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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
January 3, 2003
El Nino continues to bring wet weather to south Florida production areas. A strong cold front moving down over the peninsula today will bring cool weather to the area over the next several days. A front that moved across south Florida on New Years Eve bought rain to most locations. Total precipitation varied widely with the highest accumulations further west and north. Temperatures over the past few weeks have averaged several degrees cooler than normal he past two weeks. Temperatures have been variable with some highs in the 80’s and few nights dipping into the in the 30’s in normally colder areas, although for the most part daytime highs have been in the 60 ‘s and low to mid 70’s and night time lows mostly in the 40’s and 50’s.
Fieldwork and planting has been proceeding normally in most places although rainy weather has caused some delays. Cooler weather has slowed maturity in some crops but has helped cool season crops such as strawberries and potatoes. Windy conditions associated with frontal systems have beat up some sensitive crops like beans, cucumbers and squash.
Vegetables coming to market include beans,
cabbage, cucumbers, eggplants, endive, escarole, lettuce, okra, parsley,
peppers, radishes, squash, strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes and specialty
crops. Quality is mostly good although higher than normal
grade-out due to rain checking and post–harvest disorders are still causing
some problems.
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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| 12/16/02–1/2/03 |
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The short term forecast from the National Weather Service in Miami calls for cooler drier weather over the next few days with a chance of showers as we approach mid-week. Lows temperatures will occur on Saturday night with the mercury dipping into the 30’s in normally colder areas.
For additional information, visit the National Weather Service in Miami website at http://www.srh.noaa.gov.mia
Insects
Reports indicate that insect pressure is fairly low in most areas.
Leafminers
Reports out of Homestead indicate leafminer pressure remains constant on tomato, potato, beans, and eggplant.
Scouts in Palm Beach report that leafminer pressure has decreased somewhat over the past few weeks and is generally less than it has been over the past few years.
Around southwest Florida, leafminer pressure is variable. Some respondents report fairly high pressure in places with growers spraying newly planted crops after a few weeks in the ground. Other reports indicate that leafminer pressure has fluctuated with temperatures – rising after a few days of warm weather and dropping off when temperatures fall.
Aphids
Growers and scouts around Homestead report that aphids are widely present on several crops including cucurbits, tomato, potato, and strawberry.
Respondents in Palm Beach indicate mostly low aphid populations on beans, cucurbits, peppers, tomatoes and specialty crops. Few problems have been reported with the exception of some buildup in specialty items.
Around southwest Florida, aphids are being reported in a wide range of crops. Populations are mostly low but a few severe infestations have been noted in pepper.
Whiteflies
Around southwest Florida, whiteflies numbers are mostly low but reports indicate populations are increased in some places.
Respondents from Palm Beach note decreased whitefly numbers over the past few weeks.
Scouts in Homestead report sporadic whitefly pressure with a gradual buildup being noted in fields that are being harvested.
Due to favorable prices, some growers are holding tomatoes for a third pick. Growers are advised to monitor whitefly populations and maintain control of in-field population preferably with IGR’s such as Courier and Knack, and promptly destroy old fields after harvest in order to reduce carryover to the next crop. Remember that a break between crops is an important tool in managing whitefly populations in spring plantings. Whenever possible susceptible crops should be separated as much as a possible by time and distance.
Worms
Respondents in southwest Florida report low worm pressure over the past few weeks with low numbers over mostly southern armyworms appearing in traps.
Around Palm Beach County, growers and scouts in indicate that worm pressure is mostly low with a few southern armyworms and loopers being reported.
Reports from Homestead indicate that worms have been sporadic with the main concern being fall armyworm in corn.
Pepper Weevil
Respondents from Homestead report that pepper weevils are well established and pressure remains constant.
Around southwest Florida, reports indicate that pepper weevil pressure remains low with a few weevils being found in older pepper fields.
On the east coast, growers and scouts indicate that pepper weevil pressure has dropped off around Palm Beach County but report that pressure has been moderate to high further north in St Lucie and Martin Counties. This is mainly in old crops nearing termination.
Mites
Respondents in Palm Beach report broadmite pressure is low but that some scattered occurrence at low levels continues to be seen in pepper.
Around Immokalee, broadmite populations remain low in pepper and eggplant.
Growers and scouts in Homestead report that broad mites are increasing somewhat compared to a few weeks ago.
Thrips
Melon thrips (Thrips palmi) are widely present in Homestead and continue to be a problem on beans, eggplant, pepper, and potato.
Growers and scouts in Palm Beach continue to note the occasional appearance of symptoms consistent with Thrips palmi on pepper foliage.
Diseases
Wet weather continues to provide ideal conditions for a number of diseases.
Bacterial Spot
Around southwest Florida, bacterial spot continues to be widespread and incidence and severity ranges widely but is high in some fields. Wet and windy weather have contributed to sustained spread onto new foliage as plants grow.
On the east Coast, reports indicate that bacterial leaf spot is widespread in both pepper and tomato. Incidence and severity varies from remain low to high depending on the location and age of the crop.
Reports from Homestead indicate that bacteria spot has been active on tomato. Severity varies from low to moderate with some hot spots.
Early blight
Growers and scouts on both coasts report mostly low incidence of early blight in tomato and eggplant, although some movement higher into the canopy has been associated with recent rains. One respondent indicated that bacterial spot is so widespread that it makes it difficult to see other foliar pathogens which may be present.
Target spot
Scouts around Immokalee note that target spot is a continuing problem in tomato. There have also been reports of target spot appearing on harvested fruit.
Reports from Homestead indicate widely scattered occurrence of target spot in tomato.
Dr Ken Pernezny, pathologist at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center has reported some serious outbreaks of target spot on tomato from east coast production areas, noting a surprising amount of fruit damage considering the level of foliar injury.
Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus
Growers and scouts on both coasts continue to report low incidence of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl infected tomatoes. In most instances infected plants are still few and far between although several reports note the occurrence of secondary spread from initial infections. The incidence of infection remains mostly below 1 % although there have been a few scattered reports of fields in the 2-3 % range. A few recent reports indicate that new infections are being observed in conjunction with incoming migrations of infected whiteflies.
Scouts operating around southwest Florida report that tomato yellow leaf curl virus is creeping up in several older tomato fields. There have been a few reports of tomato fields approaching 2nd tie where TYLCV symptoms are approaching 8-10%.
Phytophthora
Scouts in Palm Beach continue to report isolated widely scattered cases of Phytophthora capsici on pepper and eggplant.
Reports of phytophthora on eggplant have been received from Homestead.
Around southwest Florida, Phytophthora capsici is being reported on pepper and squash from a number of widely scattered sites from Naples to Immokalee. In some cases, beans have also been affected. In some cases incidence and severity is high, and in at least one case, fields were disked up as crop damage reached high levels.
Phytophthora capsici causes preemergence seed rot and postemergence seedling blight similar to those caused by other damping-off fungi. White fungal growth may cover infected tissue under moist conditions.
All parts of pepper are susceptible to the disease. Infection is most common at the soil line, and starts as a dark, water-soaked area. Stem lesions are dark brown to black and result in girdling and plant death. At first, leaf spots are irregular to round, and water-soaked. With age, the spots enlarge, turn a light tan, and may crack. Fruit rot appears as dark green, water soaked areas. Infected areas may be bordered by white fungal growth during wet periods. Infected fruit becomes shrunken, wrinkled and brown, and remains attached to the stem.
In eggplant, fruit rot is the primary symptom. It begins as a round, dark brown area on any part of the fruit. A rapidly expanding light tan region typically surrounds lesions. Phytophthora fruit rot in eggplant lacks the concentric patterns and dark fruiting structures associated with Phomopsis.
Phytophthora capsici can cause crown infections, leaf spot, and foliar blight in tomato. Infections are generally most severe just after transplanting. Rot occurs mainly where fruit contacts the soil and begins as dark, water-soaked spots that expand rapidly during warm weather.
Summer squash is highly susceptible to Phytophthora foliar blight and fruit rot. Under warm, wet conditions, P. capsici can devastate entire squash plantings in a matter of days.
Angular water-soaked lesions, as well as a rapid fruit rot, which is covered with white fungal growth, are produced in cucumber. Symptoms of Phytophthora blight in cantaloupe include leaf lesions and tip dieback of vines.
Phytophthora capsici survives in seed and plant debris in the soil by means of thick-walled oospores. The pathogen also produces zoospores that are motile and swim to invade host tissue. Phytophthora capsici can also move as fungal hyphae in infected transplants and on contaminated soil and equipment. Since water is necessary for dispersal and infection, maximum disease occurs during wet weather and in low or waterlogged parts of fields. High rainfall and standing water provide ideal conditions for epidemics. The pathogen is active over a range of temperatures, but temperatures between 80-90°F are optimal for producing zoospores and infection. Under ideal conditions, symptoms occur 3-4 days after infection and the disease can rapidly affect entire fields.
Planting sites should be well drained. Good water management is essential to prevent flooded conditions, which favors Phytophthora blight.
Preplant soil fumigation is recommended and fungicides such as Ridomil Gold and UltraFlourish should be used preventively. Fungicides with different modes of action should be rotated to prevent the buildup of fungicide resistance. Rotating or tank-mixing a systemic with a contact fungicide such as maneb is recommended. Resistance has not been identified in cultivars currently grown in Florida.
Sclerotina
Around southwest Florida, growers and scouts
have noted the occurrence of white mold in tomato and pepper.
Sclerotina has also been noted on pepper in
Palm Beach production areas.
The fungus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is responsible for a number of vegetable diseases. Sclerotinia is particularly damaging in bean, lettuce, potato, and tomato. Common names for Sclerotinia diseases in Florida are white mold (beans), drop (lettuce), stem rot (potato and tomato), and nesting (post-harvest disease of bean).
Sclerotinia is a fungus that prefers cool, moist weather, causing diseases of great intensity when temperatures range from 60 - 70°F (15 - 21°C). High humidity with dew formation supports the spread and increases the severity of infections.
A good indicator of Sclerotinia disease is the presence of small, black sclerotia (resting structures) of the fungus. Sclerotia vary in size and shape. Sclerotia can form on the surface of plant parts as well as inside the stems of tomato and potato. The sclerotia enable the fungus to survive from season to season and are the source of inoculum to infect crops. Recycled irrigation water may move sclerotia to fields where sclerotia are not present.
Another common indicator of Sclerotinia diseases is the presence of white, cottony-like mycelium of the fungus when weather conditions are cool and moist.
Symptoms of Sclerotinia vary between crops. White mold in beans usually appears after flowering. The disease often appears in leaf axils and advances into the stem, producing water-soaked spots that increase in size, girdling the stem, and killing it above the point of infection. The disease can also enter the plant through leaves or pods that touch the soil where sclerotia or infected plant parts act as inoculum.
In tomato and potato, infection typically starts at flowering. Water-soaked spots are usually the first symptom, which is followed by invasion of the stem, girdling, and death of the upper part of the stem that turns a light gray. As with bean, the disease can also begin where the plant contacts the soil or infected plant debris. Large portions of the field may become diseased, producing large, circular, areas of dead plants. The black sclerotia formed by the fungus are often found inside infected stems.
In beans, Topsin M 85, Rovral 50 WP or 4 F and Benlate 50 WP applied at bloom stage has been effective in controlling white mold. Rovral 50 WP or 4 F has been used with good results in lettuce. For potato, Rovral 50 WP or 4 F and Botran 75 W are recommended for Sclerotinia control. With the loss of Benlate, tomato producers don’t have good alternatives although Quadris may give some relief..
Powdery Mildew
Respondents across south Florida note that powdery mildew is active on a range of cucurbits including squash and cucumbers. Strobulurin fungicides like Quadris and Nova are said to be providing good control.
Scouts in Palm Beach have noted the appearance of powdery mildew on pepper. Incidence is very low and occurrence is spotty.
Gummy Stem Blight
Gummy stem blight is widely present on cucurbits around southwest Florida. Incidence and severity ranges from moderate to high. Affected crops include watermelon and cucumber. There have also been some reports of gummy stem blight on transplants.
Given the high incidence of gummy stem blight this fall resulting in high inoculum loads and the projected continuation of favorable conditions for development, watermelon producers should be vigilant on the spring crop.
Nighttime temperatures and moisture conditions are ideal during much of the growing season in Florida. The optimum temperature for infection is 61 to 75°F. After a spore germinates on a susceptible host, the fungus penetrates the plant tissue and symptoms can appear in 7 to 12 days. Wounds assist in promoting infection.
Gummy stem blight can be successfully managed if the grower utilizes a combination of control strategies. Control of primary sources of inoculum is important. Growers should purchase clean seed from reputable companies produced in arid western locations and avoid transplants that have gummy stem blight or other diseases.
In addition to seed, the most important source of primary inoculum is organic debris from previous cucurbit crops. After harvest, crop debris from should be plowed under to reduce inoculum. Volunteers and wild cucurbits provide an additional source of inoculum. Crop rotation and destruction of weed hosts are important for gummy stem blight control.
Multiple applications of fungicides are necessary to control gummy stem blight. It is important to begin a fungicide program prior to the first sign of gummy stem blight. In south Florida, the spray program should be initiated soon after emergence. Manzate, Bravo, Benlate and Quadris have given good results locally.
Dr Tom Kucharek UF/IFAS Plant Pathologist has passed on the following caution to growers. Cabrio 2.08 FL, Headline 2.08 FL, Quadris 2.08 FL, Nova and Abound 2.08 FL are in the strobilurin group of fungicides and they all have the same specific mode of action.
Resistance to this chemistry is present in some pathogens including gummy stem blight. Many isolates from Florida of Didymella bryioniae, the causal agent of gummy stem blight, are no longer sensitive to Quadris 2.08 FL. Thus, rotation of Quadris with Cabrio in a spray program should not be relied on for resistance management. Syngenta, the manufacturer of Quadris and Abound, and BASF, the manufacturer of Cabrio and Headline, will clearly state this situation on their future labels and are in the throws of informing users of these products about the close relatedness of these products.
Downy Mildew
Downy mildew is present on cucurbits including squash and cantaloupe from widely scattered locations across south Florida. The downy mildew fungus, Psuedoperonospora cubensis, can complete its life cycle in three to four days. Because downy mildew increases over time at a rapid rate, spraying twice per week may necessary if the grower intends to hold the crop for later harvests. Since temperature and humidity in south Florida are nearly always right for the development of this disease, growers should apply protectant fungicides prior to the appearance of symptoms. Fungicides that are effective include, chlorothalonil (Bravo types), mancozeb (Dithane, Manex II, Manzate, Penncozeb), Ridomil Bravo, Ridomil MZ 68, or Quadris. Do not use Quadris in repeated sprays. It should be rotated with other fungicides for resistance management purposes.
Southern Blight
Reports of southern blight (Sclerotina rolfsii) continue to come in from scattered areas around southwest Florida. Incidence remains low.
Botrytis
A few isolated reports of botrytis on pepper have been reported in the Devils Garden area.
Mosaic
Growers and scouts are beginning to report finding low levels of virus in squash in scattered locations across south Florida. Some locally heavy hotspots with a higher incidence of the disease have been reported.
Reports from Homestead indicate that mosaic viruses are beginning to increase in cucurbits and tomato.
Fusarium
Growers and scouts around southwest Florida are also noting an increase in the incidence of fusarium wilt and fusarium crown rot in tomato.
Symptoms of Fusarium crown rot are distinctly different from those of Fusarium wilt of tomato. The brilliant yellowing of the foliage typical of Fusarium wilt does not occur with crown rot. Crown rot generally first appears as marginal chlorosis or necrosis of the oldest leaves of scattered individuals plants as the crop nears first fruit maturity. These symptoms may be followed by a rapid wilt?to?death or more typically a slow wilt with upward progression of leaf chlorosis. Infected plants will often wilt during the day and recover during the night. Unlike the vascular symptoms associated with Fusarium wilt; the vascular discoloration evident in stem and/or roots is limited to the lower 12" of the stem. In addition with crown rot, definite root and crown rots occur. The pith of the stem at soil line may be necrotic, and will often display external cankers or lesions on the stem from soil line upward.
Control of crown rot is similar to that of Fusarium wilt, e.g., crop rotation, sanitation, increased soil pH, minimize use of ammoniacal nitrogen, and soil fumigation.
Anthracnose
Growers and scouts operating in the Palm Beach area are reporting the occurrence of anthracnose on pepper. Incidence and occurrence is spotty.
Anthracnose has also been reported on strawberries in Palm Beach and Homestead.
The Law Has Changed – Your Ag Property Tax Classification May Be At Risk!
Don’t throw out your tax benefit! Growers
and farmers in most Florida counties are now required to fill out and send
in the postcard-sized green renewal cards (Form DR-499C) to retain your
agricultural property tax classification. Growers will receive the
agricultural land classification renewal cards in the mail in early to
mid-January from your property appraiser. You must fill it out &
send it back by March 1st otherwise you may lose your agricultural land
classification and your tax benefit. Bottom-line: If you don’t
return the card, then you may pay much higher property taxes!
In the past, the agricultural land classification
application operated by automatic renewal in most Florida counties just
as the Florida homestead exemption currently does. In the past, growers
and farmers sent in the cards (or contacted their property appraisers)
only when land ownership or use had changed. Now the opposite is
true – you must certify your land use has not changed or risk losing your
agricultural land classification.
The Florida statute reads: “…land that has received an agricultural classification from the property appraiser, the value adjustment board or a court of competent jurisdiction…is entitled to receive such classification in any subsequent year until such agricultural use of the land is abandoned or discontinued, the land is diverted to a nonagricultural use, or the land is reclassified as nonagricultural…”
The law further states: “The property appraiser
must, no later than January 15 of each year, provide notice to the owner
of the land that was classified agricultural in the previous year informing
the owner of the requirements of this paragraph and requiring the owner
to certify that neither the ownership nor the use of the land has changed…”
For more information, contact Dave Bruns, 850-487-2747
or go to http://www.myflorida.com/dor/
Food Safety Program Offered Free to Florida Producers
Florida Fruit and Vegetable Research and Education Foundation is offering growers and packinghouse managers an opportunity to implement an individualized food safety program. A federal grant pays for everything except any future improvements the producer decides are necessary. It may even help with the cost of an Independent Third Party Audit.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services awarded the Foundation $500,000 early in 2002 to teach producers about basic Good Agricultural Practices. Glades Crop Care will work with participants to determine their needs, and then provide educational toolkits that outline food safety standards, and present guidelines for evaluating and modifying any potential problem areas.
The program benefits producers of all types of fruits and vegetables, and is applicable throughout the entire state of Florida.
Deployment of the educational toolkits started in November 2002, and will continue through April of 2003. To be included in Florida's Food Safety Initiative, contact Glades Crop Care at (561) 746-3740, or Ray Gilmer of the FFVA's Research and Education Foundation at (407) 894-1351. Glades Crop Care will send a letter requesting more information about each producer's individual situation.
To learn more about the program, visit the Glades Crop Care website at www.gladescropcare.com.
Relevance of Food Safety Programs
The need for a food safety initiative has been promoted for several reasons. Foremost is the globalization of our food supply along with consumer demand for a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables all year round. Additional pressure for a high level of microbial food safety comes from the fresh cut industry, which offers an array of ready-to-eat, pre-cut salads, fruits (notably melons) and vegetables. Along with these consumer trends, changes in U.S. demographics also play a role. As the baby boomers get older, more people are elderly and may have compromised immune systems or chronic diseases. Consequently, more people are especially susceptible to food-borne illnesses.
With these consumer trends, unfortunately, has come a nationwide increase in produce-related food borne illnesses. The following figures come from Food Safety Begins on the Farm: A Grower's Guide, published by Cornell University as part of a national effort to develop Good Agricultural Practices (GAP's), jointly sponsored by the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (this GAP task force includes representatives from the University of Florida and Georgia). Between 1970 and 1997 per capita consumption of fruits in the U.S. went up 24%, from 577 to 718 pounds. With this increase, however, the number of outbreaks of food related illnesses has steadily risen. Between 1996 and 2000, 113 outbreaks with 3,805 individual cases associated with produce were reported to the Food and Drug Administration.
In these outbreaks, bacterial human pathogens outnumbered other types of pathogens as the disease-causing agents. The most common of these bacterial pathogens are Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7, which accounted for over 75% of produce-related outbreaks between 1988 and 1998. These bacteria belong to groups that have both human and animal reservoirs, and are also associated with fecal contamination. These facts help explain why food safety experts place great emphasis on worker health, safety and hygiene and on the management of animals, manure and other biosolids in and around farms where fruits and vegetables are grown. In fact, a farm's management of toilet facilities, hand washing stations and the cleanliness of the audit. For produce run through a packinghouse or hydro-cooler, the same issues can be even more important!
But there is important good news. The latest round of testing by the Food and Drug Administration shows that 98.4% of the samples are free of microbial contamination from eight commodities. Out of 687 samples, 11 tested positive for Salmonella and Shigella. A 1999 survey of imported produce showed 94% to be free of pathogens. (Information excerpted from the Glades Crop Care website.)
EQIP Signup
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program is a voluntary USDA conservation program for farmers and ranchers to treat identified soil, water and related natural resource concerns. Incentive payments may be made to encourage producers to adopt approved land management, integrated pest management, irrigation water management, and wildlife habitat management practices. Through EQIP farmers may receive financial and technical assistance up to 75% of certain conservation practices.
January 15, 2003 is the sign-up date for the 2003 program. Contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency for details.
AG CONSULTING /SCOUTING SERVICES
Entocon, Inc. has specialized in commercial contract research and development, confidential producer driven research, production problem solving, and scouting in vegetables, citrus, sugarcane, turf and ornamentals in various production formats, for over 20 years. We would like to announce the addition of Jonathan Bevil to our team, with his 20 years of experience in scouting, production, crop management and agricultural research and development. For more information about how we can be our service to you and your company please contact Dean Remick at (239) 860-2507 (mobile)/ 159*135478*1 (Nextel)/ deanremick@yahoo.com or Jonathan Bevil at 863-441-0274 (mobile)/ 159*135478*2 (Nextel)/ jhbevil@msn.com.
Dr. Henry Yonce would like to announce the opening of his new company – KAC Agricultural Research, INC. KAC Agricultural Research will conduct contract research for companies and growers and will also be available for scouting and consulting with citrus and vegetable producers. For more information, call Henry at 386-736-0098 (office), 386-527-1124 (cell) or 158*17*45805 (Nextel).
OPPORTUNITY – Exhibitors wanted for the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Annual Meeting to be held in Orlando in July 2004. This is a great opportunity to present your products to the more than 2500 County Extension Agents from all over the United States that are expected to attend this meeting.
To reserve a place contact Ed Jennings at 352-793-6376.
Websites
Gempler’s On Line Catalog – Gempler’s offers over 17,000 products including many hard to find items of use to growers. Go to http://www.gemplers.com/.
The UF/IFAS Plant Disease Management Guide for Vegetables – 2003 can be found on the Plant Pathology web site, http://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu along with all the fact sheets and circulars with color pictures and plant protection pointers.
The Strawberry Website hosted by The University of Florida Strawberry Lab (GCREC-Dover) provides a wealth of information on strawberry production, pest and disease control and archives past and present issues of the Berry Times newsletter, go to http://strawberry.ifas.ufl.edu/
Up Coming Meetings
Southwest Florida
January 22, 2003
Understanding and Dealing with “Problem Areas” on Florida’s Sandy Soils:
A Workshop Geared toward Sugarcane, Citrus and Vegetables
Hendry County Extension Office 8:30 AM - Noon
1085 Pratt Boulevard
LaBelle, Florida
Contact 863-674-4092 for details.
February 4, 2003 Advanced Compost Training
Collier County Cooperative Extension Service
14700 Immokalee Road
Naples, FL 33964
To register contact Dr Monica Ozores-Hampton at 239-658-3400
or email Ozores@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
Palm Beach County
January 15, 2003
General Standards/Core Test Review 8 AM - 10 AM
Private Applicator Test Review 1 PM - 3 PM
Testing - Any Category 8 AM - 4 PM
Belle Glade Extension Office
2976 State Road 15
Belle Glade, Florida
Contact 561-996-1655.
Other Meetings
March 10 –13, 2003
Florida Post-Harvest Horticulture Industry Tour
Contact Steve Sargent at 352-392-1928
April 29-30, 2003
FACTs - Florida Agricultural Conference and Trade Show
Lakeland Center, Lakeland, Florida
Quotable Quotes
The good thing about not keeping New Years resolutions is that you can use them over again. - Anon.
A liberal is a person whose interests aren't at stake at the moment. - Willis Player
The pastures and hillsides are pharmacies. - Paracelsus
Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams
On the Lighter Side
Thought Of The Day:
Here's some advice Bill Gates dished out at a high school speech about things they did not and will not learn in school. You may wish to share this with your kids next time they accuse you of being strict.
Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it
Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3: You will NOT make $40,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.
Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping -- they called it opportunity.
Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't
as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying
your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening
to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain
forest from the parasites of your parents' generation,
try delousing the closet in your own room.
Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners
and losers, but life has not. In some schools, they have
abolished failing grades and they'll give you
as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't
bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in
real life.
Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You
don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in
helping you find yourself. Do that on your own
time.
Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll be working for one.
A New Years Wish
May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs, and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.
May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastroenterologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber, and the IRS.
May you find a way to travel from anywhere to anywhere during rush hour in less than an hour, and when you get there may you find a parking space.
May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them.
May the telemarketers wait to make their sales
calls until you finish dinner, may your checkbook and your budget balance,
and may they include generous amounts for your church and charities.
May you remember to say "I love you" at least
once a day to your spouse, your child, and your parent(s). You can say
it to your secretary, your nurse, your butcher, your photographer, your
masseuse, your seamstress, your hairdresser or your tennis instructor,
but not with a "twinkle" in your eye.
May we live as intended, in a world at peace with the awareness of the beauty in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our heart.
Bless you with every happiness, great health peace, and much love during the next year and all those that follow.
All the Best for a Happy and Prosperous New Year
Contributors include: Joel Allingham/AgriCare, Inc, Karen Armbrester/SWFREC, Kathy Carbiener /Agricultural Pest Management, Jim Connor/SWFREC, Bruce Corbitt/West Coast Tomato Growers, 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, 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 Charlie Vavrina/SWFREC, Mark Verbeck and Donna Verbeck/GulfCoast Ag.
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 II
Vegetable/Ornamental
Horticulture
863-674-4092 phone
Hendry County
Extension Office
863-860-8811 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