Wired For Success
Florida Growers
By: Paul Rusnak
When it comes to multitasking mastery, it’s hard to match what growers do on a daily basis. The fine line that separates “too much” from “too little” or “too early” from “too late” can be applied across the board. While organizational tools run the gamut to suit all needs and tastes, researchers are coming up with new ways to drastically improve on the spreadsheets and hard-copy “to-do” lists of days gone by.
For example, today’s multiple digital media platform availability helped set the stage for UF/IFAS researchers to develop an information-gathering tool for strawberry growers to aid in their constant combat against anthracnose and botrytis fruit rots. According to project lead Natalia Peres, assistant professor of plant pathology, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Balm, the web-based system uses temperature and leaf wetness to forecast the need for fungicide applications. Weather data is imported from the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) every 15 minutes. So, the system itself is updated often. The useful predictions can be accessed online (http://agroclimate.org/tools/strawberry) and/or growers can sign up to receive eMail or text message advisories sent directly to their mobile or smartphone. “Growers receive the eMail and/or text alerts as soon as conditions turn favorable for the diseases,” Peres says. “They can get the alerts at any time. Sometimes it happens in the middle of the night, so by the time growers get to work in the morning, they can plan their sprays accordingly.”
While strawberry growers often apply fungicides weekly or even more often to assure control of these two diseases, Peres says many of those applications are not necessary. That’s where this notification system steps in. “The tool forecasts the need for sprays and — on average — we have been able to reduce the number of sprays by half without loss of control or yield,” she says.
Strong Signal
Having previously worked on the development of models for prediction of postbloom fruit drop in citrus, Peres took her knowledge from that arena and applied it to models for the timing of fungicide application in strawberries. “The situation in Florida, with all the sprays applied to strawberries, made it a natural for attempts to use models to reduce the number of sprays,” she says.
Indeed. The primary advantage of the system involves reducing applications, thus cutting costs. “Sprays for these two diseases represent one-third of all production costs,” Peres says. “So, the savings in fungicide and application costs are considerable.”
In addition to some of the obvious benefits of a notification system like this — namely ease of use and 24/7 accessibility to vital crop protection information — Peres says the tech tool overall is educational. “Checking the system often will make growers intuitively learn and recognize the set of weather conditions conducive for disease development,” she says.
Tech Talk
Though this tool is suited specifically for strawberry growers, Peres says models and similar systems can be and have been applied to other crops. Of course, the tool would have to be adapted to each disease and unique situation. “We now have a grant to apply the system to strawberries produced in other states,” she says. “It should function for strawberry growers in other areas that have the same disease problems, but won’t be directly applicable to other crops.”
In helping take the system from concept to fruition, Peres gives credit to her colleagues. “Steve MacKenzie, a postdoctoral researcher in my lab at the time, had the mathematical and epidemiological skills to determine the relationship between weather variables and disease incidence, which allowed us to develop a practical model for disease prediction,” she says. “Clyde Fraisse, a professor at the agricultural and biological engineering department, and Willingthon Pavan, a former postdoctoral research associate in his lab, developed the web-based application to make the disease prediction system easily and readily available for growers to use.”
About a handful of local growers trialed the system this past season. More are sure to join in. Peres says the system is currently available and should be fully functional for the upcoming 2010-2011 strawberry growing season. “I’m pleased the system has worked out well and that we should be able to assist growers in reducing costs as well as diminishing environmental concerns and improving worker safety.”
Looking At LaborBy: Frank Giles (Florida Grower)
Looking At Labor
The heated war of words over Arizona’s new immigration law has put the debate back on top of the table. In agriculture, we appreciate the complexity of this issue and the need to have a stable workforce in place to work in the fields and groves. Having said that, I don’t like the fact that some people are ganging up on Arizona. As a border state, I can appreciate voters there feeling as though they are under siege. Literally, thousands are killed in drug-related violence on the border every year. With lack of federal direction, they felt they had to act — and they did.
The federal government has filed a lawsuit against the state, noting its primacy over immigration policy. Gov. Jan Brewer replied, “As a direct result of failed and inconsistent federal enforcement, Arizona is under attack from violent Mexican drug and immigrant smuggling cartels. Now, Arizona is under attack in federal court from President Obama and his Department of Justice.”
AgJobs Back?
To say the lines have been drawn in the sand would be an understatement. But, this whole argument may force a renewed effort for comprehensive reform. One such reform is the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act (AgJobs). It would provide temporary legal residence to about 1 million undocumented farmworkers and up to 150,000 workers in Florida.
AgJobs has enjoyed wide support from farm groups and labor groups. It has been on the brink of passage several times, but loses steam before crossing the finish line. Some hope the renewed interest brought on by Arizona will help this first step in reform finally get passed.
To me, AgJobs makes common sense. Growers want to hire people who are in the country legally. And, farm labor wants to be here with peace of mind ICE won’t be paying a visit to the fields or packinghouses. For those on the “build a wall, send them all home” side of the argument, AgJobs is a temporary measure and should be a fair compromise. But, I get a feeling those folks aren’t that interested in compromise.
So, here we are with a problem that is decades old. In that time, both sides of the debate have gotten awfully good at pointing the finger at one another, but not so much at finding a solution. Hopefully, Arizona will shine a spotlight on our collective failure and lead us to an answer.
Welcome Aboard Board
One final note. I’d like to welcome members of our new editorial advisory board. We look forward to their feedback on how Florida Grower can serve its readers even better in print and online. Members are listed below.
• UF/IFAS: Brian Boman
• Plant Nutrition: Gerald O'Conner - KeyPlex
• Financial: Dave Kernodle - Carden & Associates
• Citrus: Andrew Meadows - Florida Citrus Mutual
• Citrus Growers: Jerry Newlin - Quinton Rose
• Vegetable Growers: Paul Allen - Hank Scott
• Crop Protection: Donny Oleniczak - Bayer CropScience
I invite any of you to share your thoughts on how we are doing or give us a tip on stories you think we should be covering.
PEST OF THE MONTH: Southern Green StinkbugBy: Gene McAvory (GrowingProduce.com)
Identification
The southern green stinkbug can be recognized by its oval shape, five segmented antennae, and malodorous scent. This pest has piercing-sucking mouthparts. The mouth consists of a beak-like structure called the rostrum. Salivary fluid is pumped down the salivary duct and liquefied food is pumped up the food canal.
The southern green stinkbug (Nezara viridula) is a
highly polyphagous feeder, attacking many important
food crops, especially tomatoes.
All plant parts are attacked, but growing shoots and developing fruit are preferred.
The damage on fruit appears as hard brownish or black spots. Feeding punctures affect the edible qualities and lower its market value. Young fruit growth is retarded and it often withers and drops from the plant. In addition to physical damage caused by southern green stinkbug feeding, mechanical transmission of tomato bacterial spot also may result. In tomato, adults and nymphs use piercing-sucking mouthparts to cause a lightened, and sometimes depressed, blotchy area under fruit surface.
Survival And Spread
Stinkbugs are most prevalent October through December and again in March through May. The southern green stinkbug can complete its life cycle in 65 to 70 days and may produce up to four generations per year in warmer areas.
The eggs are deposited in numbers that range from 30 to 130 eggs per mass. The female oviposits on the undersurface of leaves in the upper portions of canopied crops and weeds. The eggs are barrel shaped and white to light yellow in color. Incubation time for the eggs is five days in the summer and two to three weeks in early spring and late fall.
The first instars aggregate by the empty eggs and do not feed. Feeding begins with the second instar. The second instar has black legs, head, thorax, and antennae. The third and fourth instars increase in size and assume the overall greenish color of adults.
Management Methods
Recently growers have reported an increase in stinkbug related problems in tomato and other crops. Stinkbugs have become a greater problem in recent years largely due to the move away from broad-spectrum insecticides to more pest specific biorational products. The Florida Tomato Scouting Guide sets the economic threshold for southern green stinkbug in tomato as one stinkbug per six plants.
Stinkbugs are difficult to control with insecticides. Because stinkbugs have many hosts and are very mobile, they can quickly become a problem at any time during the season. Broad-spectrum insecticides, such as Baythriod (cyfluthrin, Bayer CropScience), Brigade (bifenthrin, FMC Corp.), Danitol (fenpropathrin, Valent U.S.A.), and Voliam Flexi (thiamethoxam, chlorantraniliprole, Syngenta Crop Protection) are labeled for use on tomato.
Biological control is provided by parasites. In Florida, a tachinid fly (Trichopoda pennipes) parasitizes adults and nymphs, and a wasp (Trissolcus basalis) parasitizes eggs.
H-2A The Right Way
By: Frank Giles
With all eyes on Arizona, immigration has risen again to the top of the political agenda. It is one of those issues ripe for battle and strong positions on all sides.
Growers are right in the middle of the debate, arguing the critical importance of migrant workers in farm operations. But, no matter how strongly agriculture makes the case, there are a large percentage of anti-immigration people who will not be moved. While growers wait on reform (like AgJobs), there is some shelter offered by the H-2A program. The program brings in farm labor from Mexico legally each year.
While H-2A offers shelter, you will likely here a litany of complaints when discussing the program with many growers. “It’s too complicated” and “expensive” is a common refrain. Justin Sorrells, owner and general manager of Sorrells Citrus and DeSoto Fruit & Harvesting agrees, but he will quickly add that his family’s citrus growing operation and custom grove care and harvesting company, “love it.”
“It is a cumbersome and over-regulated program that is too expensive, but putting all of that aside, H-2A works for us,” says Sorrells. “We’ve been using the program for 11 years now to bring in more than 400 employees annually. Having done it so long, we’ve encountered all the hang-ups and our office staff knows how to operate H-2A easily.”
Using the program has built a family type quality among the workers over the years. Sorrells notes that more than half of the workforce have worked here for the past seven years or more. “You know a father will come one year and then next year he will bring his son, cousin, or uncle,” he says. “It has built a big camaraderie throughout the crew.”
By: Frank Giles
Florida Grower
A Natural InsecticideBy: Mike McGroarty
Bt, or Bacillus thuringiensis, is a useful addition in the arsenal against plant-eating insects. But is a naturally occurring bacteria that is common all across the world, and early in the twentieth century it was discovered to be an excellent form of insect control.
Bt became available to home gardeners in the 1950’s but in recent years strains have been developed that attack an even wider range of insects.
The kurstaki strain of Bt kills only caterpillars that feed on leaves and needles. Bt kurstaki is especially useful for eliminating corn earworms and those little green cabbage worms that like to infest broccoli, along with tent caterpillars and webworms that damage trees and shrubs. Because Bt kurstaki will kill most caterpillars, it should be used sparingly if you have a butterfly garden or seek to attract more butterflies to your garden.
Antother type of Bt, the israelensis strain, will kill larvae of mosquitoes, black flies and fungus gnats. This is good news for those of you who suffer through black fly season each summer!
The san diego strain of Bt is a good choice for controlling the Colorado potato beetle. Potato beetles can quickly reduce potato plants to shreds, but Bt san diego stops the larvae in their tracks before they can do significant damage.
Each strain of Bt is specific to certain pests. Bt israelensis and san diego will not harm caterpillars, and likewise, Bt kurstaki will not harm black flies or potato beetles. Bt acts by producing proteins that react in the gut of the insect, paralyzing their digestive system. The insects stop eating and quickly starve.
Bt is not harmful to plants, people or pets, although you should avoid breathing the powder or spray when applying Bt to your plants. Bt also degrades fairly quickly in sunlight, so it will not persist in your garden. Some strains persist for less than 24 hours while others remain viable for about a week.
By: Mike McGroarty
Garden and Greenhouse
Take steps to prepare for surprise auditsBy: Scott Christie
The political debate surrounding immigration reform and a legal work force is highly charged and evokes strong emotions on both sides. Congress and previous presidential administrations have yet to find a comprehensive solution, and although the current administration has said it will address the issue, a clear resolution is years away.
But in the interim, growers and processors are in need of a stable work force that won’t lead to fines or detentions if the farm or plant is audited by state or federal agencies. Growers seeking a legal labor supply can go through the H-2A visa program, which allows foreign workers to work in the United States in temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs.
The H-2A program issues about 30,000 visas a year, and companies that use H-2A labor have to meet certain requirements: Pay minimum wage or prevailing wages for the area, provide housing for workers that cant return home overnight and, in some cases, provide transportation between housing and work.
The H-2B program provides visas to workers in non-agriculture seasonal or temporary jobs, such as landscaping, hospitality or processing facilities. Employers in this category must meet the same pay requirements, but they’re not required to provide housing or transportation. However, they must show that H-2B workers are only needed because an adequate work force could not otherwise be found.
With so much paperwork, combined with the sheer number of workers, a language barrier and rampant fraud in the system, an unannounced audit might be the worst fear for a grower or processor. Jim Bogart, president and general counsel for the grower-Shipper Association of central California, provided a step-by-step guide for dealing with surprise visits for government agencies during the United fresh 2010 grower shipper learning center. Being prepared goes a long way toward averting disaster, so Bogart recommends that companies periodically review hiring procedures. That includes taking a look at recordkeeping practice: Most documents related to hiring should be kept for three years, and old documents should be properly disposed of after that time to prevent an investigator from going back further.
Bogart also said a grower or processor should have a representative in the office who is trained to talk to government agencies. Industry associations, lawyers specializing in agriculture or local Extension personnel are good resources fir training. Other employees should be trained to notify managers if a state or federal inspector shows up on the farm or at plant. Employees shouldn’t make statements, but should direct the investigators to the trained representative on-site. It’s also important to note that employees don’t have to participate in an interview with an agent, Bogart said. They
Also should consult with management before providing any documentation or consenting to an interview, to protect themselves and the company. If an inspector does show up on a surprise visit, Bogart said there are steps that company should take:
-Determine who the investigator are and what agency they represent.
-Prior to the investigation, meet with the government agents to determine the scope of the inspection.
-Avoid situation where you allow access to any and all records and/or locations an your property.
-Always request an opening conference.
-Stay calm. Investigators know that all records might not be hand, so they can grant time extensions to gather all the documents.
-Make copies of any documents investigators want to take. Don’t allow anything to be removed from the property unless it’s been copied.
-remember that employees and managers aren’t required to answers questions. Anything said can become part of the investigation, so choose words carefully.
-If agents are persistent about interviewing employees or managers or it the media get wind of story, get your attorney involved.
-During the inspection, accompany the agent at all times. Limit the agent’s interaction with employees and movement on the property to areas within the scope of their investigations.
-If the agent seems interested in a particular facility or piece of equipment, photograph it for documentation. Also, photocopy it for documents that the agent wants to see during the investigation.
-Take notes on what the investigator is looking at and ask to record conversation, if possible.
-After the investigation concludes, the agent should have a meeting with management, which should provide some information on issues that need to be addressed.
In many cases involving labor verification, a company will receive notification in the mail, and not surprise visits. But they do happen, so be prepared, Bogart said.
A crisis management plan should include a section for investigations. The plan should identify the trained representatives and outline their responsibilities, and formalize the protocols for inspections. Bogart also recommended doing rehearsals – such as a mock walk-through of a surprise visit from a state or federal agency.
For any crises, every company should have a lawyer on speed dial, Bogart said.
Although a surprise visit is stressful, remain calm and maintain your poise. At all times, be professional, stay on message and take control of the situation, he said.
The Power of PersonalityBy: Jessica Walliser
Farmers aren’t just farmers anymore- at least not the smart ones, anyway. Now we’re advertising executives, customer-service agents, marketing reps, website managers and human-resources experts. All this may mean that you’re already a proficient multitasker, but tacking professional image coach to that list just may be one of the most critical steps to increasing your farm’s marketability for the new decade.
There is much power in a positive personality. Generations X and Y want a personal connection to their food. These are your new customers, and they want more than tasty produce. They want to know who is growing it, how it was grown and what they can do with it in the kitchen. They want to know your farm has a good vibe. No longer are you selling “stuff”: You’re selling yourself.
“Customers can’t see your actual farm at market, but they can see you,” says Audrey Guskey, PhD, a marketing professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa. She reminds us that your personality and appearance need to reflect your passion and direction. Present your farm in the best light by coaching yourself – and you employees – to sell your farm’s story instead of product. A beautiful display of beets lures them in, but your attitude brings ‘em back.
Market customers like Dana Katz, a frequent farmers’ market shopper in San Francisco, tell us that engaged farmers who share their farm’s story are the ones she returns to week after week. “What gets me to buy in the first place,” says Katz, “is not only a stand that gives me enough information to make a good buying decision, but one where the farmer is welcoming and interested. I want to know where the farm is located and what is remarkable about it.”
Be approachable (put on a smile!), clean (wear your farm-logo shirt) and involved in learning about what your customers want. A hard-sell is almost a no-sell, and loud mouths are nearly as bad as farmers who sit and read books, ignoring customers and seeming disinterested. Put your best face forward, and beef up your bottom line with a smile…and some style.
LIVING HEALTHYAAA Going Places
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE AMERICAL DIET???
By Chris Woolston
What’s wrong with the typical American diet? “Too many calories,” says Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, Professor of Nutrition and Food Studies at New York University. Most experts agree with that statement.
Perhaps it’s time to stop talking about fatty foods and admit that we simply eat too many calories. Twenty-five years ago, the average American consumed about 1,850 calories each day. Since then, our daily diet has grown by 304 calories (roughly the equivalent of two cans of soda). That’s theoretically enough to add an extra 31 pounds to each person every year. Judging from the ongoing obesity epidemic, many Americans are gaining those pounds—and then some.
Calories aren’t everything---But calories don’t tell the whole story. To truly understand what’s wrong with the American diet, you have to know how we manage to consume all those calories. There are two possible ways to go overboard: You can eat too many calorie-dense foods, or you can eat too much food or beverages in general. Many people choose to do both.
Of course, there is no single “American” diet. We all have our individual tastes, quirks and habits. Still, experts see clear patterns in our food choices. In fact, most American diets fall into one of two broad categories: “Western” or “prudent.”
Prudent Die---The prudent diet is a nutritionist’s dream. People in this category tend to eat relatively large amounts of fish, poultry, cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage and broccoli), greens, tomatoes, legumes, fresh fruits and whole grains.
Western Diet---The Western diet is the prudent diet reflected in a carnival mirror. Everything is backwards: Red meat and other fatty foods take the forefront, while fruits, vegetables and whole grains are pushed aside. In addition to fat and calories, the Western diet is loaded with cholesterol, salt and sugar. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it’s critically short on dietary fiber and many nutrients—as well as plant-based substances (phytochemicals) that help protect the heart and ward off cancer.
Put it all together and you have a recipe for disaster. In a 12-year study of more than 69,000 women, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a Western diet was found to significantly raise the risk of coronary heart disease. Other studies have shown that a high-fat, low-nutrient diet increases the likelihood of colon cancer and diabetes, as well as a host of other ailments.
Moderation is Key---Much of the advice for healthy eating can be boiled down to one word: moderation. By eating different foods from every part of the food pyramid and watching your portion size, you can make your own personal American diet healthy and nutritious. We have more choices and more temptations than ever before, but ultimately, we also have the final say over what we eat. Take control, and enjoy.
Baby Boomers Seeking Food “Magic Bullets”Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter
There’s a new “generation gap” when it comes to healthy ingredients and supplements: Baby Boomers, ages 45 to 64, are much more likely than younger or older consumers to seek out foods and other products for promised health benefits. Market research group Decision Analyst surveyed 16,392 US adults and found, “Belief in ‘magic foods’ (health ingredients and supplements) strengthens with age. The 18- to 44-year-old segment believes its health is bullet-proof compared with the 45-plus age segments who seek out magic bullets for improved health.” Although not as likely as Baby Boomers to seek out healthy ingredients, seniors shared the Boomers’ interest in supplements.
The report also identified foods and nutrients that are “hot” because of perceived health benefits. Topping the list were omega-3 fatty acids like those found in fish, which the report said have gained “rock star” popularity since the previous survey in 2006. Other items identified as “magic food super stars” for their growth in popularity (not necessarily all based on sound science) were: pomegranate juice, dark chocolate, berries, walnuts, almonds, ginger and cinnamon.
No Gardening Gloves RequiredHobby Farms
Hydroponic growing might be the answer for those who love to garden but can’t stand the mess. This method normally takes place in a greenhouse, where crops are grown in trays containing nutrient-rich solutions rather than soil, and the benefits are impressive:
PESTICIDE- AND INSECTICIDE-FREE PRODUCE
Because no soil is used, there’s no need to introduce potentially harmful foreign chemicals to eliminate pests and diseases that thrive in dirt farming. University of Georgia vegetable expert George Boyhan says when greenhouses are properly sealed, insects stay outside, and plants are kept completely dry. This reduces diseases and infestations; however, if the inside environment becomes too humid, salmonella can be a problem.
NO WEEDS
No soil means no uninvited guests sprouting up alongside plants.
HEALTHY PRODUCE
With soil-based growing, some of a plant’s nutrients are dispersed in the soil, which can potentially result in less nutritious produce. Hydroponic crops, by contrast, spend their lives soaking in perpetually circulation, nutrient-rich solutions. Horticulturist Jim Brown of Crop King says that hydroponic produce is just as nutritious as field-grown vegetables of the highest quality.