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 …
The Villages Grown Takes Local to the Next Level
By Frank Giles It is often said that real estate is all about location, location, location. The same can be said for the concept of local food systems. Farms being near the population they serve is a key element to success. There might be no better example of a prime location to establish a farm than The Villages in Central …
USDA Announces $29 Million to Increase 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 …
Current Dry Period Benefiting Florida’s Blueberry Quality
By Clint Thompson The current prolonged dry period affecting the majority of Florida is impacting fruit quality in the state’s blueberry crop. Most of the state is in a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. That has had a positive effect on blueberries, which are beginning to be harvested in certain areas across Florida, said Ryan Atwood, who …
Nutsedge Requires Year-Round Management
By Clint Thompson Nutsedge is one of the most devastating and frustrating pests that Southeast vegetable producers encounter every year, but it can be managed more effectively. Growers must be dedicated to implementing a year-round management system and not just one that’s effective during a specific production season. Nutsedge is a destructive weed that can overwhelm a cropping system and …