UGA Research: Weed Control in Organics

Web AdminOrganic

By Clint Thompson University of Georgia research may have yielded a new way for growers to manage weeds in organic production. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is researching the effect of irrigation combined with different cultivation tactics to control weeds. He is studying shallow sub-surface drip tape placement for …

U.S. Ag Trade: Imports in FY 2023 at $197 Billion

Web AdminTrade

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service and Foreign Agricultural Service Situation and Outlook Report notes that agricultural (Ag) imports in fiscal year (FY) 2023 are projected to increase $5.0 billion above the FY 2022 forecast to $197 billion. This is mostly due to higher imports of horticultural products, sugar, tropical products, along with grains and feed products. Total …

New Irrigation Demonstration Site at UGA-Griffin

Web AdminIrrigation

By Ashley N Biles The new irrigation demonstration site on the University of Georgia (UGA) Griffin campus will be used for training, research and education on the latest irrigation technologies for industry professionals, homeowners and researchers. “We are very proud to have the irrigation demonstration site on the Griffin campus and we appreciate all of the hard work that has …

Florida Black Spot Quarantine Expanded

Web AdminCitrus, USDA

Federal and state agriculture officials have expanded the citrus black spot (CBS) quarantine area in Florida. They have added four sections in Collier County and five sections in Glades County. The action was taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of …

UF/IFAS Seeking the Next Breakthrough Crop

Web AdminResearch, Specialty Crops

By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP Danny Johns is growing the same crop on the same land as his great grandfather did when he started farming in Hastings a century ago. PURPLE SWEET POTATOESBut Johns was immediately interested when University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agent Wendy Mussoline invited him to look at purple sweet …

Reduce SWD to Protect Against Sour Rot

Web AdminGrapes

By Clint Thompson The ripening of grapes around the Southeast means producers need to be managing drosophila flies. As grapes near veraison or 15 degrees brix, they become more attractive, especially for spotted wing drosophila (SWD). As Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, points out in the UGA Extension Viticulture …

Nematode Management: Know the Species Impacting Your Field

Web AdminPests

By Clint Thompson Before Florida specialty crop producers begin treating for guava root-knot nematodes, they need to understand what kind of nematodes species is impacting their fields. Not all nematode species can be treated the same, says Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and …

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Issues Statement of Principles Ahead of 2023 Farm Bill

Web AdminLegislative

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing producers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, released its statement of principles for consideration of the 2023 Farm Bill. The SCFBA is led by co-chairs Mike Joyner, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Dave …

2022 Hurricane Season off to Slow Start, but Keep Your Guard Up

Web AdminCitrus, Fruits, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

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 …