Polk Small Farms: New and Revised Agriculture Publications, November 2013

November's offerings in the Agriculture program area include results from the 2012-2013 Florida Bull Test, identification and control of coral ardisia, producing wheat in Florida, growing blueberries under high tunnels in North Florida, lettuce cultivars for South Florida, and how to convert between the units used in soil test results and fertilizer application rates. Enjoy!

Agriculture
	Florida Master Beekeeper Program Requirements The Master Beekeeper Program (MBP) is a five-year (minimum) beekeeper training and certification program provided by the University of Florida. One must already be a beekeeper to enter the program. This 22-page fact sheet was written by James Ellis, Jerry Hayes, Catherine Zettel Nalen, William H. Kern, Ray Zerba, Brad Burbaugh, and Jeanette Klopchin, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in847
Crops
	Cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae Linnaeus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae) Cabbage aphids cause significant yield losses to many crops of the family Brassicaceae, which includes the mustards and crucifers. It is important to have a comprehensive understanding of this pest and its associated control measures so that its spread and damage can be prevented. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Harsimran Kaur Gill, Harsh Garg, and Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1014
		Conversions of parts per million on soil test reports to pounds per acre December 18th, 2013Soil testing and the resulting fertilization recommendations are critical for appropriate nutrient management in commercial vegetable production, but growers and soil experts sometimes speak different languages. This 8-page fact sheet provides a simple conversion method for crop consultants, crop advisors, growers, students, and researchers who are interested in nutrient and water management of crop production. Written by Guodong Liu, Yuncong Li, and Aparna Gazula, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, August 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1229
		Lettuce Cultivars Suitable for Use in Southern Florida Lettuce is an economically important winter vegetable crop in Florida, with approximately 11,000 acres in production and a farm gate value of $40–$50 million annually. Florida lettuce production occurs mainly in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). In recent years, research scientists at the University of Florida conducted variety trials that included the major cultivars of romaine and iceberg types. These trials were conducted on organic soil in the Everglades Agricultural Area and the IFAS-recommended practice was followed. This 3-page fact sheet describes lettuce cultivars suitable for production on organic soils in the EAA of southern Florida. Written by Huangjun Lu, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1225
		Management Considerations for Wheat Production in Florida Higher wheat prices created the impetus for growing wheat in the southeastern United States. Since increasing amounts of corn have been diverted to ethanol production, there is a shortage of grain for America's livestock industry. This shortage results in higher wheat and soybean prices. Wheat and soybean have been grown together as a double crop throughout the Southeast for many years, which generally increases profitability compared with growing only one of the crops. Planting wheat followed by cotton, peanut or grain sorghum has also become a common practice. The best management practices for high yields of wheat in the Southeast Coastal Plain are well established. This 3-page fact sheet lists production practices for small grains in Florida. Written by D.L. Wright, A.R. Blount, R.D. Barnett, C.L. Mackowiak, N. Dufault, and J. Marois, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag293
		Protected Culture for Vegetable and Small Fruit Crops: Southern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars under High Tunnels High tunnels have been proposed as an alternative for freeze protection and to increase fruit earliness of southern highbush blueberry. But there is no information about the effect of this type of structure on southern highbush blueberry fruit earliness under subtropical Florida conditions. This 3-page fact sheet summarizes the results of 2-year study in a commercial southern highbush blueberry farm in North Central Florida to compare early fruit weight in high tunnels to that of open fields. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Bielinski M. Santos and Teresa P. Salame-Donoso, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, July 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1226
	University of Florida Potato Variety Spot Light: Red LaSoda Red LaSoda is the red-skinned fresh-market potato standard for Florida. It was observed in 1949 as a deep red mutant of LaSoda in the Louisiana potato breeding program. It has been in trials over many seasons and at many locations in Florida including university and grower sites. Production and quality results provided in this 4-page fact sheet are summarized from the red-skinned fresh-market trials conducted by the University of Florida over the past 14 seasons. Written by Lincoln Zotarelli, Doug Gergela, Chad M. Hutchinson, David Dinkins, and Edsel Redden, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, August 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs323
		What is urea-triazone nitrogen? Foliar application of nitrogen and other nutrients essential for plant growth and development is an important practice for crop production. Most foliar nutrient N products contained the traditional N sources such as ammonium, nitrate and/or urea before urea-triazone N was available on the market. The traditional N sources have a greater salt index and leaf-burn potential than urea-triazone N. To avoid or minimize leaf burning, urea-triazone N fertilizers can be used instead of the traditional N sources. But growers have concerns about the safety of using triazone N fertilizers for commercial crop production because the fertilizers are still new to them. This 2-page fact sheet provides basic information on urea-triazone-based fertilizer for county faculty, crop consultants and advisors, growers, and students interested in commercial crop production. Written by Guodong Liu and Jeffrey Williamson, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1233
Livestock
	The Florida Bull Test 2012-2013 The North Florida Research and Education Center in Marianna, Florida annually hosts the Florida Bull Test. By controlling the environmental factors and taking Expected Progeny Differences (EPD's) into account, the data clearly emphasizes the dual importance of genetics and environment in all cattle types. This 9-page fact sheet presents the procedures, rules, and results of the 2012-2013 test. Written by G. Cliff Lamb and Nicolas DiLorenzo, and published by the UF Department of Animal Sciences, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an290
		Identification and Control of Coral Ardisia (Ardisia crenata): A Potentially Poisonous Plant Coral ardisia, also known as coral berry, spice berry, and scratchthroat, was introduced to Florida in the early 1900′s for ornamental purposes. Since then, it has escaped cultivation, and it is found in hardwood hammocks and other moist, natural-wooded areas and grazing lands. Although there is no published literature supporting the theory that coral ardisia is toxic, it is suspected that the berries and/or foliage are poisonous to livestock, pets, and humans. This 3-page fact sheet was written by B. A. Sellers, Sarah Lancaster, K. A. Langeland, J.A. Ferrell, Michael Meisenberg, and J. Walter, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, November 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag281