By Vance M. Whitaker Two new strawberry selections have been approved for release by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and are in the commercialization process. Trade names have not yet been finalized but should be chosen in the next six months. For both, larger-scale testing will be conducted this fall, and commercial quantities will …
Various Varieties to Choose from When Planting Pecan Trees
The time to plant pecan trees is nearing for Georgia producers. Shane Curry, University of Georgia Appling County Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent, offers a plethora of options for growers to choose from. According to Appling County Crop E News, there are multiple varieties that are very popular and viable options for any farmer in Georgia. Avalon is one …
More Than $7 Billion Paid in Second Round of CFAP
(Washington, D.C., Oct. 26, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that in the first month of the application period, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) approved more than $7 billion in payments to producers in the second round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. CFAP 2 provides agricultural producers with financial assistance to help absorb some …
Sneak Peek: November 2020 VSCNews Magazine
By Ashley Robinson The November issue of VSCNews magazine touches on a variety of topics, including an improved method to detect phytophthora in irrigation water, smart irrigation tools for blueberry growers and new findings on growing hemp in Florida. One of the most serious diseases in Georgia vegetable production is phytophthora blight, a water mold that attacks the roots, foliage …
Trump Administration Invests $2.3 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural North Carolin
YADKINVILLE, N.C., Oct. 26, 2020 – The Trump Administration announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $2.3 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in North Carolina. This investment is part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program. “Access to high-speed internet is a …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Weekly Field Update-10/26/20 Statewide Dr. Matt Cutulle reports, “A good stand of fall cover crops will typically suppress most weeds. However, you may want to pursue herbicide options for cleaning up the weeds that have pushed through …
Agricultural Acres Down Significantly Over Last 100 Years
Agricultural acres have dropped dramatically over the last 100 years throughout the Southeast. According to stacker.com, Georgia and Alabama were two of the top four states to see their farm land decrease the most. Based on numbers from the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, Alabama, ranked No. 4 in decreased acres, had 256,099 farms in 1920 …
2021 Alabama Hemp Grower Applications Now Available
By Katie Nichols AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala.— Alabama hemp grower applications and processor/handler applications are available for the 2021 growing season through Nov. 30. Applications can be found on the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) website. Applications Full applications, including supporting documents, must be complete before the Nov. 30 deadline to receive approval consideration. Seasoned and new growers alike must …
Award-Winning Documentary Guides Conversation About Growing Plants, Community and Inclusion
By Sean Montgomery for UGA CAES News The University of Georgia (UGA) Department of Horticulture, together with UGA’s Institute on Human Development and Disability, Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program, Office of Sustainability, Sustainable Food Systems Initiative, and UGArden, are excited to stream the award-winning “Hearts of Glass” documentary for the university community beginning today, Oct. 23. “Hearts of Glass” gives an in-depth …
University of Florida Awarded Key Federal Grants to Continue Fight Against Citrus Greening
By: Ruth Borger, 517-803-7631, rborger@ufl.edu LAKE ALFRED, Fla. — University of Florida (UF) researchers hope to discover new methods to help citrus growers fight the deadly citrus greening (or Huanglongbing) disease with cost effective, long-term sustainable treatments with the support of recently awarded federal grants. Three teams of scientists from UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences received nearly $4.5 …