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By Clint Thompson The more things change, the more they stay the same. Another spring vegetable season for Georgia producers was marred by rising imports that deflated market prices. “While we were in D.C. (recently), one of our growers was talking about $4 a box was the market price for squash. It was what it had fallen to when imports …
By Will Bentley The 2023 Georgia legislative session was a fast paced 40 days as new leadership in both the House and Senate settled into their roles while learning the levers of power on the go. New Lt. Gov. Burt Jones led the Senate, and the House had a new speaker for the first time in over a decade with …
The final U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) citrus forecast for the 2022–23 season, issued July 12, has several changes from the June forecast. FLORIDAFlorida’s all-orange forecast rose approximately 1% to 15.85 million boxes, up 100,000 boxes from June. The full increase is in the Valencia orange forecast, which rose to 9.7 million boxes. Florida’s all-grapefruit …
By Clint Thompson Leaf rust disease has always been a problem for Florida blueberry growers. But that concern has only magnified with producers transferring to an evergreen production system. Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), discusses the issue growers are facing with this familiar problem. “Here recently, …
By Clint Thompson Leaf rust disease has always been a problem for Florida blueberry growers. But that concern has only magnified with producers transferring to an evergreen production system. Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), discusses the issue growers are facing with this familiar problem. “Here recently, …
By Clint Thompson Variety selection is essential for growers interested in planting a muscadine crop. Producers should know what varieties work best before they start planting. Elina Coneva, Extension specialist and professor of horticulture at Auburn University, focused on muscadine varieties during a recent webinar. She highlighted those that worked well in her research trials, beginning with the ‘Hall’ variety. …
By Clint Thompson Watermelons are one of the most valuable vegetable crops that South Georgia growers produce every year. It is only appropriate that the University of Georgia (UGA) conducts research that will benefit farmers for the foreseeable future. Ted McAvoy, UGA Extension vegetable specialist, is tasked with researching watermelons and the different types that producers want to grow, on …
By Clint Thompson The new site for this year’s Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo will provide a more enticing location for producers from Georgia and Alabama to attend this year’s event. The Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida, will serve as this year’s location for the two-day event. It will certainly attract more of a presence from growers in neighboring …
Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Tom Bilbo – Extension Entomologist Midlands Rob Last Upstate Andy Rollins
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds specialty crop producers of the July 14 deadline to apply for both the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two and the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP). These revenue-based programs help offset revenue losses from 2020 and 2021 natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligibility To be eligible for ERP …
