Bt compounds on the market, a number of “soft” insecticides including Confirm, Spintor (Conserve) and Neemix are now available to growers. Trials conducted by Dr Phil Stansly in SW Florida have demonstrated good results with Avaunt.
After the crop is pollinated it may be necessary to use more harsh materials along with Bts. For younger worms after the crop is pollinated, synthetic pyrethroids are often used. Sevin and Thiodan have also been used with mixed results. For larger worms, Lannate is often the chemical of choice.
When using synthetic pyrethroids it is important to rotate between different classes of insecticides, to avoid back-to-back applications of pyrethroids to help prevent the buildup of resistance in pest populations.
Scouting to ensure early detection of these pests and thorough coverage is a must. Coverage can be improved by putting crews in the field to turn back the vines before spraying. This is a high-labor, expensive operation, but it can make a significant difference in spray results.
For photos
- go to UF Featured Creatures - http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/veg/leaf/melonworm.htm
and
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/veg/pickleworm.htm
Whiteflies
Respondents in Homestead indicate that they are beginning to experience heavy whitefly pressure now on most crops. Low levels of tomato yellow leaf curl and bean golden mosaic virus have accompanied the increased whitefly pressure, which is not a good sign this early in the season.
Reports from Palm Beach County note mostly low whitefly numbers, although some increase in activity has been noted in Martin and St Lucie Counties. A few hot spots continue to be reported in St Lucie County.
Around southwest Florida, whiteflies remain fairly low but there has been some increased pressure over the past week with a few fields receiving some treatment for adults.
In west central Florida, scouts report whitefly populations remain low, with counts coming in less than one per plant except for some hot borders.
Mites
Respondents in Palm Beach report an increase in broad mite activity in eggplant and pepper. A few two spotted mites have been reported in eggplant as well as squash. Growers report good control in eggplant from a combination of Vydate and sulfur.
Broad mite pressure has increased in pepper around southwest Florida with several fields requiring treatment in the past week. Spider mite activity has also flared up in eggplant in a few locations.
Scouts in the Homestead area report dry weather pests such as mites and broad mites are now showing up in susceptible crops.
Some broad mite activity has been reported in pepper in the Manatee/Ruskin area.
Leafminers
Reports from Manatee County indicate that leafminer populations are beginning to increase to treatable levels in some fields. Respondents note that numbers are still low in other fields.
In the Homestead area, respondents indicate leafminers are present primarily in bean and eggplant. They are also showing up in tomato where fields are adjacent to the beans or eggplant.
Around Immokalee, reports indicate there are a few leafminers around but nothing close to threshold levels. Scouts report that parasites are keeping them at very low levels..
Growers and scouts in Palm Beach report some mostly light leafminer activity in a variety of crops. A few reports note leafminer exceeding threshold levels with controls being applied.
Pepper Weevils
Moderate to severe pepper weevil pressure continues to be reported on young pepper in isolated fields around southwest Florida. In these fields, weevils are showing up prior to fruit set and feeding on foliage and flowers. Growers have applied multiple spray applications for control. In most areas however scouts report only a few weevils beginning to show up in pheromone traps.
A few pepper weevils have also been reported around Martin County.
Misc. pests
A few aphids are being seen in the Manatee/Ruskin area.
Specialty growers in Palm Beach County indicate that they expect to begin seeing aphids with the advent of cooler drier weather.
Diseases
Despite some increase in disease pressure following heavy rains a few weeks ago, most crops remain relatively clean.
Botrytis
There have been several reports of botrytis (gray mold) in early-planted tomatoes around west central Florida, including stem, foliage and bloom infection. Several samples have been sent off and have been confirmed by the lab.
Phyllis
Gilreath notes that this disease was fairly prevalent in the area this
past spring in spite of high temperatures. As reported by Dr.
Pam Roberts at the Tomato Institute in September, botrytis is considered
weakly pathogenic and initial infection is often associated with wounded
plant tissue, including diseased or mechanically damaged tissue.
This is probably why it seems worse in some fields where bacterial spot
pressure is
also high.
Botrytis is most severe on plants grown in acidic, sandy soils with high soil moisture. Adequate calcium should be available and uniform soil moisture maintained for maximum calcium availability. Calcium to phosphorus ratio of 2 or higher in leaf petiole tissue has been demonstrated to aid in control. Growers are advised to scout for this disease, which is difficult to distinguish from other diseases; thus, emphasizing the need for laboratory confirmation prior to control measures.
In addition to standard fungicides, Topsin (Ceraxagri) is labeled for white mold but also has activity against botrytis. Endura (BASF) has recently been labeled for fruiting vegetables for control of botrytis but reportedly will not be available until sometime this winter due to production limitations.
Bacterial Spot
Reports from the Manatee/Ruskin area indicate bacteria spot remains widespread but severity varies from field to field. Respondents note that the disease has progressed more than expected in spite of the break in rainy weather enjoyed in late September/early October. Some reports indicate that foggy conditions have favored disease progression and successful control has been evasive in some locations.
Reports indicate that bacterial spot activity has slowed considerably in the Homestead area over the past two weeks in response to drier weather
Around Immokalee, bacterial spot has really hurt some fields following last month’s heavy rains, stunting growth and causing defoliation. Plants in most locations have flushed out new growth this past week and are trying to "outgrow" the disease. Scouts report that some older tomato fields already have fruit lesions. There are also some older pepper fields that have suffered significant defoliation resulting from moderate to severe bacterial spot infection. Growers are evaluating several alternative control strategies including Actigard, Oxidate and phages.
In other areas around southwest Florida fields remain relatively clean. In field trials aimed at evaluating various bacterial spot control materials currently under way by Momol, Roberts and McAvoy we have yet to see the first bacterial spot nearly eight weeks after planting!
Reports from east coast indicate that bacterial spot is still widely present but progression has slowed in recent days although the disease continues to creep higher into the canopy.
Scattered reports of bacterial leaf spot (Pseudomonas sp.) on bean have been reported from several locations around south Florida.
Southern blight
Southern
blight has been reported in several locations around west central Florida.
Incidence is being reported in higher numbers than expected considering
recent weather conditions. Occurrence is scattered Temperatures
have been favorable for disease development. Although rainfall has
decreased foggy mornings
earlier this
month may have contributed to increases in this and other diseases.
Some increase in the incidence of southern blight has been reported around southwest Florida. Incidence is moderate to high in a few places.
In addition to pre-plant fumigation with a fumigant containing chloropicrin, Terraclor (Crompton Uniroyal) applied at transplanting or pre-plant in furrow according to labeled direction may provide additional control in fields with a history of this disease.
Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus
In the Manatee Ruskin area, tomato yellow leaf curl virus remains generally low with most fields at 1% or less although reports indicate a few older blocks are approaching 5%.
In the Immokalee area, growers and scouts report finding a few scattered TYLCV infected plant. Incidence is well below 1 % and in most cases respondents report finding only a few plants across a several hundred acres.
Growers and scouts on the east coast report mostly low incidence of TYLCV with a few infected plants showing up here and there. A few hot spots have been reported in St Lucie County with higher incidence of over 5% infection being reported.
Pepper Mild Mottle Virus
Pepper Mild Mottle Virus has been detected in pepper in the Immokalee area. At present infections seem to be limited in geographical distribution. This is a seed-borne tobamovirus that is very easily transmitted and highly persistent.
Tobacco Mosaic Virus
Tobacco Mosaic Virus has been diagnosed in a few pepper fields around Hillsborough County. Incidence is low.
Papaya Mosaic Virus
Papaya Mosaic Virus has been diagnosed on squash in the Manatee Ruskin area. Mosaic virus (type undetermined) is are also beginning to show up on squash in southwest Florida as well as east coast production areas.
Wet rot
Wet rot or Choanephora blight, caused by the fungus Choanephora sp., continues to be reported on bell pepper and bean in fields in Southwest Florida. Incidence and occurrence remains low and decreased activity can is expected with the onset of cooler drier conditions.
Symptoms on pepper consists of a dark water soaked wet rot that may start on a leaf and continue down the branch. The dark-gray fungal growth is apparent on some lesions. Under magnification, a silvery, spine-like fungus with a dark head is seen.
Downy mildew
Downy mildew continues to be reported on squash around in Palm Beach County.
Angular Leaf Spot
A little angular leaf spot has been reported on melons in west central Florida. Incidence and occurrence is low. Field diagnosis of this disease are aided by the angularity of foliar lesions typically confined to interveinal areas and the shiny, shellac-like appearance of the leaf surface due to dried bacterial ooze.
Gummy stem blight
Growers and scouts report that gummy stem blight has been reported on cucurbits in several locations in southwest and west central Florida.
Rhizoctonia
Low levels of Rhizoctonia continue to be reported on beans in Homestead and in scattered locations around southwest Florida. Seedlings infected by Rhizoctonia typically display a reddish brown discoloration. The use of high quality, fungicide-treated seed will reduce the risk of disease as will the use of in-row soil treatment with fungicides such as Terraclor to reduce the level of rhizoctonia in the field.
Phytophthora
A few reports of Phytophthora capsici on pepper and tomato continue to be noted in the Palm Beach area.
Phytophthora has also been diagnosed in pepper and squash in west central as well as southwest Florida. Incidence is low and occurrence spotty.
Although Phytophthora infection can occur at any height on stems, it is most common at the soil line, and starts as a dark, water-soaked area. Stem lesions become dark brown to black and may result in girdling and plant death. Infected roots are dark brown and mushy. Infected stems are often bordered by a collar of white fungal growth at the soil line during wet periods.
Pythium
Growers and scouts continue to report scattered problems with pythium in pepper and seeded cucurbits around Immokalee.
Target Spot
Scattered reports of target spot on tomato are beginning to come in from several locations in west central, east coast and southwest Florida tomato production areas.
Cercospora leaf spot
Cercospora leaf spot has been diagnosed on specialty melons in southwest Florida. Cercospora Leaf Spot, caused by Cercospora citrullina, affects cantaloupe, watermelon and specialty melons. Leaf spots are small, dark brown to black with a white center, and may have a yellow halo and may be mistaken for downy mildew in initial stages. This disease is relatively rare in south Florida and laboratory diagnosis should be sought for positive identification.
Up Coming Meetings
Hillsborough County
November 7, 2003 WPS - Train the Trainer 10 AM - Noon
Hillsborough County Extension Office
5339 S CR 579
Seffner, Florida
Contact Traci Buck at 813-744-5519, ext.104
November 18, 2003 Strawberry School 2003 9:00 AM
GulfCoast Research and Education Center -Dover.
13138 Lewis Gallagher Road
Dover, Florida
Contact 813-659-2801
Indian River County
October 30, 2003 Food Safety for Organic and Conventional Producers 10:00AM -Noon
Indian River Research and Education Center
2199 South Rock Road
Fort Pierce, Florida 34945
Contact Sharon Lear at 722- 462-1660 or silear@ifas.ufl.edu
Palm Beach County
November 3, 2003 General Standards/Core Test Review 8 AM - 10 AM
Clayton E Hutchinson Agricultural Center
559 North Military Trail
West Palm Beach, Florida
Contact Laura Powell at 561-996-1655.
November
12, 2003
General Standards/Core Test Review 8 AM - 10 AM
Private Applicator Test Review 1 PM - 3 PM
Belle Glade
Extension Office
976 State
Road 15
Belle Glade,
Florida
Contact Laura Powell at 561-996-1655.
Southwest Florida
October
28, 2003
Recognizing and Managing Target Spot 6:00 PM
Sipcam Agro Product Update
UF/IFAS SW Florida Research and Education Center
SR 29 N
Immokalee, Florida
Contact Gene McAvoy at 863-674-4092
October
30, 2003 WPS Handler
Training
Spanish – 9:00 AM
English – 1:00 PM
Hendry County Extension Office
PO Box 68
LaBelle, Florida
Contact 863-674-4092 to register.
Other Meetings
March 23-27,
2004 ISHS International
Symposium on Protected Culture
in a Mild-WinterClimate
Orlando, Florida, USA.
Contact Dr. Daniel J. Cantliffe at 352-392-1928 ext. 203
June 21-24,
2004 1st International
Symposium on Tomato Diseases
and 19th Annual Tomato Disease Workshop
Grosvenor Resort at Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida
For more information, visit http://plantdoctor.ifas.ufl.edu/istd.html
Websites
The Tomato Institute Proceedings – If you missed the 2003 Tomato Institute, don’t dismay, you can still access all the great information presented at the Institute. The 2003 Tomato Institute Proceedings have been posted on the UF/IFAS GCREC Bradenton website at http://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/. Click on Vegetables, and then click on the Proceedings Cover.
Powers of Ten – This website allows you to view the Milky Way at 10 million light years from the Earth. Then move through space towards the Earth in successive orders of magnitude until you reach a tall oak tree just outside the buildings of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Florida. After that, begin to move from the actual size of a leaf into a microscopic world that reveals leaf cell walls, the cell nucleus, chromatin, DNA and finally, into the subatomic universe of electrons and protons. The site also features many other interesting areas including some fascinating photo microscopy. Go to http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/index.html
News You Can Use
Southeast AgNet is now on in Southwest Florida.
Southeast AgNet
is Florida’s only daily source for agriculture news on radio. Southeast
AgNet is now broadcast on all news radio WNRW 98.5 FM covering Lee, Collier,
Hendry, Charlotte and Glades Counties. See program times below.
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| Bottomline | 5:33 am | STATION | REGION | DIAL |
| Cattle Country News | 5:36 am | WZTK-AM | Arcadia | 1480 |
| Fruit & Veg News | 5:38 am | WLKF-AM | Lakeland | 1430 |
| Juice News | 5:45 am | WSWN-AM | Belle Glade | 900 |
| Ag Weather Forecast | 5:48 am | WBGF-FM | Belle Glade | 93.5 |
| Today’s Ag News | 9:03 am | WNRW-FM | Ft. Myers | 98.5 |
| This Land of Ours | 9:45 am | WLBE-AM | Leesburg | 790 |
| Today’s Ag News | 12:33 pm | WMEL-AM | Melbourne | 920 |
| Cattle Country News | 12:36 pm | WCFI-AM | Ocala | 1290 |
| Fruit & Veg News | 12:38 pm | WPSL-AM | Port St. Lucie | 1590 |
| Citrus Country News | 12:45 pm | WZZS-FM | Zolfo Springs | 106.9 |
| Agri-View | 12:48 pm | |||
| This Land of Ours | 2:45 pm | |||
"Ag Weather Forecasts" - prepared by AWIS agriculture meteorologists, and hosted by Southeast AgNet broadcasters, the forecasts include detailed soil and air temperatures, drying factors, winds and other specific information for a thirty-six hour period.
"Citrus Country News"- a wrap-up of daily headlines for this major Florida industry. Shipping trends, legislative and regulatory coverage, crop forecasts, crop pest research and other timely issues for the citrus industry business person.
"Juice News"- features a daily look at citrus futures and issues affecting citrus prices to the grower. With most of Florida's orange crop going into the juice market, Juice News is the only radio program dedicated to news of that market.
"Cattle Country"- a daily feature of markets and cattle industry news targeting the cattle industry.
"Bottomline"- is a daily report of the market forecasts, trends, analysis and strategies for southeastern farm and ranch producers and related agri?business interests.
"Today's Ag News"- covers a variety of ag issues, from livestock to nursery to crop issues, whatever is hot in the world of ag news. From wetlands to food safety, the story behind the story involving appropriate food production industry news.
"Fruit and Vegetable News"- is just what the name implies. The only program of its kind covering this nation's leading state in winter fruit and vegetable production.
“Agri-View"- is a daily insight into the politics of food. Everyone alive relies on the process of food production, but consumers are more out of touch with their food supply than ever before. Agri-View helps to bridge that gap, and make food producers feel good about it in the process. Commentaries by Everett Griner.
WHO Report Names Top Disease and Health Risk Factors
The World Health Organization's World Health Report for 2002 identifies the top ten global and regional disease and health risk factors, in terms of the diseases they cause.
1) Underweight
2) Unsafe
sex
3) Hypertension
(high blood pressure)
4) Tobacco
use
5) Alcohol
consumption
6) Unsafe
water, poor sanitation and hygiene
7) Dietary
iron deficiency
8) Indoor
smoke from solid fuels
9) High
cholesterol
10) Obesity
You will notice
that pesticides do not appear on this list. Certainly there are risks involved
and people should be careful with pesticides. However, pesticides are not
the fourth horsemen of the apocalypse as they are often portrayed. An overview
of the full report is at: WHO World Health Report 2002 Overview
http://www.who.int/whr/2002/en/Overview_E.pdf
Quotable Quotes
Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way. -- Booker T. Washington
I think that there is only one quality worse than hardness of heart and that is softness of head. -- Theodore Roosevelt
The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. -- Vince Lombardi
Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards. -- Unknown
On the Lighter Side
SOME THINGS THAT IT TOOK ME OVER 50 YEARS TO LEARN by Dave Barry
Dear God, I read the bible. What does begat mean? Nobody will tell me. Love, Alison
Dear God, My Grandpa says you were around when he was a little boy. How far back do you go? Love, Dennis
Dear God, Do you draw the lines around the countries? If you don't, who does? Nan
Dear God, Did you mean for giraffes to look like that or was it an accident? Norma
Dear God, How come you did all those miracles in the old days and don't do any now? Billy
Dear God, In school we read that Thomas Edison made light, but in Sunday School they said you did it first. Did he steal your idea? Sincerely, Donna
Dear God, It is great the way you always get the stars in the right place. Why can't you do that with the moon? Jeff
Dear God, I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday night. That was really cool. David
Contributors include: Joel Allingham/AgriCare, Inc, Karen Armbrester/SWFREC, Kathy Carbiener /Agricultural Pest Management, Jim Connor/SWFREC, Bruce Corbitt/West Coast Tomato Growers, Dr. Phyllis Gilreath/Manatee County Extension, John Hamilton/Helena Chemical Company, Fred Heald/Farmers Supply, Sarah Hornsby/AgCropCon, Cecil Howell/H&R Farm, Loren Horsman/Glades Crop Care, Bruce Johnson/General Crop Management, Dr. Mary Lamberts/Miami-Dade County Extension, Leon Lucas/Glades Crop Care, Gene McAvoy/Hendry County Extension, Alice McGhee/Thomas Produce, Jimmy Morales/Pro Source One, Tim Nychk/Nychk Bros. Farm, Chuck Obern/C+B Farm, Teresa Olczyk/ Miami-Dade County Extension, Darrin Parmenter/Palm Beach County Extension, Dr. Ken Pernezny/EREC, Dr. Pam Roberts/SWFREC, Dr. Nancy Roe/Farming Systems Research, Wes Roan/6 L's, Kevin Seitzinger/Gargiulo, Jay Shivler/ F& F Farm, Ken Shuler/Stephen’s Produce, Ed Skvarch/St Lucie County Extension, John Stanford/LNA Farm, Mike Stanford/MED Farms, Dr. Phil Stansly/SWFREC, Julie Stocker/Diamond R, Eugene Tolar/Red Star Farms, Dr. Charles Vavrina/SWFREC, Mark Verbeck and Donna Verbeck/GulfCoast Ag, Alicia Whidden/Hillsborough County Extension, and Dr. Henry Yonce/KAC Agricultural Research, Inc.
The SW Florida Pest and Disease Hotline is compiled by Gene McAvoy and is issued on a biweekly basis by the Hendry County Cooperative Extension Office as a service to the vegetable industry.
Gene McAvoy
Extension
Agent III
Regional Vegetable/
Horticulture
863-674-4092 phone
Hendry County
Extension Office
239-860-8811 mobile Nextel agnet 28950
PO Box 68
863-674-4097 fax
LaBelle, FL
33975
GMcAvoy@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
The Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences is an Equal Employment Opportunity - Affirmative Action Employer
authorized to provide research, educational information and other services
only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race,
color, sex, age, handicap or national origin.
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK IN AGRICULTURE,
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES, SEA GRANT AND 4-H YOUTH, STATE OF FLORIDA,
IFAS, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND BOARDS
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COOPERATING