North Florida Research and Education Center
155 Research Road
Quincy, FL 32351-5677
Phone: (850) 875-7116
Fax: (850) 875-7188
Email: hoch@ufl.edu

George J. Hochmuth

Center Director
Extension Specialist, Vegetables
Professor of Horticultural Sciences

Education:

B.S. in Horticulture (May 1975) - University of Maryland
        Major: Ornamental Horticulture

Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics (Dec 1980) - University of Wisconsin
        Major: Plant Breeding
        First Minor: Plant Pathology
        Second Minor: Plant Physiology
 

Special Fields:

• Practical experience in the commercial culture of vegetable crops.

• Research experience in the areas of vegetable culture, mineral nutrition, nutrient BMPs, breeding, and greenhouse culture.

• Teaching experience in the areas of vegetable culture and breeding.

• Extension experience in the areas of vegetable culture, mineral nutrition, nutrient BMPs, and greenhouse culture.

• Research and Extension experience in the area of greenhouse vegetable culture and hydroponics.

• Administration experience as Research and Education Center Director, responsible for faculty programs, personnel, budget, and facilities for three Centers in northern Florida.

Work Experience:

• Hochmuth Farms, family vegetable farm in Mardela Springs, MD from childhood through 1974.

• University of Maryland Vegetable Research Farm, Salisbury, MD.  Entomolgy technician, summer, 1972. Summer vegetable research staff leader, 1973, 1974.

• Research Technician, USDA Vegetable Research Laboratory in Beltsville MD, Fall 1974 - Spring 1975.

• Research Assistant in Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin, 1975-1980.

• Assistant Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Massachusetts, 1980-1984.

• Assistant Professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist, Vegetable Crops Department, University of Florida/IFAS, 1984-1988.

• Associate Professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida/IFAS, 1988-1993.

• Professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida/IFAS, 1993-1999.

• Professor, Extension Vegetable Specialist, and Assistant Department Chair, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida/IFAS, 1995-1999.

• Professor and Interim Center Director, Suwannee Valley Research and Education Center, University of Florida/IFAS, 1997-1999.

• Professor and Center Director, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida/IFAS, 1999-Present.

Honors:

• Maryland Senatorial Scholarship, 1971.

• Southern States Farm Cooperative Scholarship, 1971.

• Certificate of Scholarship, Honors Convocation, University of Maryland, 1975.

• The Joe E. James Award for Highest Grade Point Average in Horticulture, University of Maryland, 1975.

• The Homeland Garden Club Book Award for Highest Grade Point Average in Ornamental Horticulture, University of Maryland, 1975.

• Outstanding Professor Award in Fruit and Vegetables, University of Massachusetts Stockbridge School of Agriculture, 1982.

• Gamma Sigma Delta, University of Florida, 1988.

• Outstanding Paper Award, (senior author) Vegetable Section, Volume 99 (1987) Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc.

• Extension Publication Award (senior author), Southern Region Amer. Soc. Hort. Sciences, 1989.

• Extension Division Award of Excellence, Amer. Soc. Hort. Sciences, 9 Aug 1994.

• Extension Education Aids Award for "Watermelon Production in Florida" (with D. N. Maynard), Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 9 Aug 1994.

• Extension Publication Award, "Watermelon Production in Florida" (with co-authors), Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. - So. Region, 7 Feb 1994.

• School Service Award for Hydroponic Work, Springhill Middle School, 24 May 1994.

• University of Florida Staff and Faculty Superior Accomplishment Award for 1995 (nominated).

• Outstanding Extension Educator Award, American Society for Horticultural Science, 1995.

• Outstanding Paper Award, Vegetable Section, Fla. State. Hort. Soc., 5 Nov 1996.

• Outstanding Paper Award, Vegetable Section, Fla. State. Hort. Soc., 2 Nov 1999.

• Extension Education Materials Award (co-recipient), American Society for Horticultural Science, July 2000.

• Elected Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science, July 2001.

• Received the Presidential Gold Medal from the Florida State Horticultural Society (FSHS) for the research papers contributing the most to the advancement of science published in the Proceedings over the last 6 years.  Presented 2 June 2002 at the meeting of the FSHS.

Grants:

• Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on grants totaling more than $8 million from 1985 through 2002.