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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Florida”
By Clint Thompson The winter-spring drought that impacted the Southeast spanned for nine months will not disappear overnight. Even as much of the region is experiencing increased rainfall in recent weeks, it will require time to completely wipe out exceptional drought conditions that were present in areas like South Georgia and North Florida. Pam Knox, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension …
By Clint Thompson Finally! Persistent rains in recent weeks have finally impacted the exceptional drought conditions being observed in South Georgia and North Florida. Georgia According to the May 28 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, exceptional drought in Georgia is concentrated more to the southeastern part of the state. It starts in parts of Thomas and Brooks counties, expands …
By Frank Giles When disasters impact specialty crop growers, challenges with federal crop insurance for fruits and vegetables are apparent. Whether it’s hurricanes or freezes, the same discussions arise about how the policies don’t fit the realities of specialty crops. Those challenges were recently addressed during a listening session hosted by Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-3). She also serves on the …
In this month’s sneak peek, the June issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights how the Middle East conflict has impacted energy and fertilizer markets. The center of the market disruption is located on the Strait of Hormuz, a main conduit for oil and nutrient movement. Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, talked about the conflict …
By Clint Thompson Florida’s congressional delegation joined other legislative leaders in urging the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer to address challenges facing the specialty crop industry as part of this year’s review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Congressional members issued a letter to the USTR on May 12, highlighting challenges facing U.S. fruit and vegetable growers from increased imports, …
By Clint Thompson The recent rainfall experienced across the Southeast has done little to alleviate the drought-like conditions being observed in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Florida According to the May 21 edition of the U.S. Drought Monitor, exceptional drought conditions still persist across much of North Florida and Southeast Georgia. The driest conditions in North Florida start in Bay, Gulf …
By Clint Thompson Florida’s increased reliance on the H-2A program has the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) appealing to legislators that necessary modifications be made. “Our two big policy asks are improved access to the H-2A program and wage stability,” said FFVA Director of Labor Relations Jamie Fussell during the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences …
Thrips Update in South Florida Thrips populations are building across the South Florida region, according to the most recent release of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. In Southwest Florida, scout reports indicate that thrips population levels are increasing. There is moderate pressure overall with localized hotspots. Along the …
By Clint Thompson An extended dry period this year led to little disease buildup in North Florida watermelons this production season. One disease has been noticeably absent this year, and that’s downy mildew. “The past few years, we have had downy mildew a lot earlier than this. So, we’re pleasantly surprised that we have not had any reports of it …
The Last WordBy Marcinda Kester If you’ve farmed in Florida for more than a season or two, you know that extreme weather isn’t an if, it’s a when. A freeze, a flood or hurricane can change your entire operation in a matter of hours. And as many growers learned after the freeze this year, the damage isn’t limited to just …
