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
Frank Giles, AgNet Media, Editor-in-Chief
9:00 - Scott Angle, UF/IFAS
A New Era: How AI and Nutrient Rate Research Will Be Game Changers
9:15 - Cathy Burns, International Fresh Produce Association
Industry Insights: What’s on the Horizon for Produce
9:45 - Jerry Parrish, Florida State University
Predicting Florida’s Economic Outlook by the Data
10:15 - Greg Fowler, CNI
2023 Crop Protection Supply and Price Trends
10:45 - Q&A with Session Speakers
11:00 - Visit Trade Show and Lunch

12:30 - CEU Sessions Begin
There will be two sets of concurrent CEU courses

Pest Management Session

12:30 - Techniques to Optimize Herbicide Effectiveness
Nathan Boyd, UF/IFAS
12:50 - Arthropod Management Using Biological, Cultural and Physical Controls
Sriyanka Lahiri, UF
1:10 - MELCAST: Spray-Advisory System for Management of Foliar Diseases in Florida Watermelon
Matthews Paret, UF/IFAS
1:30 - Peeking Under the Plastic: What Happens to Soil Microbes When You Fumigate
Sarah Strauss, UF/IFAS

Breeding Programs at GCREC

12:30 - Breeding Efforts for Resistance to Neopestalotiopsis Disease in Strawberry
Seonghee Lee and Vance Whitaker, UF/IFAS
12:50 - Breeding Strategies to Incorporate Novel Resistances for Protection Against Bacterial Spot and Target Spot of Tomato
Sam Hutton, UF/IFAS
1:10 - Blackberry Breeding and Variety Trials
Zhanao Deng, UF/IFAS
1:30 - Viability of Artichoke and Hops as New Specialty Crops in Florida
Shinsuke Agehara, UF/IFAS

Field Tours
Start Times: 2:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Alternative Crops Tour

Nematode Management
Plant Pathology and Disease Management
Weed Management
Hops Yard/Beer Tasting

Vidalia Plants Significantly Damaged by Christmas Freeze
By Clint Thompson Vidalia onion plants suffered significant damage during the Christmas freeze event. As much as 30% in some fields were impacted by consecutive days of sub-freezing temperatures, according to Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension area onion agent at the Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia. ac “We know we’ve […]
Sneak Peek: February 2023 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
The February issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights various topics impacting one of the most important sectors in agriculture. Everything from the upcoming Farm Bill, to the recently passed omnibus bill, to blueberry production, to the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference are covered in this month’s issue. The fruit and vegetable conference returned […]
Blueberry Bloom Period Vital Time for Growers to Protect Against Diseases
By Clint Thompson Looming warmer temperatures mean blueberry blooms will soon start opening up across the Southeast. That means growers need to be diligent in applying necessary fungicide sprays. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, discussed the various diseases producers should be wary of during open bloom. “At bloom […]