A Comprehensive Regional Extension Program for Watermelon Production in Florida
Sustainable Agriculture
Emily Beach
Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent
University of Florida
Mayo
Abstract
Florida is historically one of the leading producers of watermelons and in 2021 according to the United States Department of Agriculture the state produced 1.016 billion pounds of the 3.4 billion pounds produced domestically. Of the state's production, the Suwannee Valley Region (SV) accounts for over one third of the watermelons produced creating a substantial economic impact in the region. In addition to watermelon production, the SV region is also faced with significant water quality and quantity regulations aimed at protecting the Floridan Aquifer and countless natural springs in the region. With watermelon being one of the leading agriculture industries in the region, producers are faced with the challenge of growing a crop within these regulations and scrutiny while remaining profitable. County and Regional Extension Agents representing 6 counties of the SV region provide a comprehensive extension program for producers aimed at keeping watermelon producers financially and environmentally sustainable. This program includes weekly petiole sap testing, drip fertigation audits, rapid disease diagnostics, on-farm consultations, research and trials into new technologies and solutions to problems, weekly grower updates, and a variety of on-farm field days. This comprehensive program allows agents to provide valuable services to producers while also educating them on developing issues with production and regulation. In 2022, the SV comprehensive extension program reached 85% of the watermelon acreage in the SV region (6,387 acres of 7,500 produced annually). While performing extension efforts across this acreage in 2022, the extension program conducted 873 petiole sap tests, performed over 40 drip fertigation audits, conducted 563 on farm consultations and provided rapid diagnostic services on 33 watermelon fields. Based on a survey of SV watermelon producers (n=18), these services and the comprehensive extension program have provided significant positive economic benefits to watermelon producers totaling and estimate $932,502 in 2022. In addition to the positive economic benefits, the program provided $1,320 worth of diagnostic services. Lastly, the comprehensive extension program has helped producers in the SV region increase their environmental sustainability, reducing nitrogen applications in the region by over 10,000 lbs. in 2022.
Authors: Emily Beach, Tyler Pittman, Jay Capasso, Tatiana Sanchez Jones, Mark Warren, Daniel Fenneman, Bob Hochmuth
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Emily Beach Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Lafayette County, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 32066
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Tyler Pittman Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Gilchrist County, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 32693
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Jay Capasso Row Crop Agent, Columbia County, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 32055
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Tatiana Sanchez Jones Commercial Horticulture Agent, Alachua County, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 32669
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Mark Warren Row Crop Agent, Levy County, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 32621
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Daniel Fenneman Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Madison County, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 32340
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Bob Hochmuth Regional Specialized Agent, North Florida Research and Education Center-Suwannee Valley, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 32060