By Clint Thompson Pecan harvest season is upon us here in the Southeast. While projections are that this year’s crop will be substantially less than last year’s, growers are optimistic, especially with the potential for increased prices, said Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. “Those that have a crop, which is mostly growers with young trees, and we’ve …
UGA Specialist on Citrus Greening Disease: Stop it Before it Starts
By Clint Thompson The citrus greening disease that has decimated Florida citrus production has one University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist concerned about its potential impact in Georgia. Jonathan Oliver encourages Georgia producers to quickly dispose of infected trees if any are found. “Really, it’s important that before we get very much greening or very much …
H-2A Study: Farmers Reliant on Program Now More Than Ever
By Clint Thompson With the domestic workforce almost non-existent, Southeast vegetable and specialty crop producers rely on the H-2A program now more than ever. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service outlines the growth the program has made over the past decade. Certified H-2A positions increased substantially from 2010 to 2019. The number more than tripled from …
Chlopyrifos Ban to Impact Onion, Sweet Potato Farmers
By Clint Thompson The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent decision to ban the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all food means onion and sweet potato producers will need to find alternatives in six months. While those options exist, they are not nearly as effective. “There’s a reason all the growers use chlorpyrifos,” said Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Cooperative …
Carbon Markets: Farmers Need to Know What the Process Entails
By Clint Thompson Carbon markets may provide a profitable future for farmers. But before producers think about selling carbon credits, they need to understand an extra burden of beginning the process in the first place. Shelby Myers, economist with American Farm Bureau Federation, implores growers to consider the cost of doing business, which includes sharing a lot of data with …
Labor Crisis: Farmers Continue to Struggle to Find Workforce
By Clint Thompson The top two issues that vegetable and specialty crop workers encounter are trade and labor. The impact of imports on domestic farmers doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Neither do concerns over having an adequate number of workers on the farm every year, according to Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) President Mike Joyner. “During …
Hemp Survey: Hemp to Send ’21 Acreage, Production Notice This Fall
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will mail its first Hemp Acreage and Production Survey this October. The survey will collect information on the total planted and harvested area, yield, production and value of hemp in the United States. The Domestic Hemp Production Program established in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) allows for the cultivation of …
On the Rise: Georgia Citrus Acreage Continues to Increase
Citrus acreage in Georgia continues to increase. While it didn’t double like it did in 2020, it still increased by 50%, says Jake Price, University of Georgia Lowndes County Extension coordinator. During a citrus growers’ summer update meeting on Aug. 25 in Lowndes County, Price said that Georgia’s citrus acreage has ballooned to 2,700 acres in 46 counties. The state …
Check Closely: Strawberry Growers Need to Monitor Transplants
By Clint Thompson Strawberry producers need to inspect their plants closely before planting this fall, says Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Fruit Disease Specialist. Many disease instances can be avoided if proper inspection is done before plants are put in the ground. “As growers are getting in their transplants, they need to be inspecting all of the transplants. …
Chlorpyrifos Impact: Peach Producers to Feel Sting of EPA Decision
By Clint Thompson The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to stop the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all food will impact Southeast peach producers. Brett Blaauw, University of Georgia assistant professor in the Department of Entomology, discusses the significance for what the decision means moving forward. “It’s been something that’s been expected for a while. Chlorpyrifos has been on …