Inaugural Global Produce and Floral Show Hosted in Orlando

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By Frank Giles The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) hosted the first Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando this weekend. Formerly known as the Fresh Summit, the new name and event was launched after the merger of the Produce Marketing Association and Untied Fresh created IFPA. Thousands of attendees from approximately 40 countries gathered at the Orange County Convention …

Alabama H-2A Meeting Scheduled for Nov. 7

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Alabama specialty crop growers are reminded that the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Alabama Department of Labor and Alabama Cooperative Extension will educate growers on the H-2A guest worker program during an in-person educational session on Nov. 7. It will be held from 8 a.m. to noon in the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries auditorium at 1445 Federal …

U.S. Drought Monitor: Dry Conditions Continue to Linger Throughout Southeast

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The lingering drought over much of the Southeast is intensifying in the Florida Panhandle, South Alabama and North Georgia areas, according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Severe dry conditions are observed in Escambia County in the Florida Panhandle and stretch to Jackson County. Moderate dry conditions are seen from Bay County to Jefferson and Taylor counties. Abnormally …

UF/IFAS Research: Phosphorous Rate Change for Potato Producers

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The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Plant Nutrient Oversight Committee has implemented a provisional change to the UF/IFAS phosphorous fertilizer recommendation rate for the upcoming potato season. The change was based on recent research and states that regardless of soil test phosphorous value, commercial producers may apply phosphorous fertilizer to a maximum recommended rate of …

Sneak Peek: November 2022 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine

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The November issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine provides a look at Hurricane Ian and its impact on Florida’s blueberry and strawberry crops. The storm passed through Florida in late September. It brought rains and heavy winds that flooded blueberry bushes and delayed strawberry plantings. Denise Attaway, a writer/editor for the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences at Clemson …

USDA Launches Loan Assistance Tool to Enhance Customer Service

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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched a new online tool to help farmers and ranchers better navigate the farm loan application process. This uniform application process will help to ensure all farm loan applicants receive equal support and have a consistent customer experience with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) regardless of their individual circumstances.   “USDA recognizes more …

Weevil Pest a Threat to Celery, Parsley

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By Clint Thompson An emerging weevil pest is cause for concern for celery and parsley producers in South Florida. Julien Beuzelin, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor in entomology, discussed the impact that Listronotus sparsus could have on those two crops. It could stunt the growth of celery plants and cause a quality issue. …

Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture Coming to GCREC

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To protect crop yields and the environment, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is increasingly leveraging powerful tools such as technology driven by artificial intelligence (AI). In an effort to expedite such development, UF/IFAS will build a 19,000-square-foot AI hub at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Balm, about 25 miles southeast of Tampa. …

Georgia Pumpkin Producer: We Had Phenomenal Yields

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By Clint Thompson Pumpkin season has come and gone for one Georgia farmer. Yields exceeded expectations. Disease pressure was low. Demand was high. Drew Echols couldn’t have asked for a better year this season. “We did really well, couldn’t have asked for any better. We had phenomenal yields. We picked over 3,000 bins,” said Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms in …

Farmland Preservation Grants Available Through NCDA&CS

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RALEIGH – County governments and nonprofit groups may now apply for funding assistance from the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund for farmland preservation projects. Applicants have until Dec. 19 to apply. “The latest study from the American Farmland Trust projects North Carolina losing more than a million acres of agricultural land over the next 20 years,” …