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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced an extension on Thursday for Florida’s agricultural producers to apply for more than $600 million in disaster assistance for impacts from the 2023 and 2024 hurricane seasons. Florida producers now have until January 1, 2027, to apply for the Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program. Eligible agricultural producers can apply for …
By Clint Thompson Members of Georgia’s Senate and House of Representatives met on Thursday for the Joint Ag Issues Summit in Perry, Georgia. The summit also served as the inaugural meeting of the Joint Study Committee on the Generational Sustainability of Family Farms with future meetings scheduled for Rome, Douglas and Athens. Senator Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell), chairman of the Senate …
By Clint Thompson Powdery mildew is one of the most problematic diseases that Florida cucurbit farmers must overcome every season. However, fungicides are available that help mitigate the disease’s impact. Amanda McVay, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) graduate student, discussed those fungicide options at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo on Aug. 13 in …
The threat of Asian citrus psyllids to cold-hardy citrus does not mean growers should ignore other insects and their potential impacts in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. The citrus red mite should be a concern for growers, especially in the spring and if certain weather conditions persist, explains Apurba Barman, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor of entomology …
By Frank Giles When you tackle a big topic like the Specialty Crop Grower Magazine’s August cover story on inflation in agriculture, it is impossible to fit all the information related to the issue in the limited space of a magazine. Sharply rising inputs and production expenses have been a challenge for growers dating back to COVID. They have had …
By Clint Thompson Pecan harvests will begin soon across the Southeast. With harvest season on the horizon in Georgia and Alabama, growers are also winding down their fungicide sprays for scab disease. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, talked about what fungicide sprays remain for growers, which largely depends on the variety. “Pawnee, which is of course is …
Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Lowcountry Report Anna Sara Hill Midlands Report Rob Last Sarah Scott Upstate Report Andy Rollins
By Clint Thompson Scab disease may be becoming harder to control on the Pawnee pecan variety. That’s a concern shared by Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist. Wells noted in the UGA Pecan Blog that his team saw more scab on Pawnee last year than what is observed in Desirables, a notoriously scab susceptible variety. “I had …
By Clint Thompson Stress is synonymous with farming these days. Increased costs have amplified those concerns for producers, whether they are in row crop production or are producing fruits and vegetables. Diesel prices are averaging $5.35 per gallon. Fertilizer prices remain high, as are chemical costs. The spike in input expenses are worsened since market prices have not improved for …
By Clint Thompson The ongoing threat of the yellow-legged hornet (YLH) to honey bee populations in the Southeast should concern the region’s fruit and vegetable producers, says University of Georgia Honey Bee Program Director Jamie Ellis. “Honey bees are incredibly important providers of pollination services. Many of the crops grown in Georgia, for example, blueberries, watermelons, cucumbers, cantaloupes, squashes; are …
