What the Vegetable Field Day Is
The Vegetable Field Day is a free morning program from the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) in Immokalee. Vegetable growers see research plots in the field, then sit down for talks from the center's scientists on pests, weeds, nutrients, water, weather and markets. The most recent edition was Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Pre-registration was required, and 2.5 CEUs were offered in three categories: Agricultural Row Crop Pest Control, Demonstration and Research, and Private Applicator - Agriculture.
How the Day Works: The Timeline
- 8:00 a.m. Welcome and registration.
- 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. In the vegetable fields: a whitefly management trial, a drone sprayer demonstration and a talk on water under plastic mulch.
- 9:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Presentations in the SWFREC auditorium.
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch, thanks to Everglades Equipment Group.
What You See in the Fields
- Whitefly management. Dr. Jawwad Qureshi shows ongoing research on zucchini comparing row covers, UV metalized reflective mulches, kaolin, limonene and insecticidal treatments.
- UAV sprayer demo. Graduate researcher Wenhao Liu shows a drone-based spraying system built for precise application, aimed at improving labor efficiency and reducing wasted inputs.
- What your crop really gets under plastic. Dr. Sanjay Shukla explains how much rainfall reaches the beds under plastic mulch, and how to use that to adjust irrigation, reduce water stress and lower disease risk.
What You Hear in the Auditorium
- Pre-emergence herbicides under plastic mulch. Dr. Ramdas Kanissery shares research updates and practical lessons on transplant safety and establishment in herbicide-treated beds.
- Phosphorus fertilizer BMPs. Dr. Shukla reports updated rates for tomato, potato and beans, and how rows near ditches can behave differently from middle rows, sometimes affecting up to half a tomato field.
- Emerging tomato viruses. Dr. Ozgur Batuman covers viruses increasingly threatening tomato crops, their insect vectors and how they spread within and between fields.
- Production trends in specialty crops. Dr. Tara Wade presents trends for tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, watermelons and sweet corn, with harvested acreage, prices and shipment volumes from Florida and competing states from 2010 to 2022.
- AI for extreme weather. Dr. Nikolaos Tziolas presents a conversational AI tool that helps growers and extension agents before and after hurricanes and frost, using satellite data for field-scale flood risk and crop damage assessment.
- AI crop scouting in nurseries. Dr. Yiannis Ampatzidis shows tools that assess germination and seedling vigor and detect stress and infection before symptoms are visible.
Cost and Registration
The program is free. Pre-registration is required, and the flyer lists a registration QR code and the events website. The flyer lists the program as 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where
UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, 2685 SR 29 North, Immokalee, FL 34142. Phone: 239-658-3400.
Questions
Do I earn pesticide license credits?
Yes. 2.5 CEUs were available in Agricultural Row Crop Pest Control, Demonstration and Research, and Private Applicator - Agriculture.
Is there a fee?
No, the program is free, and lunch is provided by a sponsor.
Is it only for tomato growers?
No. Topics span zucchini, tomato, potato, beans, sweet corn, strawberries, peppers and watermelons, plus nursery seedlings.
Who do I call?
The center at 239-658-3400.
Official Links
- Vegetable Field Day event page
- 2026 flyer and agenda (PDF)
- Eventbrite registration
- SWFREC events calendar
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Florida Cattlemen's Convention and Allied Tradeshow
Annual meeting of Florida cattle producers with an allied tradeshow, held at the JW Marriott on Marco Island. The 2027 convention runs June 21-24, with core sessions on June 22-24.
- Collier Fair
Collier County's fair takes over the county fairgrounds on 39th Avenue NE in Naples for eleven days each spring. Held each year; the most recent dates were March 19-29, 2026.
751 39th Ave NE, Naples, FL | Organizer: Collier Fair Official event details - Citrus Field Day at Southwest Florida REC
Free morning field day with citrus research tours at the UF/IFAS center near Immokalee. Held each year; the most recent date was April 30, 2026.
- Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair
The 71st Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair moved to a new fairgrounds with an Agriculture Barn and competitions in agriculture, horticulture and culinary arts. Held each year; the most recent dates were November 5-15, 2026.
13601 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32221 | Organizer: Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair Official event details - North Florida Fair
Tallahassee regional fair where Madison County and other area 4-H members enter crafts and projects. Held each year; the most recent dates were Nov 5-15, 2026.
Tallahassee, FL Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.