By Sharon Dowdy, University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Georgia produce farmers are used to fighting plant diseases on their crops, but planting resistant varieties or spraying pesticides won’t keep Coronavirus (COVID-19) away. This disease has shut down borders and reduced access to the markets where farmers sell their crops, is keeping essential farm labor out of …
Using Control Release Fertilizer in Vidalia Onion Production
By Ashley Robinson Appropriated timing of fertilizer application during crop development ensures soil nutrient availability thorough the onion growing season. Typically, fertilizer is applied five times for Vidalia onion production in Georgia. However, researchers have found that control release fertilizer applications can significantly reduce the number of fertilizer applications while maintaining crop yield. RESEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS During the 2018-19 Vidalia onion …
UF/IFAS Seeking Partners for Hemp On-Farm Trials
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hemp program is seeking 20 qualified partners across Florida for on-farm trials. Zack Brym, agronomist at the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead and research coordinator of the UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project, says partner farms will conduct a coordinated field planting on 2 acres with variations in land …
The Day South Florida Agriculture Changed
Submitted by Gene McAvoy, Regional Vegetable Extension Agent IV Emeritus with UF/IFAS “Up to the end of Feb our growers were having a banner year and it looked like this season would be one of those homeruns that come around every 5-6 years.” Here is a report that I prepared on the state of S Florida ag and shared with …
UGA Specialist not Concerned About Oversupply of Hemp in Georgia
By Clint Thompson Tim Coolong, associate professor in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, said oversupply of hemp at the national level remains a concern. He’s not as worried with Georgia, however, due to rules and regulations in place. “I think on the bulk wholesale market, I’m still worried about oversupply. In Georgia, I think we’re in a …
U-Pick Farms Feeling Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic
By Clint Thompson Agribusinesses that offer U-pick farms are not immune to the devastating impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Cassie Young and sister Allie Logan own Backyard Orchards in Eufaula, Alabama. Backyard Orchards has closed the U-pick part of its operation but continues to sell strawberries via social media, mainly Facebook. It also has a store with a commercial …
Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association Connecting Farmers With Consumers
By Clint Thompson The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) wants to help farmers sell their crops while provide consumers with options on where to buy fresh, local produce. In doing so, consumers will support an industry that’s been decimated amid the coronavirus pandemic. Farmers and farming operations are asked to email information@ffva.com as soon as possible with the following …
Georgia Watermelon Farmer: What’s Worrying me the Most is the Labor
By Clint Thompson Terrell Rutland is preparing for the upcoming watermelon season just like other Georgia farmers. And like his fellow producers, Rutland is uncertain as to what to expect from this year’s crop, amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Nobody knows. That’s the end of the story, nobody knows,” Rutland said. “We don’t know about labor. We don’t know about price, …
Florida Farmer: We’ve Left About 5 Million Pounds of Cabbage in the Field
By Clint Thompson One of the largest produce farmers in the Southeast has already lost quite a bit of his spring crop and fears what the future might hold amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “We’ve left about 2 million pounds of green beans already (in the field) and about 5 million pounds of cabbage,” said Paul Allen, president of R.C. …
Asian Vegetable Crop Interest Increasing in Florida
By Mary Dixon, Yanlin Wang and Guodong Liu At the 2019 Florida Ag Expo, visitors gathered at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) for a trade show and field tour. Students and faculty from the University of Florida (UF) set up an Asian vegetable display that was visited by approximately 75 growers, educators, students and Extensions agents. Visitors …