Strawberry Disease Spread by Hurricane and Working with Mexico on Screwworm
From the Ag Information Network, this is your Agribusiness Update.
**Last October, strawberry fields in the Tampa Bay region and at the UF Gulf Coast Research Center were riddled by crown rot disease, which was spread by Hurricane Milton.
www.morningagclips.com reports the Category 3 storm struck as scientists and growers were starting to plant strawberries.
But the plant diagnostic clinic was able to quickly give growers a precise diagnoses and quickly controlled it.
That’s good news as another hurricane season nears.
www.morningagclips.com/hurricanes-can-bring-crop-diseases-but-plant-clinics-help-farmers/
**Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins provided an update on the USDA’s ongoing partnership with Mexico to combat the New World Screwworm.
Rollins says the USDA is investing $21 million to renovate an existing fruit fly production facility in Mexico.
That will produce 60-100 million additional sterile screwworm flies weekly.
Rollins says we’re working closely with Mexico to push screwworm away from the U.S. and out of Mexico.
**The President of Taiwan pledged to buy more American goods, including natural gas and oil, as the self-governing island looks for a closer relationship with the U.S. as the
Trump Administration threatens a 32% tariff on them.
Other purchases from the U.S. could include weapons and agricultural goods.
Taiwan says its goal is to create more balanced bilateral trade with the U.S. and also boost its energy autonomy and resilience.
