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By Clint Thompson Abnormally dry conditions have become more widespread across the Southeast (SE), due to the lack of rainfall over the past couple of weeks, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Most of northern and central Florida is abnormally dry. The dry conditions start in Leon and Wakulla counties, stretch east to Nassau and Duval counties and southward to …
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is updating and issuing a Federal Order designed to continue protecting the domestic pepper and tomato industries while safely deregulating tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV)-positive tomatoes and peppers for consumption. Under the new Federal Order, APHIS will maintain its strong safeguards for imported and domestic …
WINTER SPRINGS, FL – The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) is excited to announce the call for entries for their 16th annual Watermelon Retail Merchandising Contest. Retail chains, independent retailers, and commissaries are invited to compete for more than $10,000 in cash and prizes. The grand prize winner will receive $5,000, with $2,500 awarded to the second place, $1,000 for …
By Frank Giles On June 28, a new rule from U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regarding the H-2A program will come into force. The agency noted the 600-page rule is intended to strengthen protections for temporary agricultural workers. In announcing the final rule in late April, DOL Acting Secretary Julie Su said: “H-2A workers too frequently face abusive working conditions …
By Clint Thompson Watermelon harvests are underway across South Georgia. One crop scout attributes an uptick in disease pressure in watermelons this year to the increased rainfall experienced throughout the region in the spring. Tim Flanders, who scouts watermelon fields in the Tifton, Georgia, area, also said producers experienced some diseases sooner in the production season than normal. “We’ve got …
By Clint Thompson The current lawsuit against the Department of Labor (DOL) is a last resort for Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), a plaintiff in a case that is challenging new worker rules proposed for the H-2A program. Chris Butts, executive director of the GFVGA, explains his organization’s position in joining a lawsuit against the DOL. This is …
Research has shown that grafting or choosing the right watermelon cultivar is more important than fungicide applications in managing fusarium wilt, according to one Clemson scientist. Plant pathologist Tony Keinath reported in his experiment at the Coastal Research and Education Center in Charleston, South Carolina, Cracker Jack had more diseased plants (5.8%) than Fascination (0.2%). Twelve of the 13 diseased …
The long-range weather forecasts call for an extremely active tropical season. Much of that potential for increased activity this summer is due to warmer-than-normal water temperatures, says Pam Knox, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agricultural climatologist. “If you look at the longer range (forecast), we do see a pattern shift that is going to allow more likely (storm) development, probably …
By Clint Thompson Fruit and vegetable season is wide open across Alabama. Crops are being harvested and sold in counties all over the state. Blake Thaxton, executive director of the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA), discussed the current situation facing his state’s specialty crop producers. “It’s wide-open peach season. The peach crop seems to be doing well, definitely …
PALISADE, Colo. – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $50 million to 141 awardees in 40 states and Puerto Rico, through the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP Program), reaching 177 unique agricultural operations and more than 11,000 workers. The awards will help improve the resiliency of the …
