Friday, April 11, 2014

Reports of Thrips in the FL Nature Coast Area



Image from IPM NCSU

Over the past week, I have received reports and seen high population of thrips on horticultural crops. To the point, they are biting workers and are believed to be chiggers.

As many of you know, thrips can transfer viruses as well as cause commodities to be unmarketable due to incurred damage.

I have included link to documents to manage thrips in the various crops that are grown in the Pasco-Hernando-Citrus-Sumter area. Please make sure you read the label on any product you intend to use. The label is the law!


Blueberries – I contacted Dr. Liburd. He recommended the following products and ROTATION:  Delegate (Spinetoram) and Assail (Acetamiprid), and Malathion (diethyl mercaptosuccinate). You should not use any products more than two times in a row and repeat applications every 10-14 days. More information on insecticides labeled for blueberries can be found on the UF-IFAS Blueberry Insect IPM Guide at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HS/HS38000.pdf
More information about monitoring for thrips in Southern High Bush Blueberries can be found at the following link: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in637.

Nectarines/Peaches – Nectarines are very susceptible to thrips damage. Russetting typically occurs around bloom (yes, we are way beyond that, but populations that I have seen are high). On peaches, silvering (damage) may occur as the red blush develops.  SpinTor (spinosad) or Delegate (spinetoram) must be rotated with other insecticides as both of these are from the same chemical class. Danitol (Fenpropathrin) is a broad spectrum insecticide and will reduce your beneficial as well as target pests. Read the label to ensure you are choosing a product that has a PHI that meets your needs. More information on insecticides labeled for stonefruits can be found at the Southeast Stonefruit Pest Management Guide (http://www.ent.uga.edu/peach/peachguide.pdf) or UF-IFAS Peach Insect IPM Guide at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig075.

Vegetables – Please consult the correct commodity chapter in the Vegetable Production Guide, which can be found here: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vph.  


Thrips readily develop resistance to insecticides so it is VERY important that chemical classes are ROTATED.


If you need monitoring tools for thrips (i.e. hand lens and sticky cards), please let me know. I have a small supply of these items available.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Proposed Changes to Agriculture Worker Protection Standard (WPS)


Last month, EPA released a Press Release with Proposed Changes to the Agriculture Worker Protection Standard. Some of the proposed changes include: stricter pesticide safety training requirements, mandatory posting of No Entry Signs, Minimum Age requirement, No Entry Buffer Areas, and PPE requirements to name a few. You can read the press release below and comment on the docket by using the hyperlink.  



EPA Proposes New Safety Measures to Protect Farm Workers from Pesticide Exposure

WASHINGTON —Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced proposed revisions to the Worker Protection Standard in order to protect the nation’s two million farm workers and their families from pesticide exposure.

“Today marks an important milestone for the farm workers who plant, tend, and harvest the food that we put on our tables each day,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator. “EPA’s revised Worker Protection Standard will afford farm workers similar health protections to those already enjoyed by workers in other jobs. Protecting our nation’s farm workers from pesticide exposure is at the core of EPA’s work to ensure environmental justice.”

EPA is proposing significant improvements to worker training regarding the safe usage of pesticides, including how to prevent and effectively treat pesticide exposure. Increased training and signage will inform farm workers about the protections they are afforded under the law and will help them protect themselves and their families from pesticide exposure.

Workers and others near treated fields will now be protected from pesticide overspray and fumes. In addition, EPA has proposed that children under 16 be legally barred from handling all pesticides, with an exemption for family farms. These revisions protect workers while ensuring agricultural productivity and preserving the traditions of family farms.

This proposal represents more than a decade of extensive stakeholder input by federal and state partners and from across the agricultural community including farm workers, farmers, and industry on the current EPA Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for Agricultural Pesticides first established in 1992.

For more information on the EPA’s Proposed Worker Protection Standard:   http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/workers/proposed/index.html

R042
 

Monday, March 10, 2014

Certified Pile Burner Course Scheduled for July!

The UF-IFAS Extension multi-county commercial horticulture extension program of Sumter & Pasco counties will be hosting a Certified Pile Burner Course on Wednesday July 2, 2014 from 8:30am to 5pm at the West Central FL Ag Center in Bushnell, FL. This program is designed for landowners who frequently burn piles. There are benefits to being a certified pile burner. You can burn piles longer and get priority authorization to burn piles. 

More information about this program that is offered through the Florida Forest Service at http://sumter.ifas.ufl.edu/Commercial-Horticulture/documents/SumterCountyPileBurnerUpdated.pdf.

The cost of this program is $50 which covers the cost of the study materials and lunch. Space is limited so RSVP today at https://certifiedpileburnerjuly2.eventbrite.com




Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Got Cover Crops? Your input is needed!



Farmers, your input on cover crops is requested by USDA/SARE and the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC). They want to help you improve your success with cover crops and soil management by clarifying program priorities, etc. based on your confidential responses.
To access the survey and for more details at 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CoverCropSurvey13-14.


Monday, March 3, 2014

March Coastal Springs FNGLA Chapter Meeting

The next Coastal Springs FNGLA Chapter meeting will be at C & C Peat in Okahumpka, FL on March 18, 2014 from 5:00-9:00pm. Brooke Moffis of Lake County Extension will be presenting on Beneficial Insects and Scouting. The cost of attendance is $15 to defray the cost of dinner. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP with C & C Peat at 1-800-330-4866



Friday, February 28, 2014

Free Webinar Series from American Society of Agronomy

Image from http:\\nutrients.ifas.ufl.edu, Summer Cover Crops for potato production


Cover Crops are a HOT topic right now in agriculture. Check out this FREE webinar series from the American Society of Agronomy on Cover Crops that starts on March 6th. Typically the webinars from ASA cost $40/person. Find out more about this program athttps://www.agronomy.org/education/online-courses.



Thursday, February 27, 2014

Need CEUs? Worker Protection Standards Train-the-Trainer Program

As part of the South Central Extension District programming schedule for Florida pesticide education and training, Manatee County Extension Office will be hosting a WPS T-T-T on March 18, 2014 from 10am to 12pm. Please see the announcement below for more information on this opportunity to gain CEUs and be in compliance with WPS. 


March 18: WPS Train-The-Trainer: Manatee County Extension Service, 10am-12pm
Need CEUs?
The WPS TTT workshop provides CEUs in several categories. Even if you don’t need to be WPS certified, don’t miss this opportunity for CEUs. CEUs available: 2 in the following categories: Aerial, Ag. Row, Ag. Tree, O&T, Private, Forest Pest Control, and Soil and Greenhouse Fumigation.
Need to become a WPS certified Trainer?
The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a federal program designed to protect agricultural farm workers in the production of agricultural plants. A person is qualified to teach WPS to farm workers if he/she holds a restricted use pesticide license or if he/she has completed the WPS Train the trainer course. Once a person has completed the course he/she is certified for life. 

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Cost Shares, Grants & Services - February FNGLA Meeting

The next Coastal Springs FNGLA meeting has been scheduled for Feburary 18, 2014 at Aventura Nursery in Spring Hill, FL. You can register to attend this program at https://feb2014cs-fngla.eventbrite.com. The cost is $10 to attend any of the Coastal Springs FNGLA chapter meetings.

The flyer for this program is below.


Monday, February 3, 2014

Ornamental & Turfgrass Exam Review Scheduled



An Ornamental and Turfgrass Pest Management Exam Review has been scheduled for Tuesday February 25, 2014 at the Hernando County Extension Office in Brooksville, FL. The class is schedule from 8:30 am to 11:00pm with exam time from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. CEUs have been submitted and currently waiting approval. The cost of the exam review is $15/attendee. Please RSVP through the following link https://feb2014otexamreview.eventbrite.com.
A detailed outline can be found at http://sumter.ifas.ufl.edu/Commercial-Horticulture/documents/FebExam2014.pdf .


CEUs have been approved for 2 in Ornamental and Turf - 2/5/14


Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Fruit Growers Workshop Scheduled


UF-IFAS Extension Alachua County is hosting a Fruit Grower Workshop on March 8, 2014 from 9am to 5pm at the Straughn IFAS Extension Center in Gainesville, FL. Come out a learn from the experts on how to produce both small fruits and tree fruits. The cost of this program is $7 and pre-registration is required. See the flyer below for the agenda and more information.






Monday, January 27, 2014

Free Program: New Vegetable and Fruit Technology


UF-IFAS Extension is hosting a program on new technologies for fruit and vegetable production. This program is scheduled for February 28, 2014 from 12 pm to 5 pm at various host sites across the state. This seminar is via polycom which is a video conferencing system. Some of the unique topics to be covered by this program are: BioChar, Smart Irrigation Practices, Plant Immunity vs. Disease Control, Post-harvest Quality Control, and Plant Pathogenic Nematode Management.
There is no cost to attending this program at the Sumter County Extension Office. If you wish to attend at the Sumter County Extension Office (7620 State Road 471, Suite 2, Bushnell, FL 33513) RSVPs are required to Cami Esmel McAvoy at 352-793-2728x234 or cami13@ufl.edu by February 26, 2014. Space is limited to 10 attendees. 







New Technology for Commercial Vegetable and Fruit Production (II) via Polycom
February 26, 2014

Distance Location: UF-IFAS Extension Sumter County
7620 SR 471, Suite 2
Bushnell, FL 33513
(352) 793-2728 x 234

Advanced Registration is required as space is limited.
This program is free.
Bring your own drinks and snacks.


12:00 – 12:10 PM: Gather, Refreshments, Welcome, Introductions, and Pre-test
12:10 – 1:00 PM: Mark Ritenour, Pre- and Postharvest Practices to Maximize Quality and Minimize Postharvest Decay and Disorders of Fruits and Vegetables
1:00 – 1:50 PM:  Johannes Lehmann (Cornell University), Biochar vs. Nutrient Management and Plant Health
1:50 – 2:40 PM:  Kati Migliaccio, Smart Irrigation Practices to Promote Plant Defense Against Diseases
2:40 – 2:50 PM:  Break
2:50 – 3:40 PM:  Donald Dickson, Status of Plant Pathogenic Nematode Management
3:40 – 4:30 PM:  Wenyuan Song, Plant Immunity vs. Disease Control
4:30 – 4:50 PM:  Post-test, Survey, and Adjourn

250 minutes total = 5 CEUs maximum
5 Ag Row Crop
5 Ag Tree
5 Demo & Research

5 Private Ag

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Freeze Warning & Wind Chill Advisory January 23-24, 2014

The National Weather Service (NWS, www.weather.gov) in Ruskin, FL has issued a Freeze Warning and Wind Chill Advisory  for our area. The Freeze Warning is in effect from 3am to 9 am Friday January 24, 2014 and a Hard Freeze Watch is in effect until Saturday morning. Temperatures are predicted to be between 28 and 32 degrees F for up to 7 hours.

A wind chill advisory is in effect from 1am to 10am Friday January 24, 2014. The Nature Coast Wind Chill values are predicted to be between 18 to 25 degrees F.  For West Central and Southwest Florida values are predicted to be 26 to 35 degrees F with the wind chill. For your convenience, I have included these warnings below.

Due to the Wind Chill Advisory I have included the UF-IFAS Stonefruit Extension link (below) to assist you with cold protection decision making.


As always, you can monitor real time temperature values at FAWN (http://fawn.ifas.ufl.edu/). FAWN has a cold protection tab which in includes the following items: cold protection tool kit (minimum overnight temperature - calculated), Evaporative Cooling Potential, Wet Bulb Based Irrigation Cut off, and Citrus Leaf Freezing Temperature.

Please take appropriate actions now to protect yourself, plant materials, crops, animals, and equipment.


Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Stay Warm!

Sincerely,
Cami Esmel McAvoy




 
 Image from US NWS Tampa Bay

Freeze Warning

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
259 PM EST THU JAN 23 2014

FLZ139-239-241400-
/O.UPG.KTBW.FZ.A.0008.140124T0800Z-140124T1400Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.FZ.W.0009.140124T0800Z-140124T1400Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.HZ.A.0004.140125T0600Z-140125T1400Z/
COASTAL LEVY-INLAND LEVY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CEDAR KEY...YANKEETOWN...CHIEFLAND...
BRONSON...WILLISTON
259 PM EST THU JAN 23 2014

...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EST FRIDAY...
...HARD FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A FREEZE
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EST FRIDAY. A HARD
FREEZE WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED. THIS HARD FREEZE WATCH IS IN
EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.

* TIMING...ANOTHER FREEZE EXPECTED TONIGHT WITH A HARD FREEZE
  POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

* THURSDAY NIGHT-FRIDAY MORNING TEMPERATURES...EXPECTED TO FALL TO
  BETWEEN 28 TO 32 DEGREES FOR UP TO 7 HOURS.

* FRIDAY NIGHT-SATURDAY MORNING TEMPERATURES...FORECASTED TO FALL
  INTO THE 20S FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

* IMPACTS...FREEZING TEMPERATURES MAY DAMAGE VEGETATION.
  RESIDENTS SHOULD COVER OR BRING INDOOR BOTH PLANTS AND PETS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FREEZE WARNING IS ISSUED FOR 2 OR MORE HOURS OF TEMPERATURES
BETWEEN 27 AND 32 OVER A WIDESPREAD AREA.

RESIDENTS SHOULD COVER OR MOVE INDOORS ANY COLD SENSITIVE
PLANTS...AND BRING PETS INDOORS THIS EVENING.

A HARD FREEZE WATCH MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE.
THESE CONDITIONS COULD KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

&&

$$

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
259 PM EST THU JAN 23 2014

FLZ043-142-148-242-248-241400-
/O.UPG.KTBW.FZ.A.0008.140124T0800Z-140124T1400Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.FZ.W.0009.140124T0800Z-140124T1400Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.FZ.A.0009.140125T0600Z-140125T1400Z/
SUMTER-COASTAL CITRUS-COASTAL HERNANDO-INLAND CITRUS-
INLAND HERNANDO-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BUSHNELL...THE VILLAGES...
CRYSTAL RIVER...HOMOSASSA...HERNANDO BEACH...BAYPORT...
INVERNESS...BROOKSVILLE...SPRING HILL
259 PM EST THU JAN 23 2014

...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EST FRIDAY...
...FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A FREEZE WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM
EST FRIDAY. A FREEZE WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED. THIS FREEZE
WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
MORNING. THE FREEZE WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING...FREEZES EXPECTED TONIGHT AND FRIDAY NIGHT.

* THURSDAY NIGHT-FRIDAY MORNING TEMPERATURES...EXPECTED TO FALL
  TO BETWEEN 28 TO 32 DEGREES FOR 2 TO 5 HOURS.

* FRIDAY NIGHT-SATURDAY MORNING TEMPERATURES...EXPECTED TO FALL TO
  BETWEEN 28 TO 32 DEGREES FOR SEVERAL HOURS. TEMPERATURES BELOW
  28 ARE POSSIBLE.

* IMPACTS...FREEZING TEMPERATURES MAY DAMAGE VEGETATION.
  RESIDENTS SHOULD COVER OR BRING INDOOR BOTH PLANTS AND PETS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FREEZE WARNING IS ISSUED FOR 2 OR MORE HOURS OF TEMPERATURES
BETWEEN 27 AND 32 OVER A WIDESPREAD AREA.

RESIDENTS SHOULD COVER OR MOVE INDOORS ANY COLD SENSITIVE
PLANTS...AND BRING PETS INDOORS THIS EVENING.

A FREEZE WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE POTENTIAL OF A WIDESPREAD AND
DAMAGING FREEZE WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS.  DURING THE FREEZE
PERIOD...TEMPERATURES MAY REMAIN BELOW 32 DEGREES FOR MORE THAN
2 HOURS.

&&

$$
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
251 PM EST THU JAN 23 2014

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING FOR WEST
CENTRAL AND MUCH OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA...

.A WINDY AND COLD NIGHT WILL PRODUCE WIND CHILL VALUES BELOW 35
FOR MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. AREAS IN THE
NATURE COAST WILL SEE WIND CHILL VALUES BELOW 25.

FLZ043-050-052-056-057-061-139-142-148-149-151-155-160-162-239-
242-248-249-251-255-260-262-241500-
/O.NEW.KTBW.WC.Y.0006.140124T0600Z-140124T1500Z/
SUMTER-PINELLAS-POLK-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-DESOTO-COASTAL LEVY-
COASTAL CITRUS-COASTAL HERNANDO-COASTAL PASCO-
COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-INLAND LEVY-INLAND CITRUS-INLAND HERNANDO-
INLAND PASCO-INLAND HILLSBOROUGH-INLAND MANATEE-INLAND SARASOTA-
INLAND CHARLOTTE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BUSHNELL...THE VILLAGES...CLEARWATER...
ST. PETERSBURG...LAKELAND...WINTER HAVEN...WAUCHULA...SEBRING...
AVON PARK...ARCADIA...CEDAR KEY...YANKEETOWN...CRYSTAL RIVER...
HOMOSASSA...HERNANDO BEACH...BAYPORT...PORT RICHEY...HUDSON...
TAMPA...APOLLO BEACH...WESTCHASE...BRADENTON...
ANNA MARIA ISLAND...VENICE...SARASOTA...ENGLEWOOD...
PORT CHARLOTTE...PUNTA GORDA...CHIEFLAND...BRONSON...WILLISTON...
INVERNESS...BROOKSVILLE...SPRING HILL...DADE CITY...ZEPHYRHILLS...
BRANDON...PLANT CITY...SUN CITY CENTER...PARRISH...
LAKEWOOD RANCH...MYAKKA CITY...NORTH PORT...BABCOCK RANCH
251 PM EST THU JAN 23 2014

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM EST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM EST FRIDAY.

* WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WIND CHILL VALUES...26 TO 35.

* NATURE COAST WIND CHILL VALUES...18 TO 25.

* OTHER IMPACTS...LIMIT TIME OUTDOORS AND DRESS IN WARM LAYERS OF
  CLOTHING. REMEMBER TO BRING PETS INDOORS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN WIND CHILL INDEX VALUES WILL
DROP TO 35 OR LOWER...EXCEPT 25 OR LOWER ACROSS THE NATURE COAST
AND SUMTER COUNTY.

&&

$$

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
300 PM EST THU JAN 23 2014

FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-241500-
/O.NEW.KJAX.WC.Y.0005.140124T0600Z-140124T1500Z/
HAMILTON-SUWANNEE-COLUMBIA-BAKER-NASSAU-DUVAL-UNION-BRADFORD-CLAY-
ST JOHNS-GILCHRIST-ALACHUA-PUTNAM-FLAGLER-MARION-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...JASPER...LIVE OAK...LAKE CITY...
MACCLENNY...FERNANDINA BEACH...JACKSONVILLE...LAKE BUTLER...
STARKE...GREEN COVE SPRINGS...ST AUGUSTINE...TRENTON...
GAINESVILLE...PALATKA...PALM COAST...OCALA
300 PM EST THU JAN 23 2014

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM EST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE HAS ISSUED A WIND
CHILL ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM EST
FRIDAY.

* WIND CHILL VALUES...LOWEST WIND CHILL VALUES AROUND 17 TO 25 BY
  LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY FRIDAY.

* OTHER IMPACTS...PEOPLE AND PETS ARE SENSITIVE TO THE COLD.
  PLEASE TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO ENSURE SAFETY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN
FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.
IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS...MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND
GLOVES.

&&


Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Hard Freeze and Freeze Warning Issued - January 22-23 2014


Take actions now to protect yourself, plant material, crops, animals, and equipment!

The National Weather Service (NWS, http://www.weather.gov/) in Ruskin, FL has issued a Hard Freeze or Freeze Warning for our area (Citrus, Hernando, Sumter and Pasco counties) from 9 pm Wednesday night (January 22, 2014) to 9 am Thursday morning (January 23, 2014). A hard freeze warning means that temperatures are predicted to be below freezing for 6 to 9 hours. This freeze warning has temperatures predicted to be between 28 and 32 degrees F for 2 to 6 hours. I have included the NWS weather alerts below for your convenience.

As always, you can monitor real time weather using the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) at http://fawn.ifas.ufl.edu/. FAWN has a cold protection tab which includes the following items to assist you with cold protection decisions: minimum overnight temperature (predicted using the Brunt Equation calculation), Evaporative Cooling Potential, Wet Bulb Based Irrigation Cut Off, and Citrus Leaf Freezing Temperature.

Again, please take appropriate actions now to protect yourself, plant materials, crops, animals, and equipment.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Stay Warm!


Cami Esmel McAvoy

 
 Image from US NWS Tampa Bay Area (Ruskin, FL)


Hard Freeze Warning

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
305 PM EST WED JAN 22 2014

...HARD FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE NATURE COAST...
...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA...
...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR MOST COASTAL WEST-CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA LOCATIONS...

.HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER THE REGION TONIGHT WILL RESULT IN
CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT OR CALM WINDS. THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR
EXCELLENT RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS...WITH WIDESPREAD FROST
AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA.

FLZ148-248-230400-
/O.UPG.KTBW.HZ.A.0003.140123T0200Z-140123T1400Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.HZ.W.0003.140123T0200Z-140123T1400Z/
COASTAL HERNANDO-INLAND HERNANDO-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HERNANDO BEACH...BAYPORT...
BROOKSVILLE...SPRING HILL
305 PM EST WED JAN 22 2014

...HARD FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM
EST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A HARD FREEZE WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS
EVENING TO 9 AM EST THURSDAY. THE HARD FREEZE WATCH IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.

* TIMING...A HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED BETWEEN 9 PM THIS EVENING
  AND 9 AM THURSDAY.

* TEMPERATURE...24 TO 27 DEGREES FOR 2 TO 3 HOURS WITH
  TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING FOR 6 TO 9 HOURS.

* IMPACTS...FREEZING TEMPERATURES MAY DAMAGE VEGETATION.
  RESIDENTS SHOULD COVER OR BRING INDOOR BOTH PLANTS AND PETS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HARD FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE
IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND
OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

&&

$$

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
305 PM EST WED JAN 22 2014

...HARD FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE NATURE COAST...
...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA...
...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR MOST COASTAL WEST-CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA LOCATIONS...

.HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER THE REGION TONIGHT WILL RESULT IN
CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT OR CALM WINDS. THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR
EXCELLENT RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS...WITH WIDESPREAD FROST
AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA.

FLZ139-142-239-242-230400-
/O.UPG.KTBW.HZ.A.0003.140123T0200Z-140123T1400Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.HZ.W.0003.140123T0200Z-140123T1400Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.FZ.A.0008.140124T0800Z-140124T1500Z/
COASTAL LEVY-COASTAL CITRUS-INLAND LEVY-INLAND CITRUS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CEDAR KEY...YANKEETOWN...
CRYSTAL RIVER...HOMOSASSA...CHIEFLAND...BRONSON...WILLISTON...
INVERNESS
305 PM EST WED JAN 22 2014

...HARD FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM
EST THURSDAY...
...FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY
MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A HARD FREEZE WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS
EVENING TO 9 AM EST THURSDAY. A FREEZE WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN
ISSUED. THIS FREEZE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT
THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. THE HARD FREEZE WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

* TIMING...A HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED BETWEEN 9 PM THIS EVENING
  AND 9 AM THURSDAY. ANOTHER FREEZE IS POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT.

* TEMPERATURE...22 TO 27 DEGREES FOR 3 TO 5 HOURS WITH
  TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING FOR 7 TO 10 HOURS TONIGHT.
  TEMPERATURES 28 TO 32 FOR 3 TO 5 HOURS THURSDAY NIGHT.

* IMPACTS...FREEZING TEMPERATURES MAY DAMAGE VEGETATION.
  RESIDENTS SHOULD COVER OR BRING INDOOR BOTH PLANTS AND PETS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HARD FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE
IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND
OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

A FREEZE WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE POTENTIAL OF A WIDESPREAD AND
DAMAGING FREEZE WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS.  DURING THE FREEZE
PERIOD...TEMPERATURES MAY REMAIN BELOW 32 DEGREES FOR MORE THAN
2 HOURS.

&&

$$
Freeze Warning

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
305 PM EST WED JAN 22 2014

...HARD FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE NATURE COAST...
...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA...
...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR MOST COASTAL WEST-CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA LOCATIONS...

.HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER THE REGION TONIGHT WILL RESULT IN
CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT OR CALM WINDS. THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR
EXCELLENT RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS...WITH WIDESPREAD FROST
AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA.

FLZ043-052-056-057-061-149-249-251-255-260-262-230400-
/O.UPG.KTBW.FZ.A.0007.140123T0400Z-140123T1400Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.FZ.W.0008.140123T0400Z-140123T1400Z/
SUMTER-POLK-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-DESOTO-COASTAL PASCO-INLAND PASCO-
INLAND HILLSBOROUGH-INLAND MANATEE-INLAND SARASOTA-
INLAND CHARLOTTE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BUSHNELL...THE VILLAGES...LAKELAND...
WINTER HAVEN...WAUCHULA...SEBRING...AVON PARK...ARCADIA...
PORT RICHEY...HUDSON...DADE CITY...ZEPHYRHILLS...BRANDON...
PLANT CITY...SUN CITY CENTER...PARRISH...LAKEWOOD RANCH...
MYAKKA CITY...NORTH PORT...BABCOCK RANCH
305 PM EST WED JAN 22 2014

...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM EST
THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A FREEZE WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS
EVENING TO 9 AM EST THURSDAY. THE FREEZE WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

* TIMING...A FREEZE IS EXPECTED BETWEEN 9 PM THIS EVENING AND 9
  AM THURSDAY.

* TEMPERATURE...28 TO 32 DEGREES FOR 2 TO 6 HOURS.

* IMPACTS...FREEZING TEMPERATURES MAY DAMAGE VEGETATION.
  RESIDENTS SHOULD COVER OR BRING INDOOR BOTH PLANTS AND PETS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FREEZE WARNING IS ISSUED FOR 2 OR MORE HOURS OF TEMPERATURES
BETWEEN 27 AND 32 OVER A WIDESPREAD AREA.

RESIDENTS SHOULD COVER OR MOVE INDOORS ANY COLD SENSITIVE
PLANTS...AND BRING PETS INDOORS THIS EVENING.

&&


$$

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

January 21-22, 2014 Freeze Watch/Wind Chill

The cold weather hasn’t been letting up lately.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Ruskin, FL has issued the following cold weather advisories for our area (Nature Coast-Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, and Pasco counties): Wind Chill, Freeze Watch, and Hard Freeze Watch (Hernando Co. only).

Wind Chill values are predicted to be in the upper 20s to lower 30s (degrees F) from 2am to 10am Wednesday January 22, 2014. I have included the UF-IFAS Stonefruit Extension link (below) to assist you with cold protection decision making.

For the Freeze Watch, temperatures predicted to be between 28 to 30 degrees F for 4 to 8 hours on Wednesday night to Thursday morning.

Hernando County (Brooksville, FL), a HARD FREEZE WATCH has been issued for Wednesday night to Thursday morning. This means temperatures are predicted to be between 24 to 27 degrees F for 4 to 7 hours with the possibility of being below freezing for 8 to 12 hours.

As always, you can monitor real time weather using the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) at http://fawn.ifas.ufl.edu/. FAWN has a cold protection tab which in includes the following items: cold protection tool kit (minimum overnight temperature - calculated), Evaporative Cooling Potential, Wet Bulb Based Irrigation Cut off, and Citrus Leaf Freezing Temperature.

All warnings have been added to the bottom for convenience.

Please take appropriate actions now to protect plant materials, crops, animals, and equipment.


Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Stay Warm!

Cami Esmel McAvoy

Image from NWS of Tampa Bay


Wind Chill Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
214 PM EST TUE JAN 21 2014
 
...LOW WIND CHILLS EXPECTED LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY...
 
.A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE STATE THIS EVENING AND USHER
IN A MUCH COLDER AIRMASS BY THE END OF TONIGHT. THE ARRIVING COLD
AIR WILL COMBINE WITH A STEADY NORTHWEST TO NORTH WIND TO PRODUCE
AREAS OF LOW WIND CHILL DURING THE LATE NIGHT HOUR TONIGHT AND
EARLY MORNING HOURS OF WEDNESDAY.
 
FLZ052-139-149-239-249-251-221500-
/O.NEW.KTBW.WC.Y.0005.140122T0700Z-140122T1500Z/
POLK-COASTAL LEVY-COASTAL PASCO-INLAND LEVY-INLAND PASCO-
INLAND HILLSBOROUGH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LAKELAND...WINTER HAVEN...CEDAR KEY...
YANKEETOWN...PORT RICHEY...HUDSON...CHIEFLAND...BRONSON...
WILLISTON...DADE CITY...ZEPHYRHILLS...BRANDON...PLANT CITY...
SUN CITY CENTER
214 PM EST TUE JAN 21 2014
 
...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 10 AM EST
WEDNESDAY...
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO
10 AM EST WEDNESDAY.
 
* WIND CHILL VALUES...UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S ALONG THE I-4
  CORRIDOR AND LOWER 20S ACROSS LEVY COUNTY.
 
* OTHER IMPACTS...LIMIT TIME OUTDOORS AND DRESS IN WARM LAYERS OF
  CLOTHING. REMEMBER TO BRING PETS INDOORS.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
 
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN WIND CHILL INDEX VALUES WILL
DROP TO 35 OR LOWER...EXCEPT 25 OR LOWER ACROSS THE NATURE COAST
AND SUMTER COUNTY.
 
&&
 
$$

Freeze Watch
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
232 PM EST TUE JAN 21 2014

...FREEZE WATCH HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A FREEZE WARNING FOR LATE
TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR LEVY COUNTY...
...A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON FOR WEST
CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA...

.A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA LATE THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...USHERING IN A VERY COLD AIRMASS TONIGHT
THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

FLZ043-052-056-057-061-149-249-251-255-260-262-265-221500-
/O.NEW.KTBW.FZ.A.0007.140123T0400Z-140123T1400Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.LW.Y.0003.000000T0000Z-140122T0000Z/
SUMTER-POLK-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-DESOTO-COASTAL PASCO-INLAND PASCO-
INLAND HILLSBOROUGH-INLAND MANATEE-INLAND SARASOTA-
INLAND CHARLOTTE-INLAND LEE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BUSHNELL...THE VILLAGES...LAKELAND...
WINTER HAVEN...WAUCHULA...SEBRING...AVON PARK...ARCADIA...
PORT RICHEY...HUDSON...DADE CITY...ZEPHYRHILLS...BRANDON...
PLANT CITY...SUN CITY CENTER...PARRISH...LAKEWOOD RANCH...
MYAKKA CITY...NORTH PORT...BABCOCK RANCH...FORT MYERS...
LEHIGH ACRES
232 PM EST TUE JAN 21 2014

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS
EVENING...
...FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A FREEZE WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING
THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING.

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING.
  A FREEZE IS EXPECTED BETWEEN 11 PM WEDNESDAY AND 9 AM THURSDAY.

* WINDS...15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH.

* TEMPERATURE...28 TO 32 DEGREES FOR 4 TO 8 HOURS.

* IMPACTS...GUSTY WINDS WILL LEAD TO HAZARDOUS BOATING
  CONDITIONS ON AREA LAKES. FREEZING TEMPERATURES MAY DAMAGE
  VEGETATION. RESIDENTS SHOULD COVER OR BRING INDOOR BOTH PLANTS
  AND PETS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS ARE FORECAST
TO BE 20 TO 29 MPH WITH FREQUENT GUSTS TO NEAR OR ABOVE GALE
FORCE FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS.  WINDS OF THESE MAGNITUDES WILL
CREATE ROUGH CONDITIONS ON LARGER AREA LAKES WHICH COULD PRODUCE
DAMAGE TO...OR FLIP...SMALL PLEASURE CRAFT.

OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS MAY WISH TO POSTPONE LAKE RELATED ACTIVITIES
UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE.

A FREEZE WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE POTENTIAL OF A WIDESPREAD AND
DAMAGING FREEZE WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS.  DURING THE FREEZE
PERIOD...TEMPERATURES MAY REMAIN BELOW 32 DEGREES FOR MORE THAN
2 HOURS.

&&


Hard Freeze Watch

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
232 PM EST TUE JAN 21 2014
 
...FREEZE WATCH HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A FREEZE WARNING FOR LATE
TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR LEVY COUNTY...
...A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON FOR WEST
CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA...
 
.A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA LATE THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...USHERING IN A VERY COLD AIRMASS TONIGHT
THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
 
FLZ142-148-242-248-221500-
/O.NEW.KTBW.HZ.A.0003.140123T0200Z-140123T1400Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.LW.Y.0003.000000T0000Z-140122T0000Z/
COASTAL CITRUS-COASTAL HERNANDO-INLAND CITRUS-INLAND HERNANDO-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CRYSTAL RIVER...HOMOSASSA...
HERNANDO BEACH...BAYPORT...INVERNESS...BROOKSVILLE...SPRING HILL
232 PM EST TUE JAN 21 2014
 
...LAKE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS
EVENING...
...HARD FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY MORNING...
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A HARD FREEZE WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY
EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING.
 
* TIMING...STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING. A
  HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED BETWEEN 9 PM WEDNESDAY AND 9 AM
  THURSDAY.
 
* WINDS...15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH.
 
* TEMPERATURE...24 TO 27 DEGREES FOR 4 TO 7 HOURS WITH
  TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING FOR 8 TO 12 HOURS.
 
* IMPACTS...GUSTY WINDS WILL LEAD TO HAZARDOUS BOATING
  CONDITIONS ON AREA LAKES. FREEZING TEMPERATURES MAY DAMAGE
  VEGETATION. RESIDENTS SHOULD COVER OR BRING INDOOR BOTH PLANTS
  AND PETS.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
 
A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS ARE FORECAST
TO BE 20 TO 29 MPH WITH FREQUENT GUSTS TO NEAR OR ABOVE GALE
FORCE FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS.  WINDS OF THESE MAGNITUDES WILL
CREATE ROUGH CONDITIONS ON LARGER AREA LAKES WHICH COULD PRODUCE
DAMAGE TO...OR FLIP...SMALL PLEASURE CRAFT.
 
OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS MAY WISH TO POSTPONE LAKE RELATED ACTIVITIES
UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE.
 
A HARD FREEZE WATCH MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE.
THESE CONDITIONS COULD KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.
 
&&