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By Frank Giles The Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hit the road in July to host a series of meetings in key blueberry-growing regions of the state. MANAGE RESISTANCE UF/IFAS researchers covered several production topics during the meetings. Phil Harmon, professor of plant pathology, spoke about disease management …
By Clint Thompson U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK.), the longest-serving Member on the House Committee on Agriculture, prefers the farm bill to be completed in 2024 rather than rolling over into 2025. He said the likelihood of that happening hinges on a little bit of luck with less than half the year remaining. “The lay of the land is changing, …
By Clint Thompson One of the most tedious, but necessary parts of peach production centers on fruit thinning. Producers must remove much of their crop so what’s remaining can increase in size and yields. One North Carolina State University researcher is confident a chemical option will soon be a viable alternative for growers. Mike Parker, associate professor and Extension specialist …
Extreme drought is spreading in two areas in North Alabama. Most of Georgia is either abnormally dry or moderately dry, while Northeast Florida is abnormally dry. These are the latest conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Extreme drought is seen in Alabama counties like Lamar, Fayette, Marion and Walker, in the northwest part of the state; along with Lauderdale, …
By Frank Giles The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is scheduled for Aug. 21–22 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. This year’s event will be the second at the fairgrounds — a venue which was well received by attendees of last year’s Expo. The event features an expansive trade show providing growers with an opportunity to learn about the …
By Clint Thompson Tomato harvests are under way for one Alabama producer. Chad Smith, in St. Clair County, said the intense heat felt this summer, which followed steady rainfall in the spring, contributed to what is expected to be an “average crop” this season. “This year, we had a lot of rain early, and it turned off hot and dry. …
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s peach producers are finally enjoying the fruits of their labor this year. “It’s good, it’s really hard to complain about this crop,” said North Georgia producer Drew Echols. “The flavor is great. There’s a lot of beautiful peaches.” Echols and other growers with a crop had reason to be smiling this harvest season. Last year’s crop …
By Clint Thompson North Carolina peach farmers are experiencing a bumper crop this year; the best crop in recent memory, according to one producer. “It’s the best crop I’ve seen, and I’m 44-years-old. It’s an outstanding crop for North Carolina,” said Brad Thompson, president of the North Carolina Peach Growers’ Society. The reason for such optimism is simple; there was …
By Clint Thompson Alabama pecan producers are feeling optimistic about the crop for the first time in four years. Not since 2020 have the state’s pecan farmers felt this good about its crop heading into harvest season, according to Bryan Wilkins, Auburn University research associate. “It was a decent June drop, but it just really thinned them out like they …
By Clint Thompson The trade mission to India last April went about as well as could be expected, according to Georgia pecan industry experts. But what happens next? Justin Jones, Georgia pecan grower, chairman of industry relations for the American Pecan Council and co-owner of brand Zorro Pecans, discussed the next step in making a trade partnership with India, not …
