7:30 Breakfast with Vendors
Grab a bite to eat and meet with exhibitors.
8:45 Welcoming remarks
Jack Rechcigl, UF/IFAS GCREC, Center Director and Professor
Scott Angle, UF/IFAS, Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources
9:00 - Arnold Schumann, UF
Opportunities and Challenges for AI in Precision Farming
9:20 - Vance Whitaker, UF
Phenomics in Plant Breeding: Examples from Strawberry
9:40 - Manoj Karkee, WSU
AI and Robotics in Specialty Crops: Past Accomplishments and Future Direction
10:00 - Paul Nagel, Stout AgTech
Robotic Weeding Technology
10:20 - Pauline Canteneur, FarmWise
Automated Mechanical Weeding for Vegetable Crops
10:40 - Daniel Carmichael, Bear Flag Robotics
Advanced Tractor Automation
11:00 - Panel Discussion

11:00 - Break for Lunch
Grab a bite to eat and meet with exhibitors.
12:30 - CEU Sessions Begin
There will be two sets of concurrent CEU courses

Pest Management Session

12:30 - Asian Bean Thrips: Managing a New Invasive Pest of Florida Legume Crops
Hugh Smith, UF
12:50 - Recent Invasive Pest Problem in Strawberries of Canada
Sriyanka Lahiri, UF
1:10 - Using Cover crops to Help Manage Nematodes
Johan Desaeger, UF
1:30 - 2021 Strawberry Disease Update
Natalia Peres, UF
1:50 - 2021 Vegetable Disease Update
Gary Vallad, UF

BMP Session

12:30 - Understanding Senate Bill 712 and Agriculture BMPs
Lakesh Sharma, UF
12:50 - Soil Testing and BMPs
Rao Mylavarapu, UF
1:10 - Improved Soil-Test Based Fertilizer Recommendations: A Statewide Program
Kelly Morgan, UF
1:30 - Compact Bed Plasticulture for Reducing Environmental Footprint, Production Risks and Costs
Sanjay Shukla, UF
1:50 - Improving Effectiveness of Compost by Localized Application Methods
Shinsuke Agehara, UF

2:45 - Field Tours

Alternative Crops Tour

Breeding for Mechanical Harvesting
Sam Hutton, UF
Disease Management in Tomato/Watermelon
Gary Vallad, UF
Smart Spray Technology for Herbicide Application
Nathan Boyd, UF
Effects of Cover Crops on Vegetable Production
Johan Desaeger, UF
Artichoke and Hops Production in Florida
Shinsuke Agehara, UF

Downy Mildew Disease in South Carolina
Cucurbit downy mildew disease was identified this week in South Carolina, according to the The South Carolina Grower. The disease was observed in a cucumber field in Bamberg County. Clemson Extension reminds producers to make fungicide applications every seven days. Any stretch longer than this increases the potential that the disease will spread. Recommended fungicides […]
Budmoth Impact on Young Pecan Trees
By Clint Thompson Pecan producers with young or newly planted trees may be experiencing budmoth damage where insecticide applications were not made at budbreak. Andrew Sawyer, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension area pecan agent in the Southeast district, confirmed the impact budmoths are having on his research trees in the UGA Pecan Extension blog. “The […]
Delay in Disease Pressure Helps Melon Production, Farmers Save Money
By Clint Thompson The extended delay of certain diseases occurring in North Florida watermelons was a much-needed blessing for producers. The hot and dry conditions were a big reason why. Only last week was the first case of downy mildew observed in Levy County. Gummy stem blight pressure only became problematic within the last couple […]