According to The South Carolina Grower, Clemson Cooperative Extension is inviting farmers to participate in a research study. The purpose of this research is to collect information on the impacts of COVID-19 on the agricultural industry and understand the effects (positive and negative) on specialty crop and direct marketing farms in South Carolina. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) is …
Bioengineered Sentinel Plants Could Help Protect Future Crops
By Jenelle Patterson As a plant molecular biologist, I often hear tales of gardening mishaps or plant-related tidbits from my friends and family. A few years ago, a friend excitedly relayed her experience at a Niagara wine tour, where the tour guide explained that they grow rose bushes at the end of each row not only for aesthetics, but as …
Georgia Hemp Crop Beginning to Flower
Georgia’s hemp crop is beginning to flower and could be ready for harvest starting in a little more than a month, says Tim Coolong, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist. “I’ve got trials that started flowering about (2 weeks) ago on some of the early material. We’re seeing that around the state. I suspect we’re going to continue to see …
UGA to Begin New Pecan Variety Trials in Southeast Georgia
By Emily Cabrera for UGA CAES News University of Georgia faculty will begin a series of pecan trials this winter to help identify better management practices for growers. New pecan trees will be planted at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center in Toombs County for research and demonstration purposes. Andrew Sawyer, southeast …
Corn Earworms Remain Key Pest for Alabama Hemp Producers
Alabama hemp producers are tackling one pest after another this growing season. They started with fire ants not long after the crop was planted. Now, according to Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, the key insect is corn earworm. “They’re really hard to control because they start small. Then they’ll be eating and eating and eating and …
World Outreach Helps UF Strawberry Breeding Program
By: Brad Buck, 813-757-2224, bradbuck@ufl.edu, 352-875-2641 (cell) BALM, Florida — UF/IFAS-bred strawberries are grown in over 70 countries across six continents. One of those countries, Egypt, ranks among the top strawberry-producing nations in the world. So, it seems fitting that an Egyptian-American scientist is leading an effort to facilitate the expansion of production of UF/IFAS-bred strawberries internationally. Behind the United …
U.S. Department of Labor Announces Award of More Than $80 Million to Provide Grants for Training, Safe Housing for Farmworkers
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of $80,684,142 in grants through the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) to provide career services, training services, youth services, related assistances and housing services to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents. These awards fall into two categories: NFJP Career Services and Training Grants, aimed to help farmworkers retain their …
Avoid Planting Fall Potatoes in Alabama
Alabama farmers and gardeners have planted or are currently planting their fall vegetable crops. One crop that Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, says producers need to avoid are fall potatoes. They simply don’t do well in any part of the state, due to the high soil temperatures. “Fall potatoes in Alabama do not do well at all. The reason …
Mexican Exports Eroding Florida Specialty Crop Markets
By Tacy Callies Florida fruit and vegetable growers are acutely aware of the negative impacts that Mexico’s exports have had on their ability to remain competitive. In a recent virtual presentation on the subject, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association President Mike Joyner shared some shocking statistics from a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) report. Published in July, …
Plan in Place?
USTR Sets Sept. 1 Date for Response to Hearings Florida and Georgia seasonal produce farmers who testified in hearings regarding unfair trade practices the past two weeks should not have to wait long to see how the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office will respond to their concerns with Mexico. Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association …