From production to harvest, the battle is not yet over for watermelon farmers. There is the subject of post-harvest care, specifically, with storage options. Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, cautions growers that watermelons are not adapted to long-term storage. “They will last two to three weeks at most in storage,” Kemble said. “If you’re looking at long-term storage, say …
Decreased Production: Georgia Hemp Acres Expected to Decrease in 2021
Georgia’s hemp production is expected to decrease in 2021. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, believes there are various factors that will contribute to hemp acreage being down compared to last season. “I think a lot of growers are going more towards, kind of, I’ll say smokable flower. It’s more of a boutique …
’22 Crop Insurance Deadline Nears in Florida
Nursery Value Select Growers Need to Make Insurance Decisions Soon Tallahassee, Fla. — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (USDA RMA) remind Florida Nursery Value Select growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2022 crop year is May 1. Current policyholders who wish to adjust …
Vidalia Onion Field Day is April 8
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension will host the Vidalia Onion Field Day this year on Thursday, April 8, beginning at 10:30 a.m. It will be held outside and conclude at noon. There will be a walking tour of the research plots at the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia. Pre-registration is required to attend. Please pre-register for …
What’s the Impact? Florida’s Food Supply Chain Industries Asked to Respond to COVID Survey
By: Kirsten Romaguera, 352-294-3313, kromaguera@ufl.edu A survey aimed to gauge impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the food supply chain will close on April 11. A research team from various institutions, including the University of Florida aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on food and agricultural systems and to develop strategies for coping with future crises. The project …
FFVA President: (Food Security’s) a National Security Issue
Feb. 11, 2021 could be a date that lives in infamy for Florida’s vegetable and specialty crop growers. At least that’s the way Mike Joyner views the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (USITC) unanimous verdict regarding blueberry imports. “As a result of that 5-0 ruling, I would completely agree with you, it was a gut punch for our growers,” said Joyner, …
Sweet Finish: Florida Strawberry Growers Ending Season with Strong Crop
What began as a sour start to Florida’s strawberry season is ending with a sweet finish, says Matt Parke, farm manager of Parkesdale Farms in Plant City, Florida. Parke said he wasn’t getting the desired volume before Valentine’s Day. Then it started and hasn’t stopped since. “I think it’s going to end up being a bumper deal for us. We …
UF Scientist: It’s Really Outside the Box
University of Florida/IFAS research hopes to yield a new crop for Florida producers. Though it is not likely to be ready for farmers for years, coffee is a potential commodity that the state’s growers could utilize one day. “It’s really outside the box. Often times we’ll start researching a crop, but growers have already started trying to produce it. This …
Voices Heard: Georgia Farmers Discuss Issues with Senator Warnock
The two issues Southeast vegetable and specialty crop producers want and need assistance with the most are labor and imports. Georgia farmers and industry leaders made sure Senator Raphael Warnock heard their concerns on Wednesday. The U.S. Senator visited South Georgia as part of a farm tour that stopped at Minor Brothers Farm in Leslie, Georgia. Along with Congressman Sanford …
ABT Infestations Continue in South Florida
South Florida bean producers continue to contend with Asian bean thrips (ABT) populations. According to the University of Florida/IFAS, populations vary from farm to farm and planting to planting. In southeastern Hendry County, populations averaged 0.1 ABT per bud and 0.2 to 0.5 ABT per bloom. Even the older plantings had reached counts totaling 2.2 ABT per bloom. Because of …