Florida remains mostly moderately dry. The southern area of Alabama is abnormally dry, as are the southwestern and southeastern areas of Georgia. That is according to last week’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Florida’s worst conditions of moderate drought start as far north as Taylor and Lafayette counties and stretch southward to Monroe and Miami-Dade counties. Severe conditions are …
Stuart Scholarship Application Period Open
The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) reminds college students interested in pursuing a career in the specialty crop industry that the 2023 Stuart Scholarship applications are due Saturday, April 15. The scholarship is available to incoming juniors through graduate program students who intend to pursue a career in the industry. The FFVA created the Mike and Karen Stuart Scholarship …
Sens. Ossoff, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reverse Adverse Effect Wage Rate Increase
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) is working to reverse this year’s Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) increase. Sens. Ossoff and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced the bipartisan Farm Operations Support Act, which would revert the AEWR to the December 2022 rate for the remainder of 2023. The AEWR in Georgia rose 14% from $11.99/hour to $13.67/hour in January …
Quarantine Established in Lee County Due to Giant African Land Snail
(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/March 16, 2023) — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and its Division of Plant Industry (DPI) announced that a quarantine has been established in specific areas of Lee County in response to previously detected Giant African Land Snails (GALS). Under the quarantine, it is unlawful to move a giant African land snail or a regulated article, including, but not limited to, plants, plant parts, plants in …
California Floods Affect Florida’s Strawberry Production
By Clint Thompson The current weather crisis in California is impacting Florida’s strawberry harvests. One producer said he is picking additional fruit this time of year amid the floods out west. “I go until April normally with some of them, but we’re going a little longer than normal because California is in disarray with all the weather they’ve been getting. …
Sen. Ossoff: Georgia Farmers Need Results
By Clint Thompson U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (GA) is ensuring Georgia’s specialty crop producers have a voice in the ongoing Farm Bill discussions. Ossoff has been in Georgia this week, meeting with farmers and industry leaders, discussing their needs and what must be included in this year’s Farm Bill. He discussed the meetings he has had with growers in the …
California Floods Impacting Florida’s Strawberry Harvests
By Clint Thompson The current weather crisis in California is impacting Florida’s strawberry harvests. One producer said he is picking additional fruit this time of year amid the floods out west. “I go until April normally with some of them, but we’re going a little longer than normal because California is in disarray with all the weather they’ve been getting. …
200-Million Pound Crop? Georgia Pecan Yields to Increase in Next Few Years
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s pecan production netted 125 million pounds this past season. That number could reach 200 million pounds in a few years, believes Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension pecan specialist. “I think a 200-million pound crop out of Georgia is a strong likelihood over the next few years,” Wells said. Wells’ outlook on Georgia’s crop …
Cold Acclimation Helping Trees Rebound From Freeze
Trees in the Sweet Valley Citrus region are more acclimated to cold temperatures than those in Central and South Florida. That is a reason that Bill Barber, Certified Crop Adviser and owner of Barber Ag Services, believes citrus trees in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama have rebounded well following the Christmas freeze event. “I first thought the worst. With …
Maximize Marketing in the Online Space
By Lauri M. Baker Digital marketing could increase sales for agriculture-based businesses that sell directly to consumers. However, many business owners struggle to understand where to place their online efforts and how to effectively market in the digital sphere. The Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement (CREE) conducts research to understand best practices in digital marketing for agribusinesses. Then, the CREE …