Volusia County Extension Service

3100 E. New York Ave.

DeLand, FL 32724
DeLand: (386) 822-5778
Daytona: (386) 257-6012
New Smyrna Beach: (386) 423-3368
Fax: (386) 822-5767
E-mail: dvenrick@co.volusia.fl.us
http://volusia.org/extension_service/

FERNS AND FLORA

By Dana Venrick
Bi-Monthly Newsletter Vol. 3, Issue 3y June July 2003

Foliage Forum
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
9:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
& 1:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.
Pierson Lions Club
143 W. First Ave
Pierson, FL
Morning Session 2 CEUs
*Controlling Insects & Mites
*Improving Production with Organic Matter
*Nitrate Legislation for Fern Production
Afternoon Sessions
*Train the Trainer 2 CEUs
*Worker Protection Standards (Spanish Only) 2 CEUs

Foliage Forum Agenda

9:30 a.m. 10:20 a.m. Benefits & Advantages of Incorporating Organic Matter into Production Systems
by W.M. (Mike) Litvany with Nutri-Source and a handler of Sarasota and Disney Compost.
10:20 a.m. 11:10 a.m. IPM for Insects, Aphids and Mites Infesting Foliage Plants by Dr. Lance
Osborne of MREC in Apopka. 1 CEU in Private Applicator or O&T.
11:10 a.m.-12:00 noon Control of Caterpillars on Asparagus and Insect Control on Woody Ornamentals
by Dr. Gary Leibee of MREC in Apopka. 1 CEU in Private Applicator or O&T.
1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Train the Trainer- Presented by Cesar Asuaje, M.S. Palm Beach County-South.
Qualify to train your employees. 2 CEUs Core.
3:30 pm. 5:30 p.m. Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for Workers and Handlers. (Spanish Training)
by Cesar Asuaje, M.S. Educator, Hispanic Farmworker/Small Farms, Palm Beach County-South 2 CEUs
Core.
Hispanic Workers Should Attend This Important Training in Spanish!
Documentation and Verification Cards will be sent to participants by mail.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer authorized to provide research,
Educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, disability or national origin.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, IFAS, Florida A. & M.
UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM, AND BOARDS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COOPERATION.
 Feeding and Treating the Soil
Dr. Bob Stamps, MREC in Apopka, has completed
his research on magnesium needed by leatherleaf
ferns. Results indicate that leatherleaf fern needs
between 50 to 150 pounds of magnesium per acre
per year. This translates to a range of about 10 to
30 pounds of Epsom salt per week. Less than 50
pounds of Epsom salt results in weak fern with poor
shelf life. More than 150 pounds gives no added
benefit. Dr. Stamps suggests applying around 100
pounds of Mg per acre per year.
As reported earlier, Dr. Stamps has demonstrated
that eight gallons per acre per week of 8-0-8 does
more good than ten gallons per week!
Add phosphorous (polyphosphate) only as
soil testing indicates its level in the soil is dropping
below the optimum range. Otherwise, if
phosphorous levels reach excessive amounts, minor
elements like manganese zinc and iron will be tied
up. Again, soil testing is the key.
Remember, the basics. Keep testing for soil pH. It
is easy to accumulate excessive levels of micro-
nutrients and if soil pH trends too low, minor
elements are readily dissolved in soil solution and
can reach toxic concentrations. The only micro-
nutrient that must be added regularly (in small
amounts!) is Boron and that is because, unlike other
micro-nutrients, it is highly soluble! On the other
hand, the pH is too high, micros will be tied up,
with manganese the first to be tied up.
Keep testing for nutrient ratios. A good ratio for
magnesium (Mg) to potassium (K) in the soil is
around 5 to 6 parts Mg to one part of K. a good
ratio of calcium (Ca) to Mg is also about 5 to 6 to
one. Ca to Mg in the soil should not exceed a 10:1
ratio!
Remember to check pH regularly. Fertilize
regularly, if needed with elements that can readily
leach. These include nitrogen, potassium,
magnesium, sulfur, calcium and boron. Check the
pH of the water and the minerals in the water.
Calcium is rarely deficient in the soil, but should be
monitored.
Remember, check the pH of the water and soil
regularly and remember to regularly test the soil for
mineral content and have a leaf tissue analysis
performed as well.
Leatherleaf Production Drops
The statistics are in from the Florida Agricultural
Statistics Service. Leatherleaf sales in Florida
cropped from $53,194,000 in 2001 to $50,119,000
in 2002.
Sales of other cut foliage increased from
$34,642,000 to $36,226,000.
Florida sales of all cut greens during 2002 totaled
over $86.3 million, nearly 78 percent of U.S.
production. Sales in 2002 fell nearly 2 percent
overall growers received an average of 86 cents per
bunch of leatherleaf ferns. Sales of cut greens,
other than leatherleaf, rose nearly five percent I
2002.
See: www.usda.gov/nass Click on Publications
and search for Cut Cultivated Greens.
Is Your Fernery In the Green?
Profit can be calculated by the formula:
Profit=#units sold x (sales prices per
unit total costs per unit)
This is fine for one crop, however,
most growers produce many
different crops. So the cost of
producing an individual crop is
needed in order to make your business more
profitable.
There is a computer program available, called
Greenhouse Cost Accounting from Rutgers
University Cooperative Extension. The software
enables users to perform cost accounting and to
determine the profitability of various crops.
Managers should consider the use of this valuable
tool. Variable costs and overhead costs are
accurately considered rather than just the total cost
of production.
Inputs are divided into two parts (1) values from the
income statement and space usage information, and
(2) information on the cost of producing each crop
(labor, liners, containers, growing medium,
fertilizers, chemicals, etc.)
Continued on page 3
The costs for each crop (to include sum of direct
costs, square feet per crop, square foot-weeks per
crop, profit per unit and profit per square foot-
week) are all calculated.
Knowledge of the profit made by each of your crops
will help your business to become much more
profitable if the correct production and marketing
decisions are made.
Roundup TM and Hard Water
Thanks to Monsanto Agricultural Company
Did you know that the addition of spray grade
ammonium sulfate may improve the performance of
Roundup or Glyphosate products? Here are some
of the situations where its addition will be of
considerable benefit.
1. Hard water If water has greater than
500 ppm of combined calcium,
magnesium or iron, add two to six fluid
ounces of Roundup Ultra to the
recommended rate or add 8.5-17 pounds
of ammonium sulfate per 100 gallons of
spray solution.
2. Carrier volumes in excess of 20 GPA-
If carrier volumes exceed 20 gallons per
acre, use the higher end of the labeled
rate recommendation for Roundup Ultra
or add 8.5-17 pounds of ammonium
sulfate per 100 gallons of spray solution.
3. Drought stress When weeds are under
slight to moderate stress due to lower-
than-normal moisture conditions, add
8.5-17 pounds of ammonium sulfate per
100 gallons of spray solution.
4. Tank mixes with certain residual
herbicides When tank mixing with
residual herbicides such as Karmex,
Princep Solicam Hyvar and
Krovar, add two to six ounces of
Roundup Ultra to the recommended rate
or add 8.5-17 pounds of ammonium
sulfate per 100 gallons of spray solution.
Additional notes: always add ammonium sulfate to
spray tank prior to adding Roundup to achieve the
desired effect. Do not use products that contain a
blend of surfactant and ammonium sulfate. Do not
use products that have a different chemical
composition than ammonium sulfate.
GOT DEER?
Some tests indicate that
some of the better deer
repellants are Tree Guard
and Canine and Feline Urine.
Tree Guard is made by
Becker Underwood, Inc.
New Worker Safety Act?
The Florida House Commerce Committee
unanimously approved the Florida Agricultural
Worker Safety Act, and it now heads to the House
agricultural Committee for consideration. The act
would require that employers provide written copies
of Agricultural pesticide information within two
days of a request by a worker, his
doctor, or a designated
representative. The employer
would have to detail the product
name, EPA registration number,
active ingredients, known acute
and chronic health effects, as
well as those recognized as aggravating existing
conditions. The Florida Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services has requested and
additional $1.43 million over the next three years to
implement the standards and hire six more field
inspectors.
(Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 4/21/03).
If you would like more information on upcoming programs or
want to receive publications please call, fax, or e-mail me. All
Extension Service programs and information are free and open
to the public regardless of race, color, sex, age, disability,
religion, or national origin.
 Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Paid
Cooperative Extension Service
DeLand, FL
Volusia County Extension Permit No.20403
3100 E. New York Avenue
DeLand, FL 32724

__________________________________

DATES TO REMEMBER

July 26 Entering the Nursery Business Short Course- Putnam County Ag.
Center, 111 Yelvington
Rd., E. Palatka 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $10 registration. Call Pat Grace 1-800-826-1437 ext. 0318.
July 30 Foliage Forum (with CEUs in O&T and Private Applicator) Pierson Lions Club
Sept 25-27 FNATS Trade Show, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. Call 800-375-3642 or
407-295-7994 or e-mail info@fnats.org
Oct. 14-16 Sunbelt Agricultural Expo Moultrie, GA Call 229-985-1968.