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Extension / Research Priorities for Sandland Vegetables in Southeast Florida
Ken Shuler, Palm Beach County - June 29, 1999
Sandland Vegetable | Leafy Vegetables
"The Grower’s Perspective"
Labor availability and labor documentation (I-9 forms):
Methyl bromide issues:
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Need to fine tune workable combination of multiple products/approaches.
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Need weed control for pepper and eggplant.
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Maintain economic production of a second crop.
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PPE requirements for Telone that workers can live with.
Effect of different crop rotations/over summer management for IPM:
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Inclusion of beans/corn/leafy crop with pepper and tomatoes
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Sorghum-sudangrass, legume/cowpea, etc., fallow disking, Roundup/disk/Roundup, flood, or keep beds intact for fall second crop?
Specific pest/pesticide control problems:
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Herbicides needed for open ground crops: herbs, Chinese leafy vegetables.
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Control for problem weeds: nutsedge, hairy pod cowpea, smartweed, morning glory, etc.
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Phytophthora capsici on pepper
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TYLCV
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Bacterial leaf spot on pepper (new races) and tomato
Possibility of pest tolerance/resistance development to current controls?
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SLWF/Admire
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Thrips palmi/SpinTor, etc.
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DBML/SpinTor, CONFIRM, Proclaim
New product evaluation to help achieve BMP’s (plant protectant chemicals, pgr’s and biorationals, fertilizers/nutritionals). Note: Include cross discipline product evaluation. For example, do pgr’s or nutritionals increase/decrease disease?
Adoption of reasonable regulations.
Document the role of water management in nutrient BMP management?
Increase public awareness of positive approaches/adoption/results of growers for reducing environmental impact of agric. operations.
Areas where we may have little or no control:
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Improving public image of growers
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Loss of land in Agric. Reserve to development
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Trade issues, NAFTA, dumping, etc.
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Water management regulations.
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"The Agent’s Perspective"
Major Priorities (Extension generated, 4/14/99)
a. Management of pests (insects, diseases, nematodes, and weeds).
b. Introduce new vegetable varieties, crops, and cultural systems.
c. Maintaining inputs needed for farming: labor, trucks, supplies, etc.
d. Informing growers of regulatory issues and how to comply (pesticides, safety, labor, environment, etc.).
e. Understanding problems of and improving post-harvest handling and marketability of vegetables. Develop safeguards against microbial contamination.
f. Understanding and making decisions concerning competition and marketing of vegetables.
g. Understanding and dealing with weather problems frost, freeze, excessive water and winds.
h. Adapting to farming in an urban environment.
i. Small farms/hobby/community gardens.
Research Needed to Support Extension Priorities :
a. Develop techniques/systems to reduce pest resistance to pesticides
b. Develop/identify pest resistance varieties
c. Provide data to support needed pesticide labels/re-registration
d. Develop methods for pest identification and early detection/monitoring
e. Develop disease screening methods for soil borne disease detection/severity
f. Determine effects of cultural practices and crop health on pest (esp. disease) development and spread, etc., and methods to reduce damage and spread
g. Determine effective off-season land management techniques and double cropping techniques to reduce pests
h. Crop/pest management system and techniques for effective use of methyl bromide alternatives for soil pest control
i. Identification of, potential for, and limitations/problems of growing, harvesting, and marketing "new crops" and new systems (greenhouse/hydroponics/organic)
j. Install more FAWN remote weather stations in the East Coast area.
k. Develop models for interpolating weather data between FAWN weather stations
l. Develop/provide documentation to support farm labor needs, H2-A, etc.
m. Develop methods/systems to improve/increase harvesting/handling/storage/ripening of vegetables (reduce damage/loss after harvest)
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