Florida and Georgia remained the top two users of the H-2A program, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, as of Sept. 30, 2021. For the fiscal year (FY) 2021, the number of certified positions for Florida numbered 44,706, or 14.1% of the total certified in FY 2021. Georgia was second with 35,205 positions or 11.1%. The other top states …
Weekly Updates: Clemson Extension Agents Discuss Various Crops
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in the The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “In our area, pest and disease pressure have reduced in response to cooler dryer conditions. Keep an eye on soil moisture and continue to regularly scout crops.” Midlands Justin Ballew reports, “We …
Federal Funding: UF Citrus Faculty Secure Resources in Fight Against Citrus Greening
LAKE ALFRED, Fla — Three USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program grants totaling more than $2.2 million will help University of Florida citrus researchers in their fight against citrus greening disease. In addition, UF/IFAS researchers are serving in leadership roles in two other multi-million-dollar grants awarded to other research institutions across …
Successful Meeting: AFVGA Executive Director Pleased with Conference
By Clint Thompson Blake Thaxton, executive director of the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA), was pleased with the association’s annual conference and trade show that was held on Nov. 18-19 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Attendance was great. The seminar sessions provided insight in various challenges the industry is facing. It was everything Thaxton had hoped for. “We had …
New GFVGA Executive Vice President: Butts Assumes Role on Dec. 1
By Clint Thompson The new executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) hopes to continue the success the previous leader sustained for 25 years. Chris Butts has big shoes to fill when he takes over for Charles Hall as the new leader of the GFVGA on Dec. 1. But he believes the infrastructure is already …
Jackson Grapefruit Research a Unique Approach to Managing HLB
By Clint Thompson Jackson grapefruit research trials are under the microscope at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Education and Research Center in Lake Alfred, Florida. Scientists like Arnold Schumann are studying the HLB (Huanglongbing)-tolerant rootstock in hopes of providing growers an effective option to counter the ongoing issue of citrus greening. One unique …
Fresh Vegetable Imports Continue to Increase
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, fresh vegetable imports continued to increase in 2021, compared to the previous three years. Tomatoes’ import value in 2021 was approximately $2.1 billion, compared to $1.8 billion in 2018. Tomato imports were estimated at 3.2 billion pounds in 2021, compared to 3.1 billion in 2018. Cucumbers’ value was $0.7 billion …
Artificial Intelligence for Breeding Better Crops
By Tong Geon Lee Crop breeding has a long history of integrating the latest innovations in biology, genetics and mathematics to enhance yield and agronomic traits having commercial value. As artificial intelligence (AI) has slowly become integrated into agriculture, breeders and geneticists imagine an agricultural revolution with computer science techniques. As scientists become increasingly familiar with AI, there has been …
Sen. Booker Announces Legislation Aimed at Banning Dangerous Pesticides
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has announced the Protect America’s Children from Toxic Pesticides Act of 2021 (PACTPA) that would remove dangerous pesticides within the agricultural system. Specifically, this legislation would update the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act of 1972 (FIFRA) by banning the most damaging pesticides that have been scientifically proven to harm the safety of people and …
Christmas Tree Season: Record Sales Expected Again
By Clint Thompson Last year was a banner season for Christmas tree farms in Alabama. Jeremy Pickens, Alabama Assistant Extension Professor in Horticulture at Auburn University, expects more of the same this year. In fact, consumers should not procrastinate too long to purchase a tree this holiday season. “I think (the industry’s) holding steady and growing. We’re probably picking up, …