* SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT/LIVE OAK FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2006 Protected agric By .Chuck Woods, 352-392-0400; Source(s): Dan Cantliffe, djc@ufl, 352-392-1928, ext. 203 cell; Emil Belibasis, emil@beli- farms.com, 386-963-4556 With a few taps on a computer keyboard, University of Florida researchers can control just about every aspect of growing vegeta- bles and other high-value crops in greenhouses that protect plants from pests and diseases-boosting yields by 10 times over field- grown production. "It's all part of the growing trend toward precision, high-tech agriculture in Florida," said Dan Cantliffe, who leads the Protected Agriculture Project at UF's Institute of Food arid Agricultural Sci- ences. "The project demonstrates how vegetable and fruit crops can be produced on a year-round basis not just when weather condi- tions or market windows are favorable for Florida growers." He said the computerized project, which covers one acre, reduces labor requirements and automates everything from plant nutrients in drip irrigation systems to temperature controls in the greenhous- es. The amount of phosphorus, nitrogen and other plant nutrients needed by each crop can be precisely controlled by the computers. Greenhouse operations at the Plant Science Research and Educa- tion Center in Citra can also be monitored and controlled by UF computers in Gainesville, 20 miles from the site. For those who say the protected agriculture system is too expen- sive, Cantliffe said the greenhouses can be constructed for $2 to $4 per square foot -far less than the cost of a new home. Unlike existing hydroponic greenhouse structures that require substantial investments in heating and cooling systems, the Protect- edAgriculture Project relies on passively,ventilated greenhouses for greater energy efficiency, Cantliffe said. The automated greenhouse . production system requires no pesticides and recycles water and fertilizers solving several major problems facing the state's $1.6 bi lhon fi u:t and vegetable industry. "For example, it will help growers who are increasingly con- Scemed about more state and federal regulation of water,, fertilizer and pesticide-." said Cantliffe, a professor and chairman of UF's horticultural sciences department. "It will also solve problems as- HIGHER CROP YIELD: Dan Cantliffe, left, a professor with the Universi Food and'Agricultural Sciences, and Emil Belibasis, right, examine cu tech greenhouse at Bell Farms in Wellborn. Behibasis i one of the firs begin using new technologies demonstrated at UFs Protected Agricul computers to nianage almost ever, aspeci of ciop production Higher round production boost total yields by 10 times over field-grown crops. AGRICULTURE NEWS culture project boosts crop yields sociated with the recent federal ban on the use of methyl bromide, a widely used soil fumigant to control soil pests." He said the sustainable farming system will also eliminate or minimize worries about freezes, drought and other weather prob- lems. The greenhouses can be built almost anywhere in the state, re- ducing problems associated with urbanization and loss of prime * farmland in South Florida. "Growing crops in a protected green- house environment will make Florida producers more competitive against imports from other areas in the world," Cantliffe said. "If the vegetable industry in Florida is going to prosper and grow, there is a clear need for these new greenhouse production technologies." He said Florida vegetable production now involves intensive pro- duction practices on more than 230,000 acres. Crops such as toma- toes, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries and watermelons account for 61 percent of the state's vegetable crop value, and the new pro- tected agriculture system could allow growers to produce more of these crops-with higher plant densities-on a year-round basis. S"Production of crops such as blueberries, eggplants and squash could also be increased, along with the 'production of new crops such as the Galia muskmelon, which is widely produced in Spain and Israel; Morocco, Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries and shipped to Europe where consumers pay top prices for this excellent-tasting melon," Cantliffe said. "Considering the fact that vegetable culture in Florida is a al- ready a highly technological business involving several high-cost inputs such as polyethylene mulch, drip irrigation, fertilizer and pesticides, this new system will be cost efficient and sustainable over the long term," Cantliffe said. "Almost one third of Florida vegetables, including all tomatoes, strawberries, peppers,. egg- plants and most melons, are produced on plastic mulch, and near- ly half of all the crops grown on mulch have drip irrigation." While the passively ventilated greenhouse structures can pro- tect crops from wind and rain, they also can protect crops from in- sects when fitted with insect-exclusion screens. Therefore, these greenhouse srnilcires can reduce the need for pesticides, he said. Cantliffe said the greenhouse structures-also known as plasti- culture systems-could include the use Sof soil-less culture for crop produc- tion. One example would be bag or Container production using inert me- dia such as perlite, vermiculite, peat or coconut fiber. Pine bark, which .is an inexpensive and renewable re- source, can also be used.as a growing medium. "With soil-less culture in green- S.houses, winter vegetable production would not depend, on warm; sandy / soils of southern coastal Florida," he said. "In addition, the loss of methyl bromide would be less troublesome if a portion of the vegetables could be S grown in soil-less culture under a pro- Stective structure." ty of Florida's Institute of Cantliffe said the new greenhouse cumber plants in a high- technology is already being used in it gro ers in the slate to Israel and othel Middle Eastern coun- I ture Project, Which uses tries as ell as Canada, China. Korea. plant densities and year- Mle\lco and Japan. He said producers (AP Photo by Thomas Wright) in these countries face some of the same challenges as Florida growers. "The Protected Agriculture Project provides much-needed information for hands-on training and demonstrations so that Florida producers can examine, work and train in this new agri- cultural business environment," Cantliffe said. Thenew greenhouse technology being demonstrated at Citra has already been adopted by Beli Farms in Wellborne and sev- eral other Florida vegetable growers. Emil Belibasis, owner of the farm that grows tomatoes on the vine and mini-cucumbers in four acres of greenhouses, said the new structures are natu-, rally ventilated with overhead retractable shade. "We use pine-bark pots and coconut-fiber slats for the grow- ing medium, with one row of pots for two rows of crops," Be- libasis said. "Recently, we installed a computerized environ- ment controller and a weather station to better control the greenhouse environment. It controls fans, pads, heaters, cur- tains, shade and irrigation." He said the new structures also have improved environmen- tal controls for managing disease. Use of insect screens, soaps, specialized equipment and cultural practices for insect control has helped reduce the need for pesticides. HI-TECH GREENHOUSE: Dan Cantliffe, left, a professor with the Univer- sity of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, and Emil Be- Ilbasis, right, of Beli Farms in Wellborn examine cucumber pints in a high-tecn greentlt0iSe'hi f. g controlled prgc~rai to protect plants from pests and disease resulting in higher yields. (AP Photo by Thomas Wright) DRIVE OUT SALI GOIN ON NOW AT T SATURDAY ONLY! ALL PRICES WILL BE KNOCKED-DOWN TO A MARKET FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE! PICK A CAR..PICK A PRICE 1991 Chevy Caprice 1992 Toyota Corolla 1992 Chevy Blazer 1992 Honda Accord 1995 Chevy Beretta 1997 Sebring Convertible 1997 Toyota Corolla 1998 Ford Contour 1999 Chevy Suburban 1999 Ford Taurus SE 2000 Ford Ranger Ext. Cab 4x4 LOW! t 2001 Ford F-150 Ext. Cab 2001 Dodge 1500 Ext. Cab' 2000 Ford Escort 2002 Geo Prism 2002 Chevy 1500 Ext. Cab 2002 Dodge Caravan 2002 Toyota Sienna 2003 Ford Focus 2005 Chevy Cavalier 2004 Chevy Aveo & Many More! 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