Cooperative Extension Service  ________________________________________________  Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Hot dry conditions prevailed over South Florida growing areas for most of the past two weeks setting near-record high temperatures in some areas.  In most areas daytime highs ranged in the mid-80’s with nighttime lows in the 60’s.  Most locales recorded on trace amounts of rainfall for the period.

Field preparation, planting staking spraying and other cultural activities continue across all South Florida growing areas.  Potato planting is underway in Southwest Florida.

Harvest of fall crops is gaining momentum around South Florida with tomato harvesting starting up around Immokalee. Sweet corn harvesting has started in the Glades.  Okra harvesting is winding down in Dade County.  Other crops coming to market include cucumbers, snap beans, squash, pepper and eggplant.  Growers report high prices for peppers and tomatoes.

FAWN Weather Summary

Date	Air Temp °F)		Rainfall	Hours Below Certain Temperature          (hours)
	Min	Max	(Inches)	40°F	45°F	50°F	55°F	60°F	65°F	70°F	75°F
Bradenton
10/22-11/04/04	60.8	86.9	0.14	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.2	0.0	31.7	2.2	58.8
Ft L'rdale
10/22-11/04/04	66.4	85.6	0.27	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	20.8	54.4
Fort Pierce
10/22-11/04/04	61.3	84.1	0.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	15.3	23.5	40.4
Homestead
10/22-11/04/04	61.6	85.0	0.22	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	42.0	79.6	52.0
Immokalee
10/22-11/04/04	58.2	86.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.7	36.7	56.9	32.3

The short-term forecast from the National Weather Service in Miami calls for a cold front to move through South Florida this afternoon accompanied by cloudy skies and a few scattered showers.  Skies will clear behind the front for the weekend.  Coolest temperatures will be in the upper 50’s in normally colder interior locations.  A high will build behind the front returning temperature and humidity to seasonal norms.

For additional information, visit the National Weather Service in Miami website at  http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/newpage/index.html

Insects

Worms

Worm pressure remains high around South Florida.

Growers and scouts in Homestead report unrelenting “horrendous” worm pressure in sweet corn, especially fall armyworms.  Growers are also battling worms in beans, eggplant, okra, pepper, squash and tomato.  A mixed bag including southern and beet armyworms, tomato fruitworms, hornworms, melonworms pickleworm and loopers is present depending on the crop.  Squash producers report excellent melon/pickle worm control with Intrepid.

Around Southwest Florida, worm pressure has also picked with a number of respondents reporting a steady diet of worms.  There have been some reports of fruit damage in isolated cases.

Fall armyworms pressure remains high in sweet corn around Palm Beach and Hendry Counties.

Growers in Palm Beach County indicate that worms have been a constant problem especially after the full moon.

Around west central Florida growers and scouts report that worms are still around.  Scouts report finding beets, southern, loopers, tomato fruitworms, and hornworms.

Leafminers

Leafminer numbers in the Manatee/Ruskin area remain low in most locations.

Respondents in Homestead area report that leafminers are building rapidly in beans and are present in eggplants and tomato as well where they have reached sprayable thresholds in some fields.

Growers in Palm Beach report low to moderate leafminer activity in a variety of crops including leafy vegetables.

Around Southwest Florida, leafminers have been building over the past two weeks reaching threshold levels in some fields.  Reports indicate that they are present in a variety of crops including beans; tomato and eggplant and population increases seem to be favored by recent dry weather conditions.

Whiteflies

Growers in Palm Beach County continue to report low whitefly numbers in susceptible crops including squash and tomatoes.  Reports indicate that most counts remain below 1 adult per plant.

Reports from Homestead note a big jump in whitefly numbers with heavy pressure being reported in beans, eggplant and tomato.   Scouts indicate that silverleaf whitefly is presently the main pest of concern in squash and cucumbers and silverleaf disorder is present in squash in places.

Respondents in the Manatee/Ruskin area report that whitefly numbers are up over the past few weeks but remain relatively low.  Virus levels remain low but growers are reminded that this is the same situation that was seen ast fall......few SWF and little virus, then BAM......they came out of nowhere last spring.  With delayed production, there likely will not be a crop free period this winter in Central Florida, so growers are encouraged to keep scouting their crops and if SWF numbers do start increasing, to continue control measures during harvest and until crop destruction, even if it’s only oils.

Overall around Southwest Florida whiteflies remain fairly low but are increasing in several locations with some hotspots showing up mainly on field margins.  Low numbers of nymphs are starting to build in fields approaching harvest.

Growers should consider field location and avoid putting eggplant next to tomato or pepper, as it is a notorious host for silverleaf whitefly as well as leafminer, thrips, mites, and pepper weevil adults.

Nicotinoid Resistance Management Recommendations

· Reduce overall whitefly populations by strictly adhering to cultural practices including:

· Plant whitefly-free transplants
· Delay planting new crops as long as possible and destroy old crops immediately after harvest to create or lengthen a tomato free period
· Do not plant new crops near or adjacent to infested weeds or crops, abandoned fields awaiting destruction or areas with volunteer plants
· Use UV-reflective (aluminum) plastic soil mulch
· Control weeds on field edges if scouting indicates whiteflies are present and natural enemies are absent
· Manage weeds within crops to minimize interference with spraying;
· Avoid u-pick or pin-hooking operations unless effective control measures are continued
· Do not use a nicotinoid like Admire on transplants or apply only once 7-10 days before transplanting; use other products in other chemical classes, including Fulfill, before this time;
· Apply a nicotinoid like Admire (16 ozs/acre) or Platinum (8ozs/acre) at transplanting and use products of other chemical classes (such as the insect growth regulators Courier® or Knack® as the control with the nicotinoid diminishes.  Note: Courier and Applaud are the same active: buprofezin.  Courier is labeled for whitefly on tomato and snap bean.  The mode of action is chitinase inhibitor.  Dimilin and
Knack are juvenile hormone mimics labeled for whitefly control on fruiting vegetables.
· Never follow an application (soil or foliar) of a nicotinoid with another application (soil or foliar) of the same or different nicotinoid on the same crop or in the same field within the same season (i.e. do not treat a double crop with a nicotinoid if the main crop had been treated previously);
· Save applications of nicotinoids for crops threatened by whitefly-transmitted plant viruses or whitefly-inflicted disorders (i.e. tomato, beans or squash) and consider the use of chemicals of other classes for whitefly control on other crops.

Broadmites

Growers and scouts in Palm Beach report scattered broadmite damage on peppers in some places.

Reports from around Southwest Florida indicate that broadmites are active in pepper and eggplant but note that occurrence is sporadic.

Broad mites are present on pepper in the Homestead area.
Aphids

High numbers of winged aphids are present in some areas around Southwest Florida; numbers are variable and remain low in other locations.

Respondents in Homestead report renewed aphid pressure in cucurbits following a brief respite and indicate that low levels are also being seen in tomato.

Reports from the Ruskin area indicate that a few aphids are beginning to show up in scattered locations.

Spider Mites

In Palm Beach growers are reporting some problems with spider mites in sweet corn especially where pyrethroids have been applied for silk fly control.

Some growers around Southwest Florida are reporting low to moderate spider mite populations in tomato and eggplant especially on field margins and areas adjacent to sugar cane windbreaks.

Strawberry producers in Homestead report some problems with spider mites coming in on transplants.  Low levels of mites have also been reported in beans and on eggplant.

Thrips

Low levels of thrips are beginning to show up on a variety of crops around Homestead including beans, eggplant and pepper.

Respondents around Southwest Florida indicate that flower thrips remain at low levels.

Pepper weevil

Reports out of Homestead note finding the first pepper weevils of the season in traps.

Silk Fly

Silk fly adults re showing up in sweet corn in Homestead and the Glades.  Few maggots have been reported but this is just a matter of time.

Diseases

Bacterial Leaf Spot

Respondents on the East Coast report widespread occurrence of bacterial leaf spot on pepper and tomato particularly early plantings affected by the hurricanes.  Growers indicate bacteria has been as bad or worse than they have ever seen in some cases but that the situation has shown some improvement in recent days.

Growers and scouts around Homestead report very active bacteria spot on some tomato and pepper varieties with the specialty types being most affected.   Growers report good control with Tanos/Mancocide tank mixes in rotation with other products.

Around Immokalee, bacterial spot continues to be the main disease problem in tomatoes and peppers and continues to spread in a number of scattered locations following some patchy rain showers and heavy morning dews.   Favorable weather conditions have helped moderate the situation in a number of places.

Respondents in the Ruskin area report bbacterial spot has been severe in some fields, mostly affecting foliage. High levels of defoliation are present in some blocks with large lesions almost reminiscent of an aerial blight.  Control has been difficult.

Respondents in all areas indicate that bacterial spot has affected fruit quality in the most severely infected fields.

Phytophthora

Growers and scouts in Homestead report a Phytophthora capsici explosion on squash after heavy rains two weeks ago.  Reports indicate that yellow straightnecks and crooks are very susceptible, zucchini at lower levels, and cukes lower still.  Fruit infections are widespread along with the typical stem collapse.

Phytophthora is also causing problems on some peppers around the Immokalee area.

Low incidence of phytophthora in cucumbers has been reported in the Ruskin area but overall cukes and squash look good.

Botrytis

Respondents continue to report botrytis in tomato plantings around the Ruskin area.  Reports note that wet nights and morning are keeping the disease active.

Scouts around Southwest Florida are reporting fairly high levels of botrytis affecting tomato in some places.  Incidence is rather low in others.

Leaf lesions often start on senescent tissue or areas of physical or chemical damage and develop into wedge-shaped grayish-brown lesions.  Senescent flower parts that have fallen onto leaves are a common starting point for leaflet colonization. During cool moist weather, a gray fungal growth may be evident on infected tissue.

Fruit are often infected at the stem end or shoulder where they contact other infected plant parts.  Young fruit can also become infected directly by airborne. Water-soaked spots appear with a light brown to tan central region. Decay progresses rapidly.  A soft rot may develop with the fruit skin remaining intact, while the inner tissue becomes mushy and watery.  Sclerotia may form in infected tissues.

If there is a rapid weather change (not favorable to the fungus), fruit infections may abort.  White circular (halo) spots appear on the fruit and are called "ghost spots." These spots persist on green, breaker, and mature fruit.

Target Spot

Scouts in the Homestead area report new target spot appearing in tomato.

Around Southwest Florida, target spot is beginning to show up in the interior canopy on older tomato.
 

Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus
Manatee/Ruskin area respondents indicate that the incidence of virus remains low.

Growers and scouts around Immokalee continue to report finding a few TYLCV infected plants in scattered locations around Immokalee.

Respondents in Homestead report scattered TYLCV with some fields approaching 3% infection.

Southern Blight

Around Southwest Florida, incidence of southern blight has jumped up in some areas especially in fields managed on the wet side.

Gummy Stem blight

Incidence of gummy stem blight continues to increase on cucurbits around Southwest and West Central Florida.

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is starting to be seen on squash around Southwest Florida.

Downy Mildew

Reports indicate that downy mildew is starting to show up in squash in scattered locations around Southwest Florida.

Corn leaf blight

Low levels of southern and northern leaf blights are present in corn around Homestead.

Bacterial Blight

Dr. Ken Pernezney reports finding bacterial blight (Pseudomonas cichorii) on celery in the Glades.  Symptoms consist of a prominent watersoaking of leaves, especially evident on the underside of the leaves.

Little Leaf

A few isolated cases of tomato little leaf have been reported around Immokalee.

Tomato little leaf is a non-parasitic disease of tomatoes that causes virus-like symptoms in tomato.  A similar disorder affects other crops and has been referred to as frenching in tobacco.  Symptoms of this condition are characterized by unusual growth consisting of interveinal chlorosis in young leaves.  Subsequent growth becomes severely distorted with leaflets along the mid-rib failing to expand properly resulting in a “little leaf” appearance.  Leaflets are twisted and distorted.  In addition, failure of blooms to set fruit and fruit distortion consisting of radial cracks extending from the calyx to the blossom scar is often seen. Overall the appearance is reminiscent of viral or phenoxy herbicide symptoms.

The problem typically occurs on wet soils and is apparently caused by the release of chemical compounds by soil microorganisms under wet conditions.

The current hypothesis is that one or more amino acid analogs are synthesized by certain soil microorganisms and released into the rhizosphere.  These compounds are taken up by the plant and can cause morphological changes and stunting in susceptible plants at very low concentrations.

Control consists largely of managing soil moisture to avoid water logging.  Maintaining soil pH below 6.3 or less can also reduce development of the problem however changing soil pH should be approached carefully to avoid problems that might accompany reduced lime utilization in tomato.   Affected plants generally resume normal growth once soil moisture levels become more favorable.

Other Disorders

Gray wall and blossom end rot are showing up in some plantings of tomatoes around Immokalee.

New You Can Use

New Vegetable Specialist Arrives at SWFREC

Dr Kent Cushman arrived at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee on Sept. 1 and will be serving the industry as the region's Vegetable Specialist. The position was left open when Charlie Vavrina moved on to become the area District Extension Director.

Kent spent the last eight years at Mississippi State University, but he also has experience at the University of Wisconsin and Texas A&M.

His overall impression after two months on the job?  "Well, I'm glad the hurricane season is over. I'm also excited to work in an area of the country that produces vegetables on such a large scale.  My goal is to conduct research projects in cooperation with the area's growers and suppliers. I've met some of you already and seen some of your farms up close, but there are many more of you to meet and farms to visit."

Madeline Mellinger Inducted into Hall of Fame

Madeline Mellinger has been selected as an original inductee to the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) Hall of Fame.  The honor signifies the contributions she has made over the past 10 years to help the service complete a "Decade of Excellence." She and her husband Charlie own Glades Crop Care.

Pesticide Record Keeping Changes

The recordkeeping requirements for restricted use pesticide applications have been revised to require start time and end time for each application instead of a general time of application. Also, Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates or longitude/latitude points have been added as an option for recording pesticide application site locations for all applicators.

The recordkeeping rule also now specifies the records required to meet the pesticide contamination liability exemption provided by Section 487.081(6)(b), F.S. This provision in the law allows property owners to be exempt from proceedings by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to recover costs or damages associated with evaluation, assessment, or remediation of pesticide contaminated property or potable water supplies, provided pesticides were used legally and the property owner or leaseholder maintains records of all pesticide applications and makes the records available to the Department upon request. The recordkeeping requirements are the same as for restricted use pesticides, except that the records should be kept indefinitely.

Authorized Purchasing Agents (APAs)

The APA Designation form has been adopted by rule.  This form must be filled out completely and signed by both license holder and APA to designate purchasing agents.

Florida Hurricane Agricultural Disaster Assistance Programs

Overview

Three USDA programs will provide special disaster relief to producers who suffered from crop damage and tree losses and must perform related cleanup in certain areas from Hurricanes Charley, Frances and/or Jeanne during August and September of 2004. These three programs are the Florida Citrus Disaster Program; the Florida Nursery Crop Disaster Program; and the Florida Vegetable, Fruit and Tropical Fruit Disaster Program, consisting of plasticulture, other vegetables and tropical fruit.

Payments for this assistance are authorized under Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of August 24, 1935, which allows the Secretary of Agriculture to implement programs to help restore producers’ purchasing power.   Losses due to reduced market prices or other adverse weather conditions are not covered under these programs.

Eligible Producers

Producers in Presidential disaster-declared counties may be eligible for payments depending on the type of losses due to Hurricanes Charley, Frances and/or Jeanne.
The following counties have received Presidential disaster declarations (if other counties receive the same declaration for these storms, they will also become eligible):

Counties Designated

Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla.

Sign-up Period

Florida Citrus Disaster Program: Sign-up began October 5, 2004.
Florida Nursery Crop Disaster Program: Sign-up began October 20, 2004.
Florida Vegetable, Fruit and Tropical Fruit Disaster Program: Sign-up began October 20, 2004.
The end of the sign-up periods will be announced at a future date.

Florida Vegetable, Fruit and Tropical Fruit Disaster Program: Sign-up begins October 20, 2004.

Plasticulture refers to production practices for fruit or vegetables where the soil has been bedded, fumigated, fertilized, drip tape or other irrigation systems installed, and covered with plastic mulch. Producers must have suffered a minimum of 50 percent loss to be eligible for payments.

The Florida Vegetable, Fruit and Tropical Fruit Disaster Program provides assistance for vegetable, fruit and tropical fruit producers. A producer must certify to a minimum of 50 percent loss in production or plant population, as applicable, to be eligible for payments. Eligible disaster losses under this program are:
· plasticulture (fruit and vegetable)
· tropical fruit (carambola, longan, lychee, and mangos)
· vegetables (other than plasticulture).

Payments for plasticulture losses will be made in 3 categories (Practices I, II, and III), based on the amount of investment and require a minimum of a 50 percent loss in plastic/plant population. The payment rates are as follows.

Practice I: Plasticulture with plants with >50 percent loss of plastic$2300 for production/plant loss subject to payment limit and AGI         $200 for cleanup not subject to payment limit or AGI

Practice II:  Plasticulture without plants with >50 percent loss of plastic Plasticulture with plants with >50 percent loss in plant population; no re-plants $1,800 for production/plant loss subject to payment limit and AGI $200 for cleanup not subject to payment limit or AGI

Practice III: Double-crop Plasticulture without plants with 50 percent loss of          plasticNew plasticulture with 50 percent loss of plants and replanted $800 for production/plant loss subject to payment limit and AGI $200 for cleanup not subject to payment limit and AGI

Practice IV 50 percent loss in plant population for conventional row-cropped practices$250 per acre, subject to payment limit and AGI

Practice V Tropical fruit (carambola, longan, lychee, mango) with >50 percent production loss in Lee county or Citrus Bands I and II $5,000 per acre subject to payment limit and AGI

Payment Limitation

Each producer’s payment is limited to one $80,000 limitation for payments subject to limitation under these programs. Payment rates will be 5 percent less for producers who did not obtain Federal Crop Insurance, which is available from the Risk Management Agency, or on coverage under NAP, which is available from the Farm Service Agency. Similar to a number of other USDA programs, payments will not be available for producers whose adjusted gross income is $2.5 million or higher, unless 75 percent or more is derived from farming and forestry. In addition, producers will be required to agree to purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage for next available coverage period for the crop. Other conditions will apply.

What Other FSA Disaster Programs are Available?

FSA also has the following programs to assist producers in the hurricane-ravaged areas of Florida:
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program;
Disaster Debt Set-Aside Program
Emergency Loans
Emergency Conservation Program

Where Can I Get More Information?

Producers in any of the eligible counties are encouraged to visit their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Office to begin the sign-up process or to inquire about additional programs offering emergency assistance to agricultural producers. If you are unable to reach an FSA county office due to office closure, call the Florida State Office at 352-379-4500.

2005 Environmental Quality Incentive Program  (EQIP)

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is now accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP).  This program is competitive. Farms and nurseries will be ranked and cost-share and incentive funds will be allocated based on highest to lowest ranking until available funds run out. There is no acreage minimum or maximum. Qualified projects may receive up to $450,000.

The EQIP program could be used to assist with reorganizing an existing inefficient irrigation system or to convert from seep to drip irrigation or to install a tailwater recovery system. The program can also be used to assist with the control of invasive exotic weeds such as cogon grass or tropical soda apple. The EQIP program has certain eligibility rules and restrictions.

Applications are accepted throughout the year, however, only those applications received by December 15, 2004 will be considered for 2005 funding. For more information contact your local NRCS office or visit the USDA Farm Bill web site at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002/products.html

Two remaining Vegetable and Agronomic Row Crop BMP Rule Development Workshops

The last of a series Vegetable and Agronomic Row Crop BMP rule development workshops will be held in Manatee and Hillsborough Counties in December.

The BMP Manual For Vegetables and Agronomic Crops has been in the process of being developed for over a year and workshops have been announced to solicit grower comment and suggestions.  The proposed BMP manual currently runs 167 pages and covers all aspects of crop production.  It can be seen at the Florida Ag Water Policy website http://www.floridaagwaterpolicy.com/PDFs/BMPs/vegetable&agronomicCrops.pdf.

Growers and agricultural interests would be well advised to familiarize themselves the proposed BMP’s and to attend these meetings to make constructive comments as the adoption of Vegetables and Agronomic Crop BMP’s as rule has the potential to fundamentally affect the vegetable industry does business.  By definition BMPs must be: technically feasible, economically viable, socially acceptable, and based on sound science.  Scientists are good at the sound science part but sometimes need your help especially on the technically feasible and economically viable aspects.

December 7, 2004 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hillsborough County Extension Service
5339 County Rd 579 South
Seffner, FL 35584-3334
813-744-5519

December 8, 2004 9:30 a.m. to noon

Manatee County Extension Service
1303 17th St West
Palmetto, FL 34221-2998
941-722-4524

The Society of St. Andrew - Gleaning America's Fields ~ Feeding America's Hungry

In the aftermath of the recent hurricanes, the work of the Society of St. Andrew in Florida has increased.  More Floridians are unemployed and depending on food banks and assistance programs than ever before and they can use your help.

Every fruit and vegetable grower has produce that's culled out, whether for market conditions, blemishes or size.  The Society of St. Andrew would like to recover that produce before it's disposed of or plowed under. They can recover small amounts through our gleaning project or large amounts through connections with feeding agencies or sending tractor-trailers to transport it.
The Society of St. Andrew does not ask for the donation of products that are commercially marketable.  They seek only the excess, which is not economically or cosmetically marketable, yet is still consumable if recovered quickly.

If you would like to help the Society of St. Andrew combat hunger in Florida, or need more information or have questions, please call Dick Mead, Society of St. Andrew - Florida Regional Director, or Kathy Forth, Society of St. Andrew - Florida Program Coordinator, toll free at 1-800-806-0756, or by e-mail at: sosafl@endhunger.org.  The Society of St. Andrew’s web site is: www.endhunger.org.

The 17th International Pepper Conference Comes to Naples on November 14 –16, 2004

Hope you are making plans to join us for this premier event. For the past 25 years, the International Pepper Conference has attracted prominent scientists, researchers, breeders, horticulturists, pathologists, entomologists, geneticists, physiologists, virologists, extension agents, seed and chemical company representatives, major processors, growers, and chile aficionados from around the world and is now recognized as the premier venue for the dissemination and exchange of information on Capsicum. All pepper types including bell, long green/red chile, high color paprika, ancho, pimiento, cayenne, tabasco, jalapeno, yellow pickling, serrano, and cherry peppers will be a focus of the conference.

The conference is scheduled November 14-16, 2004 at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club in Naples, Florida USA.

We look forward to your participation in the conference, and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me personally. Meanwhile, stay tuned to the web site for updated information at:
http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/pepper

Up Coming Meetings

Manatee County

December 8, 2004      Row Crop Draft BMP Manual Workshop   9:30 AM

Manatee County Extension Office
1303 17th Street W
Palmetto, Florida.

Row Crop Draft BMP manual can be accessed at www.floridaagwaterpolicy.com

December 14, 2004   CORE/Private Applicator Ag License Training and Test   9 AM  2 CORE CEUs offered.

Manatee County Extension Office
1303 17th Street W
Palmetto, Florida

Contact Phyllis Gilreath at 941-7724524 ext 237

Miami Dade County

November 17, 2004   General Standards/CORE Training and Test  8:30 AM

South Dade Government Center
10710 SW 211th St.
Miami, Florida

Pre-registration required, contact Lize at 305-248-3311 ext 242 to register.

December 8, 2004     Private Applicator Ag Pesticide License Training and Test   8:30 AM

John D. Campbell Ag Center
18710 SW 288th Street
Homestead, Florida

Pre-registration required, contact Lize at 305-248-3311 ext 242 to register.

December 10, 2004  Spanish Private Applicator Ag Pesticide License Training  8:30 AM

 John D. Campbell Ag Center
18710 SW 288th Street
 Homestead, Florida

Pre-registration required, contact Lize at 305-248-3311 ext 242 to register.

Palm Beach County

November 10, 2004       General Standards/Core Test Review   8 AM - 12 AM 4 CEUs
                                        Private Applicator Test Review    1 PM - 3 PM  2 CEUs
Belle Glade Extension Office
976 State Road 15
Belle Glade, Florida

Contact Laura Powell at 561-996-1655.

Southwest Florida

November 23, 2004  Vegetable Growers Meeting    6:00 PM

Dr Sanjay Shukla - Effects of irrigation management on crop yield, water use and quality in SW Florida

UF/IFAS - SW Florida Research and Education Center
Hwy 29 N
Immokalee, Florida

Contact Gene McAvoy at 863-674-4092

December 7, 2004      Fall Vegetable Field Day        10:00 AM

UF/IFAS - SW Florida Research and Education Center
Hwy 29 N
Immokalee, Florida

Contact Gene McAvoy at 863-674-4092

Other Meetings

November 14 –16, 2004  17th International Pepper Conference

Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Resort
Naples, Florida

For more information, contact Gene McAvoy at 863-674-4092

Job Opportunity

Agricultural scout needed for vegetable crops-must be experienced.  Full or part time available depending on ability to travel.  Position available for Collier County and/or Hillsborough/Manatee Counties.

Contact Gene McAvoy - 863-674-4092 or Phyllis Gilreath - 941-722-4524 for more information.

Websites

Suggested Pesticide Recordkeeping Form for Restricted Use Pesticides and WPS (Worker Protection Standard) is available from the FDACS Bureau of Compliance Monitoring and may be downloaded at
http://www.safepesticideuse.com.

FSA Disaster Programs - FSA also has the following programs to assist producers in the hurricane-ravaged areas of Florida:  Check them out at
· Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program; http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov/nap.htm
· Disaster Debt Set-Aside Program: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/publications/facts/html/debtset02.htm
· Emergency Loans: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov/emloan.htm
· Emergency Conservation Program: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov/ecp.htm

Quotable Quotes

Don't let yesterday use up too much of today. – Will Rogers

Never miss a good chance to shut up. – Will Rogers

Always drink upstream from the herd. – Will Rogers

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier 'n puttin' it back in. – Will Rogers

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. – Will Rogers

On the Lighter Side

Groaners

Two antennas meet on a roof, fall in love and get married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.

Two hydrogen atoms walk into a bar. One says, "I've lost my electron." The other says, "Are you sure?" The first replies, "Yes, I'm positive..."

A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."

A sandwich walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry we don't serve food in here."

A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and says: "A beer please, and one for the road."

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?"

Hands

An old man, probably some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the park bench. He didn't move, just sat with his head down staring at his hands. When I sat down beside him he didn’t acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if he was ok.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb him but wanting to check on him at the same time, I asked him if he was ok.  He raised his head and looked at me and smiled.

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," he said in a clear strong voice.

"I didn't mean to disturb you, sir, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were ok?" I explained to him.
"Have you ever looked at your hands?" he asked.  "I mean really looked at your hands."

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them.  I turned them over, palms up and then palms down.  No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point he was making.

Then he smiled and related this story: Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years.  These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.  They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.  They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer.  They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots.  They dried the tears of my children and caressed the love of my life.

They held my rifle and wiped my tears when I went off to war.  They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent.  They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son.  Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote the letters home and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse and when I walked my daughter down the aisle.  Yet, they were strong and sure when I dug my buddy out of a foxhole and lifted a plow off of my best friends foot. They have held children, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn’t understand. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body.

They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw.  And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.  These hands are the mark of where I’ve been and the ruggedness of my life.  But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home.  And He won’t care about where these hands have been or what they have done.  What He will care about is to whom these hands belong and how much He loves these hands.  And with these hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.

No doubt I will never look at my hands the same again.  I never saw The old man again after I left the park that day but I will never forget him And the words he spoke.  When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children I think of the man in the park.  I have a feeling he has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God. I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel his hands upon my face.

Thank you, Father God, for hands.  - Anon

Contributors include: Joel Allingham/AgriCare, Inc, Karen Armbrester/SWFREC, Kathy Carbiener /Agricultural Pest Management, Jim Connor/SWFREC, Bruce Corbitt/West Coast Tomato Growers, Dr. Kent Cushman/SWFREC, Dr. Phyllis Gilreath/Manatee County Extension, 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, Eugene Tolar/Red Star Farms, Dr. Charles Vavrina/SWFREC, Mark Verbeck and Donna Verbeck/GulfCoast Ag, and Alicia Whidden/Hillsborough County Extension.

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.