By Jordan Powers The University of Georgia Office of Research recently announced a record-breaking fiscal year 2022 with more than a half billion dollars spent on research and development. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) was responsible for $112.8 million, an increase of $13.8 million from fiscal year 2021 in overall money spent on research. These expenditures contribute …
Low Supply and High Prices for Florida Tomatoes
By Clint Thompson Tomato prices are high right now for producers. They should be able to take advantage for a couple of more weeks, if they have a crop. “If” is the operative word, because supply is low. Bob Spencer, president of West Coast Tomato in Palmetto, Florida, attributes the low supply to the Christmas freeze event. Growers experienced significant bloom drop, …
Sneak Peek: March 2023 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
The March issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights Georgia specialty crop producer Drew Echols. Diversification is the key to his success. He produces peaches, strawberries, apples, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn, tomatoes and other vegetables on more than 600 acres. He discusses how Jaemor Farms has increased in size and stature in North Georgia. Fruit and vegetable farmers face a …
Sweet Valley Citrus Expansion Could Stall
Trees in the Sweet Valley Citrus region have been in high demand in recent years. Plantings of satsuma mandarins and other citrus varieties have steadily risen the past few years in Georgia, Alabama and North Florida. That steady climb is expected to stall this year, however. Following the Christmas freeze event that rattled the industry in the Southeast in December 2022, growers …
Florida Blueberry Harvests Should Begin Soon
By Clint Thompson Blueberry harvests are only days away for some growers in Florida. Location will determine when producers will start harvesting fruit, believes Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. “Some places will start picking early March, depending on the location. Some of the South Florida farms that didn’t have a …
UF/IFAS Shares Pest Management Findings
Foliar sprays of insecticides timed to citrus flushing provided a significant reduction in Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) populations compared to standard pest management practices, researcher Jawwad Qureshi reported. Timing sprays to flushing also led to a reduction in sprays, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor of entomology said in a virtual presentation on Feb. 22. Qureshi …
State of Organic Produce 2022 Report is Released
In a report released by Organic Produce Network, the performance of individual organic produce categories displayed a wide range of results last year (2022). Though total organic produce sales had a 3% increase, and the volume showed a -3.7% decrease, the performance of the top 20 categories varied greatly due to inflation and other factors of a complex market environment. …
U.S. Drought Monitor Update: Florida either Abnormally or Moderately Dry
Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor showed minimal dry conditions in Georgia and Alabama, while Florida is mostly abnormally dry or moderately dry. In Alabama, the only abnormally dry area is located in the southern half of Houston County. In Georgia, the dry conditions are located mostly in the southeast area of the state. The abnormally dry conditions start …
Low Supply, High Prices for Tomatoes
By Clint Thompson Tomato prices are high right now for producers. They should be able to take advantage for a couple of more weeks, if they have a crop. “If” is the operative word, because supply is low. Bob Spencer, president of West Coast Tomato in Palmetto, Florida, attributes the low supply to the Christmas freeze event. Growers experienced significant …
BMP Highlights at UF/IFAS Workshop
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a water and nutrient management workshop at the Citrus Research and Education Center in mid-February. In addition to seminars, a grove tour was provided to demonstrate a nutrient-rate trial currently underway at the center. Kelly Morgan, UF/IFAS professor of crop nutrition, spoke on recent activity to update citrus best management …