Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Florida Citrus Show a Day of Education, Enjoyment

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By AgNet Media Staff The Florida Citrus Show marked another successful event in March in Fort Pierce. The show provided attendees with a fun, informative day to learn about citrus and specialty crops while engaging with exhibitors during the tailgate-style trade show. CRAFT Update Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) programs have been very popular with growers and have incentivized …

‘Golding’ Variety New Option for Pecan Producers

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Southeast pecan growers will soon have a new variety at their disposal. University of Georgia pecan breeder Patrick Conner discussed the ‘Golding’ variety at last week’s Georgia Pecan Growers Association Conference in Perry, Georgia. “It’s selected for having exceptional quality, good yield and good scab resistance. We think it’ll be a general use cultivar for growers who …

Specialty Crop Assistance Framework Key Inclusion in House Version of Farm Bill

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson The House Ag Committee did its part in the farm bill process with its passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 on March 5, 2026. House Republicans are eyeing a floor vote for the farm bill legislation during the last week in April, according to Politico. John Walt Boatright, director of government affairs …

NCAE CEO Discusses Interim Final Rule

Clint ThompsonUncategorized

By Clint Thompson The interim final rule (IFR) revising the methodology used to determine H-2A’s adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) was a win for specialty crop growers. The industry will score an even bigger victory once the rule becomes permanent. John Hollay, president and CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE), discussed the interim final rule and what …

Dry Weather Preferred: Alabama Tomato Grower Discusses Current Drought

Clint ThompsonAlabama

By Clint Thompson What a difference a year makes for one Alabama tomato producer. Chad Smith, who grows tomatoes in St. Clair County in the central part of the state, is preparing this year’s crop amid unusually dry conditions. It has created a challenging environment to plant tomato plants, though it’s still much better than 2025. “Take last year, it …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Grower Collaboration Critical for Beneficial Research

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Frank Giles In 1862, President Lincoln signed the Morrill Act into law. The legislation created the land-grant university system that was intended to teach about farming practices and serve agriculture. That mission continues to this day, and you see land-grant universities in the Southeast cited often in this magazine. Those institutions have played a vital role in the advancement …

USDA Deputy Secretary Discusses Specialty Crop Economic Aid

Clint ThompsonUSDA

By Clint Thompson and Dale Sandlin Amid calls for increased dedicated financial aid for specialty crops, Stephen Vaden, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary, emphasizes that additional appropriations cannot be made possible without congressional approval. In an interview with Dale Sandlin, Ag News Director for Southeast AgNet, Vaden was asked about the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, which allocated $12 …