In this month’s sneak peek, the October issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine puts blueberries under the spotlight and includes a feature on a pair of Georgia growers who are helping build a better future for the crop.
Hunter Williams and Randy Miller, producers in Southeast Georgia, have different experiences and paths to the specialty crop sector. They discussed the industry, highlighting what lies ahead.
In other news, the cedar waxwings are birds that can significantly impact blueberry production. They can feed directly on the fruit or knock the berries in clusters to the ground while feeding. Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator discussed the birds and their impact on his growers’ crops.
Last winter’s generational freeze event had a detrimental impact on Florida’s blueberry crop. Farmers and industry leaders talked about the lessons learned from the event ahead of next season.
Southeast blueberry breeders are offering growers new varieties with diverse options. UF/IFAS has released multiple cultivars over the years, including Falcon, Sharper, Albus, Sentinel and Optimus. Recent N.C. State University releases include NC5288, NC5289 and Rowan.
Also, fumigation research is revealing surprising soil results. A pair of research projects funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture aim to find out what fumigation does to the soil microbial community following fumigation. Sarah Strauss, UF/IFAS soil microbiologist, is part of the research team and presented results during the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo.
A new Department of Transportation program, the Freedom Haulers initiative, was announced this summer. The program hopes to attract more of America’s veterans into trucking careers.
Video Component
Don’t miss this month’s bonus video coverage in the interactive digital edition of Specialty Crop Grower magazine.
VIDEO: Florida blueberry grower Brittany Lee speaks about the importance of voting yes on Amendment 2. (page 4)
VIDEO: UGA Extension County Coordinator Zack Williams discusses the latest in blueberry research. (page 10)
VIDEO: Don’t miss a video of Sarah Strauss discussing the fumigation research. (page 19)
VIDEO: See more about the Freedom Haulers program. (page 20)