By Maria M. Lameiras for CAES News New University of Georgia (UGA) research seeks to discover whether nanobubbles can hold beneficial properties for turfgrass. Led by soil microbiologist Mussie Habteselassie, the Georgia Department of Agriculture-sponsored study will evaluate the potential applications of nanobubble technology to control pathogens and improve plant growth, water use efficiency and soil biological health in turfgrass …
Turf Breeding: UGA, UF Collaborate to Develop Better, Tougher Turf
By Maria M. Lameiras, Kirsten Romaguera for CAES News When the University of Georgia (UGA) Bulldogs take the field against the University of Florida (UF) Gators for their annual football game on Saturday, the teams will be playing in neutral territory at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. But the grass they are playing on could be considered home turf …
U.S. Horticulture Operations Report $13.8 Billion in Sales
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2020 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties report, the only source of detailed production and sales data for floriculture, nursery, and specialty crops for the entire United States. The data show that horticulture operations sold a total of $13.8 billion in floriculture, nursery and …
Light Bulb Moments in the Improvement of Greenhouse Growing
By Aaron Hale (UGA/CAES) — The illuminated light bulb. It’s the symbol of a great idea come to life. Erico Mattos’ big idea doesn’t reinvent that iconic bulb exactly but reimagines how it can be used. Around the globe, greenhouses grow fruits and vegetables to provide a healthy food supply year-round. But as reliable as the sun is for providing light …
Nursery and Greenhouse Industry Big Business in Alabama
The poinsettia sitting on the hearth, the hydroponic lettuce in the refrigerator, the new shrubs waiting to be planted — all of these were probably grown right here in Alabama. Paul Brown, associate director for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said many Alabamians do not recognize just how significant the nursery and greenhouse industry is in the state. Economic Impact “Alabama’s …
USDA Invests $11M In Research That Will Support Specialty Crop Farmers
WASHINGTON (USDA-Oct. 3, 2019) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary Scott Hutchins announced that the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has invested $11 million in research that will support specialty crop farmers. “This collaborative public-private research effort will focus on applying innovative solutions to pest management problems that often are otherwise not available to specialty …
UF Eyes Butterfly Pea as Natural Food-Color Source
It provides a natural food coloring. It gives nurseries another ornamental to grow and sell, and it might provide health benefits to those who eat it with their food. It is the Butterfly Pea, and University of Florida researchers are studying the flower to see if it will grow in Florida. Much of what we eat every day contains added …
UF/IFAS CREC Hosts Successful Fruit Crop Management Short Course
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) hosted a Fruit Crop Management Short Course this week in Lake Alfred. The two-day short course featured presentations from top southeastern researchers about alternative crops that may have potential in the Southeast. The first day of the event was about plant biology and …