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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Uncategorized”
By Frank Giles With the start of the new year, many key specialty crops are already in full production with more to follow as spring arrives. Now is a good time to reinforce food-safety protocols on the farm from top to bottom, regardless of operation size. In 2025, there were only three multi-state foodborne illness outbreaks related to non-sprout produce …
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced this week the next phase in the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA); the eligible commodity per-acre payment rates. As announced earlier this month by President Trump and Secretary Rollins, $12 billion will be paid to American farmers in 2026. Of that amount, $11 billion consists of one-time FBA program …
By Clint Thompson Row covers are an effective management strategy for strawberry production in the Southeast. Especially as temperatures drop below freezing in some areas across Georgia and Alabama, producers need to protect their young plants from frost damage. Growers also need to continue their management strategy for Neopestalotiopsis (Neo) if they are contemplating applying row covers at any point. …
By Frank Giles The annual Florida Ag Expo, which is held in early November at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), took a break this year to make way for the recognition of two milestones — the center’s centennial celebration and groundbreaking for the Center for Applied Artificial …
The USMCA Agreement is currently under review with a public hearing scheduled for Nov. 17 at the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. Those interested can submit written comments and requests to appear at the hearing. Requests must be made by Nov. 3 at 11:59 p.m. The request to appear must include a summary of testimony. Submit documents in …
By Frank Giles The global blueberry market has been evolving over the past 20 years. The fruit has grown in popularity with consumers worldwide. This is a good thing, but it has presented challenges for growers in the Southeast as increased production across the globe competes to supply the demand. Zhengfei Guan, associate professor of economics with the University of …
Pruning may help cold-hardy producers salvage their satsuma crop from one year to the next and not endure extreme alternate bearing cycles. “Pruning in the heavy year may help alleviate that alternate bearing pattern. But we still have to do the research to support that,” said Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist. While pruning …
(Washington, D.C.) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is delivering on its commitment to support child health and American agriculture by opening applications for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants. Through this grant opportunity, USDA will invest up to $18 million in farm to school projects that connect farmers to USDA’s child nutrition programs …
By Clint Thompson Alabama Extension is asking the state’s citrus producers to complete a survey to assess the extent of damage from the January freeze and snow event earlier this year. The short, anonymous survey will help researchers and Extension professionals evaluate the extent of the damage across the cold-hardy citrus region; guide future research and recovery efforts; and strengthen …
By Clint Thompson Watermelon prices have not cooperated for Southeast growers looking to capitalize on their crop this summer. That’s a disheartening scenario for Georgia producers who are in the middle of their harvest season and will continue to be for a couple of more weeks. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental …
