FBI Warns Farm Businesses to Beware

Web AdminFlorida Grower

By Frank Giles   The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued an alert warning farm businesses to wary of ransomware attacks. The alert specifically warned agricultural cooperative businesses during critical parts of the season like planting and harvest. The alert noted: “The FBI noted ransomware attacks during these seasons against six grain cooperatives during the fall 2021 harvest and …

Growing Matters: Following Label Directions is the First Part of Protecting Pollinators

Web AdminGrowing Matters

Label directions serve as one of the most important points in keeping pollinators safe and healthy when making an application of crop protection materials. The 2022 BeSure campaign from the Growing Matters Coalition highlights the importance of protecting pollinators in agricultural systems, by using best management practices. Industry Affairs Lead at Bayer Crop Science, Dr. Frank Wong said that the …

Sweet Corn Production: Yields Up, Market Down

Web AdminCorn

By Clint Thompson John L. Hundley, veteran farmer and newest member of the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame, produced a quick response when asked how sweet corn production has treated growers this year. “Production’s going good, the marketing isn’t,” Hundley said. “That’s the summary. Nothing else I can tell you other than that.” That’s all growers and consumers need to …

#EveryBiteCounts: New Marketing Campaign Highlights Domestically Grown Produce

Web AdminIndustry News Release, Produce

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association’s new consumer-focused social media marketing campaign, #EveryBiteCounts, continues the organization’s effort to educate consumers about the importance of supporting local farmers. With the hashtag #EveryBiteCounts, the goal is to educate consumers about the impact of purchasing in-season domestically grown fruits and vegetables, says Chris Butts, executive vice president of the …

North Florida Watching for Powdery Mildew

Web AdminDisease, Watermelon

By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon farmers and industry leaders have yet to see a widespread attack of any one disease, such as powdery mildew. But they are paying close attention to the plants that are in the ground. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) regional specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, is …

Field Day Leads to Reboot of Old Citrus Varieties

Web AdminFlorida Grower

By Peter Chaires The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) field day on Dec. 3 at the A.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm was a productive and memorable day. The event was well attended and provided growers, nurserymen and industry leaders with an overview of essential research taking place at the farm. The fruit display and tour drew attention to …

Water Farms Provide Multiple Benefits in Florida

Web AdminFlorida Grower

By Frank Giles More than a decade ago, Doug Bournique, executive director of the Indian River Citrus League, had a thought. What if citrus growers who had groves that had become non-productive could take that land and use it for water storage to help reduce discharges into sensitive waterways like the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers? It was a novel …

Supply-Chain Disruptions, Inflation and War Are Pushing Prices up on the Farm

Web AdminFlorida Grower

By Frank Giles Just when the world took somewhat of a collective breath, hoping the COVID-19 pandemic might be easing, Russia invaded Ukraine. The conflict and the highest inflation rate in 40 years in the United States have focused attention on agriculture and food security. For farmers in Florida and around the world, the confluence of events has presented challenges …

2021 Was a Banner Year for Florida Real Estate

Web AdminFlorida Grower

By Frank Giles  The Florida real estate market is on fire. That was the take-home message of the Lay of the Land Conference held in Lakeland, Florida, in April. The conference, now in its 17th year, is hosted by SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate. Attendees got a deep dive into how the U.S. and Florida economies are faring …

Controlled Environment Agriculture: Future Growth Expected in Industry

Web AdminEnvironment, Horticulture, Research

By Eric Butterman for CAES News Next time you partake of a crisp, green salad, think about where your leafy greens come from. Many producers of high-value crops are shifting from field production to controlled environment agriculture. That is where the University of Georgia’s Marc van Iersel comes in. Van Iersel, the Vincent J. Dooley professor of horticultural physiology in …