GFVGA Executive Director: Grateful For CFAP Revisions

Web AdminFruit, Georgia, Top Posts, Vegetables

By Clint Thompson The first round of revisions made by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the commodities covered under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) benefited Georgia’s vegetable producers. Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) Executive Director Charles Hall was appreciative of the consideration given to the crops his organization petitioned for. “Some of our January …

Clemson Extension Provides Crop Updates

Web AdminFruit, South Carolina, Top Posts, Vegetables

Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Zack Snipes reports, “Summer crops are all but about done. The afternoon thunderstorms, humidity, and heat have just about finished off the tomato and watermelon crops. Growers are getting fields ready for the fall season now. …

Additional Fruits, Vegetables Eligible for CFAP

Web AdminAlabama, Coronavirus, Florida, Fruit, Georgia, Top Posts, Vegetables

Washington, D.C., July 9, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced an initial list of additional commodities that have been added to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) on Thursday, and that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made other adjustments to the program based on comments received from agricultural producers and organizations and review of market data. Producers …

GFVA Executive Director: It Was a Pretty Good Season

Web AdminFruit, Georgia, Top Posts, Vegetables

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s fruit and vegetable growers had their share of obstacles this growing season but emerged mostly unscathed with a productive season, according to Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association (GFVA). He credits alternative marketing outlets for helping products get sold in a timely fashion. “Because of the Food Box program that the …

Picking Varieties With Profit Potential

Web AdminAgri-business, Produce, Tomatoes, Top Posts, Vegetables, VSCNews magazine

By Gene McAvoy Choosing which variety to plant is one of the most critical decisions that a commercial grower must make each season. Variety selection is a dynamic process. In the past, some varieties retained favor for many years. More recently, with advances in plant breeding and the incorporation of new and improved traits for disease resistance and other horticultural …

UGA Entomologist: Whiteflies Not as Bad as 2017 But Still Bad

Web AdminAlabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pests, South Carolina, Top Posts, Vegetables

By Clint Thompson University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist Stormy Sparks confirmed this week that whiteflies are back with a vengeance on susceptible vegetable crops and Georgia’s cotton, which is still just a few weeks old. “I’ve been holding off a long time on saying it looks bad. But about a week ago, it’s just hard to say it …

Three Georgia Farmers Market Locations Could Be Spared

Web AdminCoronavirus, Fruit, Georgia, Produce, Top Posts, Vegetables

By Clint Thompson The revised budget cut requirements from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget and the State Legislature may have spared the state farmers market locations in Cordele, Thomasville and Savannah. Julie McPeake, Georgia Department of Agriculture Chief Communications officer, confirmed that as a result of the budget cut requirement from 14% to 10%, the State Legislature …

UF’s Angle: We need to have a more resilient marketing system

Web AdminAlabama, Florida, Fruit, Georgia, Produce, Top Posts, Vegetables

By Clint Thompson A second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is inevitable. Perhaps we are already in it, just a few months ahead of the fall forecasts that most projected would coincide with flu season. But you can pencil in COVID-19 as another challenge farmers will have to face this fall, especially as preparations are already underway for the fall …

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Nikki Fried: Our Growers Cannot Compete

Web AdminExports/Imports, Florida, Fruit, Produce, Top Posts, Vegetables

Florida Ag Commissioner Makes Comments on USMCA By Clint Thompson Not every leader in the agricultural community believes the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was the right move for American farmers. Even after the USMCA entered into force on Wednesday, Nikki Fried, Florida Ag Commissioner, remained vocal to her opposition to the agreement, mainly due to its impact on specialty crop …

Expos Canceled Due to Changing COVID-19 Conditions

Web AdminCitrus, Florida, Top Posts, Vegetables

Although grower and exhibitor interest remains high, AgNet Media has canceled the 2020 Citrus Expo and Vegetable & Specialty Crop Expo in the interest of public safety. For nearly three decades, Citrus Expo has been a tradition that growers look forward to each year. Unfortunately, that tradition will be on hiatus this year, due to the recent rapid escalation of …