PFAS is an important topic in agriculture—and one worth understanding. The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently shared a fact sheet titled "PFAS and Specialty Crops: What Growers Should Know". It covers several commonly asked questions and breaks down what PFAS are and how they affect the ag industry.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of synthetic chemicals that have been used for decades in products such as nonstick cookware, waterproof fabrics, firefighting foams, and industrial manufacturing because they resist heat, oil, grease, and water.

As research continues and federal and state regulations evolve, growers and consumers are understandably asking more questions about PFAS and food production.

One question we occasionally hear is whether TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant contains PFAS. The answer is NO. TELONE™ does not contain any PFAS compounds.

TELONE™ is a pre-plant soil fumigant used to manage plant-parasitic nematodes before planting. When used according to the label, TELONE™ is injected into the soil, where it performs its intended function and naturally dissipates before crops are planted. It also leaves ZERO residuals on harvested crops. You heard that right—zero residuals and the product never comes in contact with the actual crop!

At Teleos Ag Solutions, we believe science-based education and transparency are essential. As conversations around PFAS continue, it's important to distinguish between different chemistries and understand how individual crop protection products are used.

Good news for North Carolina sweetpotato growers!

A new industry outlook from the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission projects North Carolina's 2026 sweetpotato harvest to be stable—or even slightly larger than last year.

The forecast is driven by growing global demand, expanding export markets, and continued investment in research, innovation, and production practices. With nearly 92,000 acres harvested in 2025 and an estimated $400 million economic impact, North Carolina continues to lead U.S. sweetpotato production.

As growers prepare for another promising season, protecting yield potential from the very beginning remains critical.

Plant-parasitic nematodes—especially the aggressive guava root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne enterolobii)—pose a significant threat to sweetpotato quality and marketable yield. Because damage begins belowground, proactive management is essential.

That's why many growers trust their soil prep to TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant. Applied before planting, TELONE™ helps reduce nematode pressure, supporting healthier root systems, improved crop quality, increased marketable yields, and stronger return on investment.

The best part for sweetpotato growers who export: TELONE™ leaves behind zero residuals and all sweetpotatoes grown in soil prepped with TELONE™ are approved for sale in the EU!

When demand is growing and every marketable sweetpotato counts, it pays to start with a strong foundation. Remember, there's no coming back from a poor start!

Growers know and trust TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant to help manage nematodes before orchard replant.

Did you know:

• California produces approximately 75% of U.S. peaches by volume and nearly two-thirds of the crop's total value.
• The nation's top peach-producing states are California, South Carolina, and Georgia.
• USDA forecasts California's 2025 peach production at 550,000 tons, up 4% from 2024 and 11% above the previous three-year average.
• California supplies the vast majority of U.S. processed peaches, while also producing significant volumes for the fresh market.
• Peach trees are expected to remain productive for decades, making orchard establishment one of the most important decisions a grower makes.

One of the biggest challenges during orchard establishment and replant is plant-parasitic nematodes. These microscopic pests attack developing root systems, reducing water and nutrient uptake, slowing tree establishment, and contributing to replant problems that can negatively impact orchard performance for years.

That's why many growers incorporate pre-plant soil preparation with TELONE™. By reducing nematode pressure before planting, TELONE™ helps create a zone of protection for root development, supporting stronger tree establishment, improved productivity, and long-term return on investment.

Did you know cucumbers are part of the cucurbit family? Cucurbits include crops like cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes, squash, and pumpkins—some of the most important specialty crops grown across the United States.

While cucumbers may thrive aboveground, they face significant challenges belowground. Plant-parasitic nematodes can damage roots, reduce water and nutrient uptake, and make plants more susceptible to stress and soilborne diseases. Left unmanaged, these microscopic pests can impact both yield and crop quality.

That's why many growers trust pre-plant soil preparation with TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant. By reducing nematode pressure before planting, TELONE™ helps create a healthier environment for root development, supporting stronger plants and improved crop performance throughout the season.

Summer means watermelons! But did you know that watermelons, cantaloupes, and other melons are highly susceptible to plant-parasitic nematodes? This is particularly true in warm, sandy production regions like Florida, Georgia, California, and Texas.

Left unmanaged, nematodes can damage roots, reduce water and nutrient uptake, and increase susceptibility to soilborne diseases such as Fusarium wilt.

That’s why many growers trust pre-plant soil prep with TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant, often in combination with chloropicrin. TELONE™ helps manage nematodes deep in the soil profile, while chloropicrin helps suppress soilborne diseases—creating a protective zone where roots can establish and thrive.

TELONE™ supports healthy root systems, improved crop quality, increased marketable yields, and stronger return on investment.

SCPA goes to Washington! Last week, Teleos Ag Solutions President John Godbehere joined fellow members of the SOUTHERN CROP PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION (SCPA) in Washington, D.C. for the organization's annual Hill Visits.

This annual advocacy event brings together growers, manufacturers, distributors, and allied organizations from across agriculture to meet directly with Congressional offices and share the industry's priorities and challenges. This year, SCPA members and allies met with 69 congressional offices, representing the voices of agriculture on issues including:

• Farm Bill priorities
• PRIA and regulatory certainty
• Transportation and supply chain challenges

At Teleos, we believe it is important to be an active participant in the conversations that shape the future of agriculture. Advocacy efforts like these help ensure policymakers understand the realities facing growers and the businesses that support them.

Thank you to SCPA and the more than 80 participants representing 34 member organizations and industry allies who took the time to engage on behalf of agriculture.

California sweetpotato applications are going strong and will continue through mid-June! California grows approximately 20% of the sweet potatoes produced in the United States annually, making it the second-largest producer behind North Carolina.

The image below is a sweetpotato application in California last spring. California sweetpotato growers understand the importance of starting strong belowground; that's why many trust TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant to prep their soil ahead of planting.

Plant-parasitic nematodes can significantly impact root development, crop quality, and overall yield potential if not managed early.

By reducing nematode pressure during the critical early weeks of growth, TELONE™ helps establish healthier, more extensive root systems capable of supporting improved crop performance, increased marketable yields, and stronger return on investment.

For growers supplying export markets, TELONE™ also leaves behind zero residuals, and sweetpotatoes grown in TELONE™-prepped soil are approved for sale in the EU.

A recent Growing Produce article highlighted the importance of understanding how soil fumigants work, following label requirements, and implementing proper application practices to ensure safe, effective use. Soil fumigation continues to play a critical role in managing nematodes and other soilborne pests in high-value specialty crops.

At Teleos Ag Solutions, stewardship is foundational to everything we do. From application planning and soil moisture management to worker safety and regulatory compliance, successful fumigation starts with preparation, education, and responsible use.

We want to ensure that TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant is stewarded properly from transportation through application. That’s why we continue to invest in stewardship resources designed to help growers, applicators, and distributors stay informed and operate confidently in the field.

Remember, there's no coming back from a poor start, and that includes stewardship!

Nematodes remain one of the most persistent and costly challenges in root crop production.

A recent Growing Produce article highlights how plant-parasitic nematodes can significantly impact crops like carrots, potatoes, and other root vegetables—damaging roots, reducing nutrient uptake, and ultimately lowering yield and marketable quality.

Because much of this damage happens belowground, it often goes undetected until it’s too late.

That’s why proactive management is critical. While it's true that there are now many in-season options available, the article states that "fumigation continues to provide the most consistent, broad-spectrum control overall."

That's why many growers trust pre-plant soil fumigation with TELONE™ by Teleos as the foundation of their nematode management programs. By reducing nematode pressure before planting, TELONE™ helps create a protective zone for developing roots—supporting stronger plant establishment, improved crop quality, and greater yield potential.

In root crops especially, strong starts belowground make all the difference. Remember, there's no coming back from a poor start!

California sweetpotato growers are busy prepping their fields ahead of planting. One of the biggest threats they face is damage inflicted from root-knot nematodes. These microscopic pests cause big problems for growers—just check out the photos of damage below.

Root-knot nematodes not only damage sweetpotato roots, they affect tuber quality as well. Nematodes attack developing plant roots, resulting in damage that manifests itself in many ways throughout the season. The images below show root galling and misshapen sweetpotatoes unfit for market.

When it comes to managing nematodes, TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant remains the gold standard. Because of where nematodes live, how they move, and what impacts them, no alternative matches TELONE™’s efficacy in reducing nematode populations deep within the soil.

By targeting nematodes before planting, TELONE™ helps growers give crops the best possible start. TELONE™ creates a protective zone around young roots during the first 6–8 weeks of growth, helping plants establish stronger, healthier root systems. This supports higher yields, better quality, and improved ROI for growers.

And for those exporting crops, TELONE™ provides additional peace of mind: it leaves zero residuals and meets EU market standards for sweetpotatoes grown in treated soil.

As we celebrate America's favorite berry, let's dive into a recent report by the California Strawberry Commission. The recently-released report highlights that strawberry production continues to grow—reinforcing just how important this specialty crop is to U.S. agriculture.

Industry data shows U.S. strawberry production has exceeded 2.6–2.7 billion pounds annually, with California supplying roughly 90% of the crop and Florida supporting key winter production windows.

Strawberry production in the Santa Maria Valley has increased significantly in recent years, with growers expanding acreage and output to meet strong market demand.

The region produced approximately 88.6 million trays last year, up from 82.8 million the year before, showing continued year-over-year growth.

Strawberries remain the top-value crop in the Santa Maria region, with growers continuing to invest in expanded production and new growing systems to improve supply and sustainability.

With demand rising and production concentrated in high-value regions, consistency, quality, and efficiency have never been more important.

That’s why many growers prioritize pre-plant soil preparation with TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant.

Strawberries are highly susceptible to plant-parasitic nematodes, which can reduce root efficiency, limit nutrient uptake, and impact yield and fruit quality—often before symptoms are visible aboveground. But success in strawberries starts belowground.

By reducing nematode pressure early, TELONE™ supports stronger root systems that improve efficiency—supporting better water and nutrient use, reduced reliance on inputs, and improved crop performance. All of this contributes to improved berry quality, increased yields, and better grower ROI.

In a crop where quality and timing are everything, a strong start is key. That's why grower in the know prep with TELONE™.

Florida strawberry growers know nematodes don’t stay near the surface—they move deeper into the soil profile, often below the traffic pan where many applications can’t reach.

That’s where deep-shank TELONE™ by Teleos soil fumigant comes in.

Research from the University of Florida shows that applying TELONE™ at deeper depths can significantly improve control—reaching nematodes where they live and reducing both nematode pressure and Fusarium wilt incidence.

Key takeaways:

• Nematodes often reside below the traffic pan
• Deep-shank applications reach deeper zones where other methods may not
• Reduced nematode counts and disease pressure support stronger plant establishment

In high-value crops like strawberries, what happens belowground early in the season sets the tone for everything that follows.

Remember, there’s no coming back from a poor start.

To learn more about deep-shank TELONE™ applications and efficacy, check out Dr. Gary Vallad's presentation on Upping the Game: Strategies to Improve Pre-Plant Fumigation.