Tag: watermelon

What’s New on Ask IFAS: Plant Pathology (Jan.–Feb. 2026)

by Gillian McGuire
May 15, 2026

UF AgriGator Spray Program: Watermelon By Nicholas S. Dufault, Mathews Paret, Kiersten Fullem, Pamela D. Roberts, Gary Vallad, and Susannah Da Silva. This guide is intended as a resource for Extension agents and growers and contains information ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Ask IFAS, Blueberry, Department Of Plant Pathology, EDIS Journal, Plant Pathology Department, Spray Program, Watermelon

Scientists find new watermelon viruses in Florida; help available

by Brad Buck
May 15, 2026

IMMOKALEE, Fla. --- Florida watermelon growers, the most productive in the nation, face two new viruses. But finding a disease is the first step to managing it, says a University of Florida scientist who helped pinpoint the diseases. From ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Tags: Detection, North Florida Research And Education Center, Pamela Roberts, Plant Pathology, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Virus, Watermelon

AI helps detect watermelon disease quickly, accurately

by Brad Buck
May 15, 2026

If you savor a juicy watermelon in the scorching summer heat, Florida farmers toil to meet your tastes. The Sunshine State leads the nation in watermelon production. But, like all farmers, those who produce watermelons seek ways to control ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops
Tags: #aiatuf, Agricultural And Biological Engineering, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Detection, Disease, Downy Mildew, Drones, Machine Learning, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Technology, Watermelon, Yiannis Ampatzidis

Automating irrigation of Suwannee Valley crop saved more than 164 million gallons of water in 2024

by Megan Winslow
May 15, 2026

May is peak watermelon season in North Florida, and farmers are busy tending to their crops as they anticipate harvesting around Memorial Day. Rather than painstakingly twisting water valves, however, an ever-growing number are relying on automated ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: FDACS, Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services, Gilchrist County, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Irrigation, Office Of Agricultural Water Policy, Suwannee County, Suwannee River Water Management District, SV Ag Update, Tyler Pittman, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, Watermelon

Watermelon – A Taste of Summer

by BLOGS.IFAS
May 15, 2026

Rarely do I hear the phrase “school’s out” and not think of my own summers of fun and, of course, Alice Cooper’s 1972 major hit single “School’s Out for Summer” – does that age me? In fact, “word” has it that Alice ... READ MORE

Category: Money Matters, Work & Life
Tags: Living Well In The Panhandle, Summer, Taste, Watermelon

Fusarium Wilt Showing Up Again in Watermelons: What We’re Seeing and What It Means

by Doug Mayo
May 14, 2026

Written by: Nick Dufault, UF/IFAS Crop Pathology Specialist Despite the dry weather, Fusarium Wilt is showing up again in watermelon fields across North Florida, and importantly, we are also observing it in our UF/IFAS variety trials. The ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Horticulture, Pests & Disease
Tags: Fusarium Wilt, Panhandle Agriculture, SV Ag Update, Watermelon

Putnal Farms: Mastering Best Management Practices in the Suwannee Valley

by Kelsey Crain
May 13, 2026

Past and Present Putnals: Rooted in Suwannee County, Florida, Putnal Farms is a multi-generational farm led by father and son Jack and Riley Putnal. Together, they bring nearly six decades of farming experience, with Jack beginning his ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture
Tags: BMPs, Drip Irrigation, Irrigation Automation, Kelsey Crain, Master Irrigator, Nitrogen Management, Water Conservation, Watermelon

Riverbend Farms: A Family Tradition Embracing Modern Agriculture

by Sydney Williams
May 13, 2026

A Family Rooted in Agriculture Nestled alongside the Suwannee River in Branford, Florida, Riverbend Farms spans nearly 200 acres that have been passed down through four generations, since 1865. Today, Kyle and Tera Kelley lead the operation, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture,
Tags: Best Management Practices, Controlled Release Fertilizer, NFREC-SV, Nutrient Management Program, Suwannee Valley, SV Ag Update, Sydney Williams, Watermelon

Whitehurst Cattle Company: A Model for BMP Success in Florida Agriculture

by Sydney Williams
May 13, 2026

Whitehurst Cattle Company is a legacy in Florida agriculture. Established in the 1920s, this fourth-generation family farm stretches across more than 16,000 acres in Levy, Alachua, and Marion counties. With Adam Whitehurst actively involved ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture,
Tags: Agriculture, Best Management Practices, Controlled Release Fertilizer, Irrigation Automation, NFREC-SV, Nutrient Efficiency, Nutrient Management Program, SV Ag Update, Sydney Williams, Watermelon

Petiole Sap Testing as a Best Management Practice in the Suwannee Valley

by Sydney Williams
May 13, 2026

UF/IFAS Extension agents are always looking for ways to help their growers be as environmentally and economically sustainable as possible. We achieve this goal by applying Best Management Practices (BMP) and supporting technologies as they become ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture
Tags: Best Management Practices, Nutrient Management Program, Petiole Sap, Suwannee Valley, Watermelon

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