Plant Industry News

On today's episode of Plant Industry news we discuss the giant African land snail eradication program. In an interview with Dr. Greg Hodges we answer your questions about the snails, the program and what it all means. Thanks for joining!

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This week we focus on another pest in Florida: exotic fruit flies. Dr. Gary Steck speaks with us on his experience with these pests and some things we should know about them. We discuss detection and how DPI handles the detection of these invasive insects. Thank you for tuning in to Plant Industry News!

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Tune in to Plant Industry News today as Dr. Emily Kraus joins us again to discuss air potato vines and beetles. We talk about what each of these things are, as well as other control methods for the vines. Dr. Kraus shares information about the seasonality of beetles and vines for homeowners to properly control this pest. As always, thanks for tuning in to Plant Industry News!

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Welcome or welcome back to Plant Industry News. This week we speak with Dr. Sedonia Steininger on the topic of Brazilian peppertrees and give an update on the program since we last had her as a guest in 2019. We discuss control methods, as well as a brief history on the invasive plant. Dr. Steininger shares ways landowners can contribute to the control of these plants. As always, thanks for tuning in!

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In this episode we talk with Dr. Emily Kraus about biological control. We go over what biological control is and how it is used in the state of Florida. Dr. Kraus tells our listeners about some of the current biological programs Florida is using, as well as what other methods go along with biological control. Thank you for tuning in to Plant Industry News!

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We kick off this new season after a long hiatus today as we present a crash course on some terms you may hear during the upcoming season. We discuss abbreviations listeners may not recognize and define terms related to pests in Florida. Additionally, we give a warm welcome back for previous listeners and a greeting to new ones. Thanks for tuning in to Plant Industry News!

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Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Plant Industry News. In this episode, we are joined by our division directors, Dr. Trevor Smith and Dr. Greg Hodges, with a 2020 recap of events. As unusual as this year was, the work did not slow down and the Division of Plant Industry remained as busy as ever. Join us as we highlight a few of the exciting and unexpected events and programs DPI had to tackle this year. 

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Plant Industry News. This episode begins with Director Dr. Trevor Smith as he announces the recipient of a significant Division award, promotes the Arboretum grove in Winter Haven and shares updates on various events and programs happening around the Division. Enjoy our interview with Dr. Leroy Whilby, Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology, as he shares about his role as Bureau Chief, as well as his job with the Medical Corps in the U.S. Army. Leroy discusses how both his civilian and military careers compare and relate to each other. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast to hear our Division Digest. This month we introduce a new employee in the Public Information and Outreach office and celebrate an upcoming retirement in the Bureau of Methods Development and Biological Control. 

Thanks for tuning in to the start of Season 2 of Plant Industry News. This episode begins with Director Dr. Trevor Smith as he shares important status updates on the division's current and upcoming programs, as well as his appreciation for all division staff working during the Covid-19 pandemic. Enjoy our interview with Matt Moore, supervisor of the Molecular Diagnostics Lab in the ENPP Bureau, as he discusses the important work the MDL performs and the resource it serves. Matt also shares about some special projects the MDL is working on. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast to hear our Division Digest. This month we welcome a new employee to the CAPS program. 

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Plant Industry News. This episode concludes Season 1 of Plant Industry News with a 2019 recap of events between DPI director, Dr. Trevor Smith and the Florida State Plant Health Director, Richard Miranda of the USDA. Enjoy this conversation between colleagues as they reflect on some of the major events DPI and the USDA collaborated on during 2019. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast to hear our Division Digest. This month we welcome a new employee to the division, recognize two promotions and provide an important update on DPI office closures.

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Plant Industry News. This episode begins with Director, Dr. Trevor Smith as he discusses pest introduction on Christmas trees and craft materials this holiday season as well as in pet trade. He also discusses his recent trip to Hawaii and the different projects happening there. Enjoy part 2 of the interview with Eric Rohrig and Sedonia Steininger from the Bureau of Methods Development and Biological Control as they share more about the new biological control for Brazilian peppertree. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast to hear our Division Digest. This month we welcome new employees to the division and recognize a promotion. 

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Plant Industry News. This episode begins with Director, Dr. Trevor Smith as he discusses the tomato brown rugose virus, growing cotton in south Florida and a new moth find in Alachua County. Enjoy an interview with Eric Rohrig and Sedonia Steininger from the Bureau of Methods Development and Biological Control as they share about the new biological control for Brazilian peppertree. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast to hear our Division Digest. This month we welcome a new employee to the division, recognize promotions and remind DPI employees of our office closure for the upcoming holiday.

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Plant Industry News. This episode begins with Director, Dr. Trevor Smith's recap of the annual Florida Nursery Grower and Landscape Association landscape show held in Orlando, FL, recognition of the giant African land snail eradication program anniversary, and reflection of Hurricane Dorian. Enjoy an interview with Justin Ezell, the Assistant Bureau Chief of Citrus Budwood Registration as he reflects on the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 and shares their role in the establishment of citrus canker. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast to hear our Division Digest. This month we welcome new employees to the division and recognize both a promotion and retirement.

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Plant Industry News. This episode begins with Director, Dr. Trevor Smith shares notable highlights from the National Plant Board Meeting and reminds DPI employees to complete end-of-year evaluations. He also shares an overview of projects and research conducted by the methods and biological control bureau. Enjoy an interview with Katrina Dickens, a biological scientist in the methods and biological control bureau where she walks us through the 3D printing process and shares about exciting collaborations they are working on. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast to hear our Division Digest. This month we welcome new employees to the division and recognize recently promoted employees into new roles, as well as remind listeners that DPI offices will be closed for Labor Day.

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Plant Industry News. This episode begins with Director, Dr. Trevor Smith's recap of some pest threats including a mealybug on citrus and a bee kill. However, he also shares some exciting events during the month of July, including visitors from Florida Youth Institute and the reconstruction status of one of our old buildings. We continue our interview with Dr. Paul Skelley, and Assistant Bureau Chief of Entomology, Nematology, and Plant Pathology as he shares the process of naming new insect species and some unique strategies he has used for doing so in the past. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast to hear our Division Digest. This month we celebrate the promotion and return of DPI employees, as well as an award recognition for one of our GIS mappers.

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Plant Industry News. This episode begins with Director, Dr. Trevor Smith's recap of the annual Florida Citrus Mutual Conference held in Bonita Springs, FL, the annual Don’t Pack a Pest partner meeting hosted in Orlando, FL, the Hemp Rule workshops, and a Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak in Mexico we are keeping our eye on and monitoring from afar. Enjoy an interview with Dr. Paul Skelley, an Assistant Bureau Chief of Entomology, Nematology, and Plant Pathology as he shares about his education, his journey to the division, and the Florida State Collection of Arthropods. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast to hear our Division Digest. This month we welcome new employees to the division.

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Plant Industry News. This episode begins with Director, Dr. Trevor Smith's recap of the Spring Awards/Employee Appreciation Day and importance of eradication programs. Enjoy an interview with Jason Johnson, an Assistant Bureau Chief of Pest Eradication and Control as he shares about his career start in production agriculture, his journey to the division, and how DPI and growers are working together to secure a future for the citrus industry in Florida. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast to hear our Division Digest. This month we welcome new employees to the division.

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Plant Industry News. This episode begins with Director, Dr. Trevor Smith's recap of the Southern Plant Board meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Enjoy an interview with Matthew Brodie, one of DPI's Plant Inspection Supervisors as he discusses his career with the division, as well as his extensive involvement with numerous emergency eradication programs over the years. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast to hear our Division Digest. This month we announced the promotion of several of our own in the division and the dates of our upcoming Employee Appreciation Day.

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Plant Industry News. On this episode hear from Dr. Trevor Smith about DPI's farm bill funding opportunities, our new deputy commissioner Deborah Tannenbaum and one of our very own, Richard Gaskalla, being inducted to the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. 

Our special guest on this episode is the Bureau Chief of Pest Eradication and Control and the Director of the Citrus Health Response Program (CHRP), Callie Walker. Callie discusses Citrus Black Spot disease, its affects on the Florida citrus industry and what FDACS-DPI and CHRP are doing in relation to it. As a seventh generation Floridian, Callie has a lifetime of experience when it comes to the Florida citrus industry and her insight into the issue of CBS is educational and enlightening.