On June 1st of 2018, a single male of the Oriental Fruit Fly (OFF), Bactrocera dorsalis , was captured in south Miami-Dade County. Two additional males were captured in nearby detection traps on June 3rd. There is an eradication program… Read More
What is it? There is a new insect pest found in Miami-Dade County. An armored scale, to be specific, it is called the phantasma scale (Fiorinia phantasma) that can affect ornamental plants. Where can it be found? The… Read More
Summer is coming soon; roots and palm fronds will grow fast! Are you sure that you are applying the correct palm fertilizers? The latest fertilizer recommendation from University of Florida is 8 – 2 – 12 + 4… Read More
“What kind of pesticide license are you looking for?”, is often what I have to ask when I pick up a call regarding pesticide licensing questions. You need to seek the right category of pesticide license for the… Read More
I’ve practiced horticulture for 25 years, worked with tropical fruit for 20 of those years, and just recently I celebrated five years as a commercial tropical fruit extension agent for UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County. It stands to reason… Read More
Choosing the right cover crop at the right time is important because of our hot and rainy summers. Wisely managing bare land after cleaning up vegetable crop residues is a serious consideration. Keeping land fallow during summer with… Read More
Manuel, is a shy but diligent young person, who approached me to work as a volunteer within the UF/IFAS Extension Program I conduct in Miami-Dade County for commercial ornamental clientele. I still remember one of his emails quoting:… Read More
Why do some palms survive transplanting and others don’t? Understanding how palm roots grow and respond to being dug up can greatly improve the chances of success when transplanting palms. While broadleaf trees typically have only a few… Read More
Each March 8, International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide. From the classroom, to the farm, to the boardroom, women are helping pave the way for a better agricultural future. As an example, I would like to share some positive… Read More
Do you know? Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. Across the country, county and state Farm Bureaus are making safety a priority through the Agricultural Safety Awareness Program (ASAP). As part of ASAP, March 4 -10, 2018 has… Read More
