As Hurricane Ian approaches landfall this week, state agriculture associations and agencies are springing into action to prepare for the storm. Several events schedule for the week have been cancelled or postponed, including Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s Labor Relations Forum planned for Sept. 28-30 in Orlando. The association will provide further information on new dates for the event. Matt …
Small U-Pick Farm Expands by Adding New Products for Customers
By Frank Giles Beginning farmers face obstacles when there is no land, equipment and expertise being handed down from one generation to the next. But many multigenerational farms face similar challenges when family transitions take place. The Casey family in Hernando County has dealt with those issues as the younger generation sought to keep the farming tradition alive. Jeff Casey, …
Emerging Leader Development Program Class 12 Announced
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) has announced the selection of 14 up-and-coming agriculture industry leaders for Class 12 of its Emerging Leader Development Program. Administered by the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, the creation of the Emerging Leader Development Program back in 2011 has provided 128 young leaders with an immersive experience on the many issues facing the industry …
Expo Tackles Trucking and New BMPs
By Frank Giles The 2022 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo was held last month in North Fort Myers. Growers from across Florida and beyond gathered for the event that was packed with educational programming and a trade show floor full of exhibitors eager to display their products and services. This year’s general educational session focused on some of the bigger …
Markets Attempt to Edge Back to Normalcy
It has been a wild ride for the U.S. and global economies since COVID-19 struck. Inflation and war in Europe have not helped matters. We asked Roger Cryan, chief economist for the American Farm Bureau, to weigh in on how recent events could affect agriculture. There has been some easing on pricing for inputs and fuel. Do you expect that …
2022 Hurricane Season off to Slow Start, but Keep Your Guard Up
By Frank Giles The main hurricane prognosticators both predicted the 2022 season would be above normal. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted 20 named storms. Colorado State University also predicted an above normal season with 19 named storms. But, so far, this hurricane season has been slow. In fact, for the first time since 1997, the month of August …
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Lays Out Priorities
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, has released its statement of principles for consideration of the 2023 farm bill. The SCFBA was established to advocate for broad-based farm bill policy initiatives to address the unique …
The Road to Ramping Up More Truck Drivers
By Frank Giles Alix Miller, president and CEO of the Florida Trucking Association, told attendees of the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo held in August in North Fort Myers, Florida, that the trucking industry in Florida and nationally has a problem. Supply chain disruptions and clogged ports spurred by COVID-19 made logistical challenges more apparent to the public, but Miller …
UF/IFAS Senior Vice President Speaks Out on New Florida Fertilizer Recommendations
Scott Angle, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), recently marked his second year on the job. From the beginning, he emphasized his commitment to updating fertilizer recommendations in the state. We asked Angle about new fertilizer recommendations being developed for five key crops and …
U.S. and Florida Farmland Values on the Rise
By Frank Giles The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service has released its 2022 Land Values Summary. The annual report shows agricultural property increased year-over-year following other trends in inflation. The United States farm real estate value, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $3,800 per acre for 2022, up $420 …