Regulators Eye Scope 3 Emissions

By Frank Giles Working within the constraints of regulations is nothing new in agriculture. Farmers usually find ways to produce crops within these constraints, but they often add costs that cut into profitability and sometimes reduce production. PROPOSED RULEIn the fight against climate change, regulations are likely to be increased in all industries, including agriculture. Last spring, the Securities and …

Potential Organophosphate Ban Latest Challenge for Vegetable Producers

By Clint Thompson First chlorpyrifos. Now, potentially, all organophosphate pesticides. What’s the next resource that the Environmental Protection Agency could be petitioned to take away from specialty crop producers? “At some point it becomes a threat to the food supply,” said Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Extension vegetable entomologist. It’s a concern for Sparks, who believes carbamates could be next. …

Organophosphate Insecticides Ban? Comment Period to EPA is Sept. 25

By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers are reminded that Sunday, Sept. 25 is the deadline to submit a comment to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about the ramifications of the potential cancellation of multiple organophosphate pesticides. Growers would lose the last broad spectrum soil insecticide in vegetables in diazinon if the cancellation goes through. It would also impact different areas …

Cover Crops a Management Practice with Multiple Benefits

By Clint Thompson The fallow season means an opportunity for specialty crop producers to implement cover crops. It is a management tool that helps growers remain sustainable now and into the future. It is also a practice that Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research …

Controlled Environment Agriculture: Future Growth Expected in Industry

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 …

Rabbit Management: Conserve Habitat for Predators

By Clint Thompson Management of a South Florida pest starts with conserving the habitat for its predators. That’s what sugarcane and vegetable producers need to keep in mind when managing rabbit wildlife. “I’m going to quote a gentleman who heard about our (rabbit) workshop. He’s a producer in the western United States, and he said they had similar problems out …

Specialty Crop Reminder: Chlorpyrifos Banned After Feb. 28

Specialty crop producers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and surrounding states are reminded that the tolerances for chlorpyrifos will expire on Feb. 28. Any application of chlorpyrifos to a food crop, such as onions or sweet potatoes, after Feb. 28 will make the crop adulterated. The result is that it cannot be harvested and sold. If a farmer harvests in April …

Rabbit Problem to be Discussed at UF/IFAS Meeting

Rabbit populations have spiked in the Florida Glades. A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) workshop on Friday, Feb. 18 will address the current problem and what management options are available for producers. Richard Raid, a professor in plant pathology at UF/IFAS , and Robert McCleery, an associate professor in the UF Wildlife Ecology and Conservation …

U.S. Sugar Releases Second Annual ‘State of Our Air’ Report

Clewiston, FL – U.S. Sugar recently released air quality data from government and private sources showing the results of three years of air quality monitoring in the Glades farming communities. The latest report shows better than average air quality in the Glades. It also includes internal data collected by professional air monitoring experts on behalf of U.S. Sugar confirming the public air …