December 2019 - 38

INDUSTRY NEWS
Bacterial spot fought
in tomato transplants
New findings from University of
Florida (UF/IFAS) scientists could help
tomato growers nationwide in their
battle against a damaging disease.
Bacterial spot in tomatoes
is caused by the bacterium
Xanthomonas.
GARY VALLAD
" Our findings, along with other
published studies, show how field
outbreaks of bacterial spot are
linked to transplant production, "
said Gary Vallad, a faculty
member at the UF/IFAS Gulf
Coast Research and Education
Center in Balm, Florida. " So,
successful management begins
at the transplant facility. Once
the pathogen is introduced into
the field, it is very difficult to
manage, even with the best
products on the market. "
The new findings are critical
as growers think about how
to improve bacterial spot
management. The prevalence
of copper tolerance in
Xanthomonas limits the efficacy
of fixed-copper compounds such
as copper sulfate and copper
hydroxide, which growers
have long relied on to manage
bacterial spot in transplant
production and the field.
Improving bacterial spot
management during transplant
production will not only improve
transplant health, but limit
the amount of Xanthomonas
reaching the field where few
effective management options are
available, Vallad said.
California water plan
draws response
The federal government's
plan to guide the coordinated
operations of the Central Valley
Project and State Water Project
in California drew responses from
agriculture leaders.
New biological opinions for
fish in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta open the way
toward additional flexibility in
the California water system, said
California Farm Bureau Federation
President Jamie Johansson.
He said the opinions released
today by federal fisheries agencies
enhance prior protection for fish
while adjusting operation of water
projects to improve water supplies.
" Everyone wants to see
endangered fish recover, "
Johansson said. " But the methods
of the past haven't worked.
Doubling down on those failed
methods would make no sense.
It's time to try something new,
and we're satisfied that the
career scientists at the federal
agencies have taken the time
they need to create well thoughtout
plans that reflect advances in
knowledge acquired during the
past 10 years. "
Plenty to open vertical
farm in Los Angeles
Vertical farming company
Plenty recently announced it will
build a new operation to serve
southern California.
The farm, about the size of a
soccer field, is planned to begin
development in Compton later
this year and bringing produce
to communities in late-2020,
A Plenty vertical farm greens processing
facility.
according to a press release.
Plenty Los Angeles is expected
to create as many as 50 new
full-time jobs across a number
of disciplines including growers,
technicians and logistics and
operations managers, according
to the press release.
Plenty's products include greens
like Starlight Kale, a soft baby
kale " highlighted by bright notes
and a smooth finish, " according
to the company, and Velvet Spice
Blend, a crunchy, colorful mix of
bok choy and mizuna " that brings
a mustardy heat to the table. "
NatureSweet names
president, CEO
San Antonio, Texas-based
NatureSweet Tomatoes has added
Rodolfo Spielmann as its new
MODEL 912 MULCH
TRANSPLANTER
* Sets plants through plastic mulch
* Water system available
* For cells or plugs up to 2-1/2 " in diameter
* No more setting plants in wet, cold mud by hand
* Twin row available for row spacing as close as 12 "
* Plant spacing starts at 10 " in the row
1150 CENTRAL AVENUE, HOLLAND, MI 49423
Phone: 800-757-5268 or Fax: 616-396-3619
website: www.mechanicaltransplanter.com
e-mail: mtc@mechanicaltransplanter.com
38 | VegetableGrowersNews.com
http://www.mechanicaltransplanter.com http://www.VegetableGrowersNews.com
December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2019
