 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
By Clint Thompson Strawberry production is progressing in Alabama. Growers who received their plants and put them in the ground in a timely fashion have an advantage over those who didn’t, according to Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University. “The earlier that you can get the strawberry plants in the …
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon farmers are on the cusp of another planting season. They are currently planning for next year’s crop. Part of that planning stage was attending the recent Suwanee Valley Watermelon Institute. Mark Warren, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agent in Levy County, helped organize the event this year in …
By Clint Thompson The first half of Eric Hunter’s life did not include agriculture. He had never been exposed to it. But after the last 25-plus years as a strawberry grower, he can’t imagine his life without it. The South Carolina farmer views his agricultural career as a calling. He and his wife, Kristi, operate Hunter Farms, a small family …
For the second straight week, drought conditions have improved across the Southeast, according to the Dec. 18 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. The driest area in the region is still observed in South Georgia and North Florida. Extreme drought conditions in South Georgia include parts of Decatur, Grady, Thomas and Brooks counties. Extreme drought conditions in North Florida include …
By Clint Thompson As soon as North Florida watermelon producers can get their plants in the ground, the sooner they can harvest their crop amid a tight marketing window. So, it has been no surprise to see so many farmers start their planting seasons earlier and earlier in recent years. But that has been the case and will likely happen again …
By Robin Loftin In 2023, when the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo was forced to leave the Lee Civic Center and Fort Myers, AgNet Media shared your disappointment. Like many of you, we hoped and prayed that one day we would have the opportunity to return. Today, we are thrilled to announce that those prayers have been answered. The 2026 …
By Clint Thompson Fusarium wilt remains a challenge for watermelon producers in North Florida and South Georgia. Grafting is a way for growers to navigate its challenge, says Josh Freeman, regional sales manager with TriEst Ag Group. “If you take markets aside, markets come and go, but fusarium, that’s not going to change. In my opinion, varietal resistance is not …
By Clint Thompson Vegetable producers and cotton growers are anxiously playing the waiting game with regards to the cotton jassid. If and when the new insect threat arrives this spring could have a ripple effect on growers’ management plans. Producers controlled the jassid last fall with sprays they were already applying for whiteflies. Growers usually do not apply insecticides for …
By Clint Thompson and Dale Sandlin The Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program is allotting $12 billion in one time bridge payments to farmers in response to trade market disruptions and increased input expenses that are still impacting producers. While $11 billion will be used to provide relief to row crop farmers, the remaining $1 billion will be used for commodities …
By Frank Giles Editor’s Note: This article is part of a series featuring state marketing programs in the Southeast. South Carolina is home to a diverse array of specialty crop growers. Those growers have access to a marketing program called Certified South Carolina to help promote their products and bring exposure to their farms. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture …
