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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
November 10, 2005
Hurricane Wilma slammed into Southwest Florida on October 24th as a Category 3 storm crossing the peninsula exiting around Palm Beach as a Category 2 storm and causing widespread damage to all South Florida production areas. This storm could not have come at a worse time as many fields where nearing maturity and most of the fall crop was planted and growers were preparing ground and laying plastic for winter and spring crops.
Southwest Florida, Homestead, Glades and East Coast Production areas all suffered heavy crop losses with total losses to vegetables in these areas exceeding a billion dollars. Most of the beans, leafy vegetables, melons, and sweet corn in South Florida were lost in addition to significant losses in other vegetables such as peppers tomatoes and many others items where lost production may average as much as 70 % across the board.
In addition to crop losses, growers lost a great deal of the plastic
that had been laid for winter and spring plantings as well as suffered
considerable structural damage to barns, equipments shed, well houses,
and other buildings. Worker housing and other infrastructure suffered
heavy damage as well.
FAWN Weather Summary
| Date | Air Temp °F) | Rainfall |
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| Min | Max | (Inches) | 40°F | 45°F | 50°F | 55°F | 60°F | 65°F | 70°F | 75°F | |
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Mostly cool dry weather over the past few weeks has helped drain fields flooded by Wilma and assist in the recovery process. Some growers around Immokalee reported receiving as much as 12 inches from the storm in addition to nearly 4 inches, which fell a few days later. Daytime temperatures have been mainly in the 70’s and low 80’s with nighttime temperatures ranging in the 50’s and 60’s.
Producers in areas a ravaged by Wilma have been busy trying to salvage surviving plants and replant lost acreage as well as repair damaged plastic mulch. In many places plastic was completely blown away and beds eroded to the point where growers have been basically forced to begin land preparation and planting all over. Transplant houses suffered heavy damage in affected areas and availability of transplants as well as labor shortages may hinder recovery efforts.
Some crops that survived the storm are beginning to show regrowth and signs of recovery while in other areas plants that looked promising appear to be going backwards.
The short-term forecast from the National Weather Service in Miami calls for cool dry conditions over the next few days with a slight chance of rain as we move into next week. Foggy mornings however may help increase disease pressure. For additional information, visit the National Weather Service in Miami website at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/newpage/index.html
Insects
Insects have been relatively scarce since the hurricane in most of the hardest hit areas – in fact scouts working fields the week after storm indicated they had yet to see the first bug – but growers and scouts indicate that insect activity is beginning to increase.
Worms
Growers and scouts in the Glades report that after an initial hatch of fall armyworms in the 75-95% range, they have not had to spray for fall armyworms for two to two and a half weeks. Some fields that will push tassel within the next few days that have only been sprayed two to three times, almost unheard of for a fall crop of sweet corn in the Glades.
Reports from Manatee County indicate that worms still around but not in large numbers. Some problems have been reported in cabbage.
Respondents on the east Coast report that worms remain relatively scarce.
Around southwest Florida, growers and scouts indicate that a few worms are beginning to reappear with hatches of loopers and fruit worms being reported.
Whiteflies
Reports from the Manatee County area indicate that whitefly numbers are beginning to increase as growers have begun to harvest. Dr Dave Schuster, GCREC notes that he is beginning to see nymphs above threshold levels in a number of places.
Scouts on the East Coast report that growers are beginning to spray growth regulators for whitefly nymphs in older tomato with 1 –2 inch fruit. Reports indicate that whiteflies are heavy on eggplant in some places and are also present in squash, okra and other items.
Around Immokalee, whitefly numbers remain very low.
Leafminers
Growers and scouts in Southwest Florida report that leafminers a few leafminers are beginning to show up here and there.
Respondents in the Manatee/Ruskin area report that leafminers are present but note that pressure is still not high in most fields.
East Coast growers also report low leaf miner activity.
Broad mites
Some growers in Palm Beach report high numbers of broad mites in peppers that survived the storm.
Respondents in the Manatee/Ruskin area indicate that broadmite activity picking up in peppers.
Thrips
Over the past few weeks, chili thrips have been identified on ornamentals in at least 7 counties ranging from Palm Beach to Marion. At a meeting held this week in Apopka, experts from around the state agreed that it was almost a given that this pest in now (unofficially) established in Florida.
Adult thrips are small about 0.5 – 1.2 mm long. It is difficult to recognize this thrips with the naked eye, and definitive identification is best accomplished at approximately 40 to 80 x magnification. Eggs are about 0.075 mm long and 0.070 mm wide, and are inserted inside plant tissue. The egg stage lasts for 6-8 days, which is followed by has two larval stages (1st and 2nd instars) that last for 6-7 days. The prepupal period is short (~ 24 h) and the pupal period lasts 2-3 days. The larvae are off-white. Also the adults are pale grayish-white with incomplete dark stripes on the dorsal surface of each abdominal segment. The life cycle is completed in 14-20 days. The chili thrips female oviposits 60 to 200 eggs in her lifetime at the rate of 2-4 eggs per day.
Chili thrips attacks all above ground parts of its host plants, and prefers the young leaves, buds and fruits. It has been reported to attack a wide range of plants with more than 100 recorded hosts from 40 different families including beans, melons, peppers, strawberries, and tomato as well as wide range of ornamentals and fruits including citrus. Heavy feeding damage turns tender leaves, buds, and fruits bronze to black in color. Damage leaves curls upward and appear distorted. Infested plants become stunted or dwarfed, and leaves with petioles detach from the stem. The abundance of chili thrips is low in the rainy season, but becomes high during the dry season.
It is important to check plants with abnormal growth. At the initial stage of infestation, the underside surfaces of the leaves become shiny. These leaves soon become discolored and curly. Collect 5-20 leaves from the symptomatic plants and place them in a ziplock bag to prevent adults from escaping. Send these samples to an expert for further processing to establish or confirm their identity.
Pepper Weevils
Reports from Manatee County indicate that pepper weevil activity is increasing in older peppers.
Diseases
Bacterial Leaf Spot
Around Southwest Florida growers and scouts report that bacterial spot is rampant in many surviving plantings. Bacterial speck is also present and increasing in a number of locations.
Growers and scouts on the East Coast indicate that bacterial spot is widely present in surviving fields.
Reports from Manatee County indicate that the incidence of bacterial leaf spot is up over the past few weeks.
Target Spot
Reports from the Bradenton area indicate that target spot is being widely reported on tomato in the area and may be more prevalent than bacteria.
Target spot is also being reported around Southwest Florida. Incidence and severity remain mostly low.
Dr. Pam Roberts indicates that target spot has been diagnosed on tomatoes at the UF/IFAS Plant Disease Clinic in Immokalee. Target spot often appears as plants approach maturity and develop large canopies. Remember that tank-mix sprays of copper fungicides and maneb do not provide acceptable levels of target spot control. Recommended fungicides include various chlorothalinil formulations (Bravo, Echo, Bravo Ultrex, Bravo Weather Stik and Ridomil Gold/Bravo).
Pythium
Respondents in Glades report that aerial pythium has been a problem on some surviving beans following the storm, but note that sunny weather over the past few days has helped slow development.
Other South Florida production areas are also reporting minor problems with damping off (both pythium and rhizoctonia) in scattered locations following the flooding associated with the hurricane.
Phytophthora
Growers and scouts around south Florida are reporting problems with Phytophthora especially on pepper that survived the storm. In some cases plants that looked relatively good following the hurricane have shown a severe decline as a result.
Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus
Tomato yellow leaf curl virus is present at mostly low levels in most south Florida production areas. Incidence is low but is slowly increasing in a number of areas.
Watermelon Vine decline
Scattered cases of vine decline are being reported in the Manatee County Area.
Botrytis
Some problems with botrytis have been reported around Immokalee.
News You Can Use
JOHANNS ANNOUNCES $800 MILLION IN HURRICANE DISASTER ASSISTANCE
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced a proposal to dedicate $800 million in hurricane recovery funds for agricultural and timber producers, rural low-income housing assistance, restoration of natural resources and national forests, commodity food assistance programs, and rebuilding of USDA facilities.
"The hurricanes dealt a blow to agricultural and timber producers in the Gulf region," said Johanns. "These funds will provide direct assistance to producers, as well as indirect aid through grants and loans. USDA is committed to assisting with long-term recovery in the region."
USDA is authorizing $250 million for crop disaster, livestock, dairy, tree and aquaculture assistance. These funds are authorized under Section 32 of the Agricultural Act of August 24, 1935, which allows the Secretary to restore producers' purchasing power. A distribution plan for the $250 million of Section 32 funds is still being finalized.
Additionally, $550 million in hurricane recovery aid is proposed through a reallocation of existing funds. These funds would go toward cost-share assistance for emergency cleanup of agricultural and timber lands as well as watersheds, rental and home repair assistance for low-income rural residents, the rebuilding of USDA research centers and relocation of USDA personnel. These funds would be distributed as follows:
§ $160 million for the Farm Service Agency to provide cost-share
assistance for emergency measures to clean-up and repair hurricane-related
damage of agricultural lands;
§ $200 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service
to provide cost-share assistance to retard runoff, prevent soil erosion,
and repair watersheds;
§ $50 million for a new forestry disaster assistance fund to provide
cost-share grants to states to assist timber land owners with debris removal,
timber salvage, wildfire mitigation, and wildlife habitat stabilization;
§ $14 million for the Forest Service to repair roads, bridges
and facilities on national forest lands in the affected regions;
§ $37 million for the Rural Housing Service to provide housing
repair grants and loans to low-income rural homeowners and to replenish
rental assistance accounts drawn-down to provide temporary housing assistance
immediately following the hurricane;
§ $4 million for the Food and Nutrition Service to replace commodities
that were in storage in the New Orleans area and destroyed during the hurricane;
§ $15 million for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to cleanup
and undertake salvaging efforts at the ARS facility in Poplarville, Mississippi,
and the Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana; and
§ $70 million for the National Finance Center to pay salary and
expenses associated with the temporary relocation of the Center.
More information about USDA's hurricane response is available http://www.usda.gov/.
CHILI THRIPS MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES
Studies were conducted recently on St. Vincent to evaluate various insecticides in controlling chili thrips in pepper. The insecticides listed in the tables below were found to suppress the chili thrips. For detailed information about the effectiveness of these insecticides, consult manuscript titled `Comparative effectiveness of chemical insecticides against the chili thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), on pepper and their compatibility with natural enemies’ at http://cta.ufl.edu/thrips.htm
Federal and Florida laws require that all pesticides must be handled and applied in strict accordance with the label and worker protection standards (re-entry times, protective clothing, etc.). For complete information pertaining to use of any insecticide, follow the label. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the University of Florida.
Note: there is currently a discussion among UF/IFAS Entomologists in Florida about recommendations that will minimize the risk of the development of pest resistance due to reliance and possible overuse of insecticides for control of chili thrips. GM
Table 1. Insecticides for controlling the chili thrips on ornamentals
| Active ingredient | Trade name | Pesticide class | Signal word | Application |
| Novaluron | Pedestal SC | Benzoylphenyl urea | Caution | Foliar spray |
| 1 Chlorofenapyr | Pylon | Pyrrole | Foliar spray | |
| Imidacloprid | Marathon 1%G, 60 WP | Neonicotinoid | Caution | Foliar spray |
| Spinosyn A + B | Conserve SC | Spinosyn | Caution | Foliar spray |
| Abamectin | Avid 0.15EC | Avermectin | Warning | Foliar spray |
| Cyfluthrin | Tempo 2 | Pyrethroid | Warning | Foliar spray |
| Azadirachtin | Azatin XL | Botanical | Caution | Foliar spray |
| Azadirachtin | Ornazin 3EC | Botanical | Warning | Foliar spray |
Table 2. Insecticides for controlling the chili thrips on fruits and vegetables.
| Active ingredient | Trade name | Pesticide class | Signal word | Application |
| Novaluron | Ramon 0.83EC | Benzoylphenyl urea | Caution | Foliar spray |
| 1Chlorofenapyr | Pylon | Pyrrole | Foliar spray | |
| Imidacloprid | Provado | Neonicotinoid | Caution | Foliar spray |
| Spinosyn A + B | SpinTor 2SC | Spinosyn | Caution | Foliar spray |
| Abamectin | Agrimek0.15EC | Avermectin | Warning | Foliar spray |
| Cyfluthrin | Baythroid 2 | Pyrethroid | Danger | Foliar spray |
| Azadirachtin | Neemix 4.5 | Botanical |
Source: D. R. Seal, University of Florida-IFAS, Tropical Research
and Education Center, Homestead, FL 33031., M. Ciomperlik, USDA APHIS PPQ
CPHST, Pest Detection Diagnostics and Management Laboratory, Edinburg,
TX 78541 and W. Klassen,
Update on Watermelon Vine Decline
In October 2003, UF/IFAS Hillsborough County Vegetable Extension Agent Alicia Whidden and Dr Susan Webb, UF/IFAS Department of Entomology were collecting samples of virus infected squash as part of a statewide survey of insect transmitted viruses in cucurbit crops. One of the 40 samples from one of the fields contained a virus new to Florida squash. Testing for over 20 possible viruses gave negative results. No clues could be found to its identity except that it was not aphid-transmitted and that it seemed to be limited to summer and winter squashes and pumpkin in greenhouse tests. About 18 months later Whidden and Webb enlisted the help of FLDACS plant virologist Dr. Carlye Baker, DPI Gainesville and USDA plant virologist Dr. Scott Adkins USDA/ARS Fort Pierce to further study the virus.
These studies included purification and partial sequencing of the virus and further host range testing. The discovery of unusual viral inclusions by Baker and the results of electron microscopy by Diann Achor at the UF IFAS CREC in Lake Alfred led to the conclusion that this virus might be a new whitefly transmitted virus.
Experiments in Webb’s lab confirmed that the virus is transmitted by silverleaf whitefly. The virus appears to be related to, but not the same as cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV).
Cucumber vein yellowing virus has been a problem in the Middle East for many years and has recently been found in Spain and Portugal. It is not related to the whitefly-transmitted viruses in tomato and snap bean in Florida but is more closely related to the aphid-transmitted viruses in squash.
At the same time, Adkins and Baker were also working on a virus that appeared to be involved in watermelon vine decline, a devastating disease of watermelon affecting southwest and south central Florida for the past few years. Adkins’ lab discovered that the squash virus from Hillsborough County also caused severe necrosis and death of watermelon seedlings and Baker found the same unusual viral inclusions in tissue infected with the squash virus as she found in Adkins’ watermelon vine decline isolates from the field.
Using a PCR-based detection method, Adkins lab has since found some additional evidence that the virus from squash may be the same virus as the virus that appears to be involved in watermelon vine decline.
Although more work needs to be done to confirm this finding, the researchers involved suggest that watermelon growers manage whitefly populations much more carefully than has been recommended in the past.
Pam Roberts and co-workers at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center are planning field tests to verify the involvement of the new virus. Phyllis Gilreath and Gene McAvoy, vegetable extension agents in Manatee and Hendry Counties continue to be involved in field surveys for the disease.
Some growers in SW Florida have indicated they initiated a program aimed at controlling sucking insects last season which they felt helped reduce vine decline incidence in their fields they have also indicated they felt there was a benefit of reducing stress on the plants by either by maintaining the water table and pushing plants as fast as possible with lots of nutrition resulting in less decline.
Excerpted from article by Dr Susan Webb: Hillsborough Extension Vegetable Berry Times, Nov. 2005 and personal communications.
Barns Owls in the Glades
Dr Rick Raid, EREC reports sadly that many of the traditional barn owl nesting sites, old pump houses and pole sheds, went down with Wilma. In addition, many of the nesting boxes in the Glades were lost or damaged (he estimates more than 80%) during Wilma but most adults were able to weather and survive the storm.
Although many of the young chicks from fall broods were destroyed, the adults are moving into new or repaired boxes as fast as we can put them up (frequently within 24 hrs). Many replaced boxes are already supporting new nests, so the overall populations should not see a dramatic decline.
Having learned from the experience, Rick is suggesting that boxes be mounted on shorter posts. Growers should try to get boxes about 8-9' above ground level rather than 10-12'. This should reduce pole breakage during storms dramatically.
He notes that the storm has made the nesting box program even more imperative in maintaining barn owl populations at levels high enough to be a factor in rodent control.
Rainy Season Comes to an End Following Passage of Wilma...
The 2005 rainy season in South Florida began on May 17 and ended on October 24. The ending date was 7 days later than the median date of October 17...and was associated with the strong cold front that closely followed the passage of Hurricane Wilma across South Florida. The 2005 rainy season lasted a total of 162 days...9 days more than the average duration of 153 days.
This year’s rainy season was wetter than normal...mainly due to an extremely wet June in South Florida. October was also a very wet month in Fort Lauderdale and Naples...with over 13 inches of rain recorded at both locations. At Miami...the total of 50.74 inches is 8.58 inches above the 50-year average of 42.16 inches...making it the eleventh wettest rainy season on record. In southwest Florida...Naples recorded 51.95 inches of rain for the season, which is .05 inches above the normal yearly rainfall.
This year’s record-setting hurricane season contributed to the above normal rainfall...with South Florida being either directly or indirectly impacted by a total of five tropical cyclones thus far: Tropical Storm Arlene in June...Hurricane Dennis in July...Hurricane Katrina in August...Hurricane Rita in September...and Hurricane Wilma a few weeks ago. About 15 to 30 percent of the rain recorded during the 2005 rainy season came from these five systems.
The end of the rainy season is determined primarily by the first time the dew point drops below 70 degrees for about three consecutive days. This typically coincides with the first minimum temperature reading below 70 degrees since spring...and a corresponding sharp decrease in the frequency of the daily rainfall patterns, which characterize the rainy season. This year’s end to the rainy season was quite abrupt...with minimum temperatures in the 50s over most of South Florida on the mornings of October 25 and 26.
National Weather Service
Miami, FL
Nov 1 2005
Strong Bees for Pollination
Local beekeepers looking to provide pollination services to watermelon producers. Contact Heidi or Steve Eisele, PO Box 610, Felda, phone 941-661-5038.
Job Opportunities
Farm Manager
Farm Manger wanted to be responsible for 1,500-acre farm producing vegetables and specialty crops in Central Florida producing cabbage, cucumbers, corn, parsley and sod. Salary range to 60 K plus bonus and benefits. Contact Dick Thompson 800-792-2474 dick@ag-jobs.com or Gene Pope 800-581-8865 gene@ag-jobs.com
Up Coming Meetings
Manatee County
December 8, 2005
Cucurbit Production Workshop 1:30 PM – 4:30 P.
GulfCoast Research and Education
Center
Wimauma., Florida
For more information, contact
Phyllis Gilreath at 941-722-4524 or prgilreath@ifas.ufl.edu
or
Alicia Whidden at 813-744-5776
or AJWhidden@ifas.ufl.edu
December 13, 2005 CORE/Private Applicator Ag Pesticide Training
and Testing 9:00 AM
Manatee County Extension Service
1303 17th Street West
Palmetto, Florida 2 CORE CEUs
For more information, contact Phyllis Gilreath at 941-722-4524 or prgilreath@ifas.ufl.edu.
December 14-15 Spanish Pesticide License Training and Testing 8:30 am – 5 pm
Manatee County Extension Service
1303 17th Street West
Palmetto, Florida
Instructor: Cesar Asuaje. Cost is $10 per day. CEUs offered for those who already have a pesticide license. Participants can earn 3 CEUs each day for the morning sessions only or 4 CEUs for the morning session and afternoon review. Those seeking a private pesticide applicator license must attend both days.
For registration information, please contact Phyllis Gilreath at 941-722-4524.
Palm Beach County
November 29, 2005 WPS Training - How to Comply & Teaching Techniques 1 - 4:30 pm
Cooperative Extension's Mounts Building
531 N Military Trail
West Palm Beach, Florida
Contact Darrin Parmenter (561) 233-1725
Southwest Florida
November 29, 2005 Dupont Product Update 6:00 PM
UF/IFAS - SW Florida Research and Education Center
Hwy 29 N
Immokalee, Florida
Contact Gene McAvoy at 863-674-4092
December 6, 2005 Irrigation Management for Vegetables Workshop 9:00
AM
UF/IFAS - SW Florida Research and Education Center
Hwy 29 N
Immokalee, Florida
Contact Gene McAvoy at 863-674-4092
Other Meetings
February 4-8, 2006 American Society of Horticultural Science
Southern Region Annual Meeting
Wyndham Orlando Resort
Orlando, Florida
For more information, go to http://ashs.org/regional/index.html
May 21-23, 2006 18th International Pepper Conference
Palm Springs, California
Go to http://www.internationalpepper.com/ for details
Websites
Chili Thrips Links - for more info on chili thrips as well as
photos of the pest and damage. Go to these sites
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/chillithrips.html
and http://www.mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/LSO/thripslinks.htm
Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) – fungicides
are an integral part of an efficient food production system. The
loss of a fungicide to agriculture through resistance is a problem that
affects us all. For more information, set your browser to http://www.frac.info/
Quotable Quotes
Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia. – Charles Shultz
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
“Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or to keep one." - Robert E. Lee
“With hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding and severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another and the big quake in Pakistan … are we sure we want to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance.” - Jay Leno
On the Lighter Side
One for you …
On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just
inside the cemetery fence. One day, two boys filled up a bucketful
of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the
nuts.
"One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me," said one
boy. Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence.
Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed,
he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down
to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, "One for you, one for me.
One for you, one for me."
He just knew what it was. He jumped back on his bike and rode
off toward town. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane,
hobbling along.
"Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard!
Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls."
The man said, "Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk."
When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled to the cemetery. Standing
by the fence they heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one
for me..."
The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been tellin' the truth. Let's see
if we can see the Lord." Shaking with fear, they peered through the
fence, yet were still unable to see anything.
The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence
tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.
Once again they heard, "One for you, one for me. That's all. Now let's
go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done."
They say the old man made it back to town a full 5 minutes ahead of the boy on the bike.
True Riches…
One day the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the countryside with the purpose of motivating his son to work hard by showing him how poor people can be. The father wanted to prepare the boy to take over the management of the vast family fortune and estate.
The boy spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of a poor family helping with the daily chores. Sharing meals at night with the family, he learned a little about planning and life on the farm.
On his return, the father asked his son, “So how was the trip?” “It was great Dad,” replied the boy.
“Did you see how poor people can be? the father asked. “Oh, yes.” replied the son.
“So what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered, “ I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden but they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go on beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us but they have many friends to protect them.”
With this the boy’s father was speechless. Then the boy added, Thanks Dad, for showing me how poor we are.”
Contributors include: Joel Allingham/AgriCare, Inc, Karen Armbrester/SWFREC, Kathy Smith/Agricultural Pest Management, , Bruce Corbitt/West Coast Tomato Growers, Dr. Kent Cushman/SWFREC, Dr. Phyllis Gilreath/Manatee County Extension, Michael Hare/Drip Tape Solutions, Fred Heald/Farmers Supply, Sarah Hornsby/AgCropCon, Cecil Howell/Taylor &Fulton, Loren Horsman/Glades Crop Care, Keith Jackson/SWFREC, Bruce Johnson/General Crop Management, Dr. Mary Lamberts/Miami-Dade County Extension, Leon Lucas/Glades Crop Care, Bob Mathews, 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/ C&B Farm, Ken Shuler/Stephen’s Produce, Ed Skvarch/St Lucie County Extension, John Stanford/Thomas Produce, Mike Stanford/MED Farms, Dr. Phil Stansly/SWFREC, Eugene Tolar/Red Star Farms, Mark 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.