By Clint Thompson Florida’s blueberry harvest season is under way and projected to last well into May, says grower Ryan Atwood. The Christmas freeze event and subsequent sub-freezing temperatures in early January contributed to the state having a longer harvest window this year. “It looks like a good crop. It’s pretty spread out and not very concentrated. All over the …
Farm to School Program: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Hosts Conference
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) hosted its annual Florida Farm to School Conference from March 9-10 in Central Florida to connect with schools, distributors, and producers across the state to increase Florida products served in schools. Participants learned about best practices for school gardening and procurement processes, networked with other Farm to School …
DeSantis Along with State Cabinet Approve Florida Land Deals
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/March 13, 2023) — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet on Monday approved plans to spend more than $46 million to help keep from development 21,000 acres in five counties. The deals included two land purchases under the Florida Forever program and acquiring three conservation easements, which will allow landowners to continue cattle and hunting operations in exchange for …
USDA Invests $29 Million to Assist American-Made Fertilizer Production
ORLANDO, Fla. – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Friday that the Department received $3 billion in applications from more than 350 independent businesses from 47 states and 2 territories for the first two rounds of a new grant program to add innovative domestic fertilizer production capacity. USDA also announced the first $29 million in grant offers …
Rain, Rain Go Away: North Alabama Needs Multiple Days of Sunshine
By Clint Thompson The need for dry weather was a concern for specialty crop producers in North Alabama following a rainy February. The region received a substantial amount of precipitation last month with minimal sunshine. It created challenges for growers trying to maintain their winter vegetables and for those producers preparing to plant their spring crop. “We’ve been wet. It’s …
Sen. Ossoff Working to Strengthen Georgia’s Fast-Growing Citrus Industry
Ochlocknee, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is launching a push to strengthen Georgia’s citrus industry. Ossoff is meeting with farmers and growers from key agricultural industries this week, as Congress continues to discuss this year’s Farm Bill, legislation that includes key programs, such as agricultural research, crop insurance, commodity pricing and more. Ossoff heard directly from citrus growers in …
Potential Early-Market Access Prompts North Florida Melon Farmers to Plant Earlier
By Clint Thompson The early-market watermelon window in May prompted North Florida producers to begin planting their crop earlier this season. Some were even finished planting by the first couple of days of March, according to Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) regional specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “I would say that …
Plant Pecan Trees Early, Not Late
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 …