By Clint Thompson Pecan trees planted in March are at disadvantage when compared to those planted in January and February. Growers should abstain from trying to plant new trees during this time of year, believes Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension pecan specialist. UGA research shows that trees trying to get established in early spring will struggle compared …
AFBF’s Boatright: H-2A Becoming More Difficult to Utilize Over Time
By Clint Thompson The future of the H-2A program rests with legislative reform. Specialty crop interest groups have lobbied for changes to the program for years. The fight continues. Groups like the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) continue to educate legislative leaders about the importance of reform to the sustainability of farming operations across the country. John Walt Boatright, director …
Optimize Strawberry Fertility with Plant Tissue Testing
RALEIGH – In order for strawberry producers to optimize growth, fruit quality and economic return of their crop, intensive and precise fertilization is required throughout the season. Plant tissue testing measures nutrient levels in the leaflets and compares them to established target concentrations for healthy strawberries. This analysis can reveal nutrient deficiencies and imbalances within the plant and allow …
USDA, Sen. Ossoff, Rep. Bishop Announce Expansion of Local Foods in School Meals with Georgia
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt and Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Stacy Dean, along with U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop Jr. (GA-02), announced on Monday the signing of a cooperative agreement between USDA and Georgia for more than …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
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. Statewide Justin Ballew reports, “Well, we knew a “late” cold spell was likely to happen at some point. Growers will need to take some steps to prepare for the cold over the next few …
Dry Conditions Prevalent Across Southeast
By Clint Thompson The sufficient moisture conditions that were prevalent just a few weeks ago across the Southeast has turned abnormally dry again, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. All of South Alabama is abnormally dry, with portions of eastern Geneva County and southern Houston County in the southeast part of the state being moderately dry. The dry areas stretch …
Looming Sub-Freezing Temperatures Could Impact North Carolina Strawberries
By Clint Thompson The cold temperatures sweeping through the Southeast this week could impact North Carolina’s strawberry plants, which have already begun flowering. Austin Wrenn, president of the North Carolina Strawberry Association, discussed the impact that temperatures in the 20s could have on his and fellow farmers’ crop. “We’re supposed to get below freezing the next two or three nights. …
Florida Farm TEAM Card Commonsense Legislation
By Clint Thompson The Florida Farm Bureau and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with State Senator Jay Collins and State Representative Danny Alvarez are assisting Florida producers with sales tax exemption. New legislation would create a Florida Farm Tax Exempt Agricultural Materials (TEAM) card that could be used to purchase agricultural materials and be exempt from sales …
Leafminer Management Vital for Freeze-Impacted Trees
Cold-hardy citrus growers need to protect their trees against the citrus leafminer this year, more so than ever. A lack of control could have negative consequences for trees still recovering from the Christmas freeze last December. Xavier Martini, assistant professor of entomology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center, spoke on leafminer …
Register Now for the Florida Grower Citrus Show
The event’s fresh format will pack plenty of education and fellowship in a single day. The Florida Grower Citrus Show, scheduled for April 13, is fast approaching. The event opens at 7:30 a.m., and breakfast will be served at 8:00 a.m. Growers and industry stakeholders are invited to sign up for complimentary preregistration. NEW LOOK AND LOCATION This year, the University of …