A late crop, a topsy-turvy market and a consistent influx of produce coming in from Mexico – just another challenging year for Florida’s blueberry growers. Chuck Allison, blueberry farmer and owner of Wild Goose Farms in Umatilla, Florida, said the cooler winter has delayed harvests this year. “We’re getting started. We picked last week a couple of times. We’re getting …
Expanding Production: U.S. Sugar to Better Serve Customers
Acquisition of Imperial Sugar provides U.S. Sugar’s and Imperial Sugar’s customers with increased production and distribution, a full suite of sugar products, and a more secure sugar supply CLEWISTON, FLORIDA — An acquisition on Wednesday by U.S. Sugar returns Imperial Sugar to All-American owernship. U.S. Sugar announced on Wednesday it has reached an agreement with Louis Dreyfus Company to acquire …
Sneak Peek: April 2021 VSCNews Magazine
The April issue of VSCNews magazine explores biodiversity, conservation funding, watermelons and a variety of other topics. First up, an article by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor Oscar Liburd and postdoctoral research associate Lorena Lopez, discusses how to control sweetpotato whiteflies with biological control agents like predatory mites in squash production. Conservation funding from the …
Resistant Varieties Key Against Anthracnose
It is never too early to start thinking about cucurbit disease management in Alabama. In the case of anthracnose, producers who are planting their crops are best served by utilizing resistant varieties, according to Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University. “I was just looking through the Southeast Handbook …
Letter Highlights ‘Deteriorating Trade Relationship’ with Mexico
The vegetable and specialty crop sector was highlighted this week in a letter sent by several organizations, including American Farm Bureau Federation, to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. The organizations spoke of a “trade relationship with Mexico that has declined markedly, a trend USMCA’s implementation has not reversed.” Among the concerns brought forth include organic …
USDA Applauded: Commissioner Fried Speaks on USDA’s Pandemic Assistance
Tallahassee, FL — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $6 billion in expanded pandemic assistance on Wednesday. This will aid specialty crop and seasonal produce growers who did not benefit sufficiently from last year’s USDA assistance. “Florida’s proud farmers, ranchers, and growers have had a tough year, working to overcome half a billion dollars …
Blueberry Decline: Imports, USITC Contribute to Florida’s Dwindling Industry
What was once a booming industry in Florida is now running on fumes. Mexican imports and the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) have made it almost impossible for Florida blueberry producers to compete like they used to. “Florida went through an increase from 2000 to 2015 or so. Now, I don’t know of anybody that’s putting blueberry acreage in because …
Pecan Producers Be Wary of Phylloxera
There’s beginning to be budbreak in pecan orchards throughout the Southeast. As trees start to break dormancy, producers need to begin protecting their crop from one pest who impacts trees this time of year, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist. “We’re just starting to see it now. This is the time they need to (spray), if …
Site Selection Key for Blueberry Plants
Site selection remains a pivotal decision for all potential blueberry producers. Alabama Regional Extension agent David Koon discussed various site-selection factors that will impact whether a grower experiences success. “When we think about site selection of where you’re going to plant your blueberries, just like every other vegetable or fruit producing plant, full sun is a must. Partial shade, you …
War of Deception: Consumer Awareness Key in Support of American Farmers
In the ongoing war between supporting local farmers against the influx of imports, American farmers need consumers to fight back. The significance of where food originates may never be more important than it is right now. With imports continuing to flood markets for various commodities, the end result is farmers contemplating selling their land. Others are wondering what else can …