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By Clint Thompson Florida’s strawberry acres increased in 2023 and so did subsequent production. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, Florida’s acreage totaled 14,200, an increase from 12,800 in 2022 and 12,300 in 2021. Total production reached 2.9 million cwt in 2023, compared to 2.8 million cwt in 2022 and 2.83 million cwt in 2021. …
By Clint Thompson Persistent rains over the previous week across the Southeast has left most of the region with sufficient moisture except for southern Florida, according to the latest release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Most of the southern region of Florida is either abnormally dry or moderately dry. The dry conditions start as far north as Volusia, Seminole and …
By Clint Thompson The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) was thrilled to see many of its recommendations included in the U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s passage of the farm bill last week. But Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and co-chair of the SCFBA, remains grounded in his excitement. He understands it is a long process from now …
The U.S. Highbush Council (USHBC) has been awarded $1.3 million from the U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) to expand export opportunities for domestic blueberries. “We applaud Secretary Tom Vilsack, Undersecretary Alexis Taylor and the Senate Agriculture Committee for their visionary leadership in creating the RAPP program,” said Kasey Cronquist, president of USHBC. “Their support …
When consumers go to the grocery store, they want their produce, including broccoli, to look, feel and taste fresh. This desire compels University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher Tie Liu to study ways to keep vegetables fresh. Liu and his colleagues studied in newly published research the physiological and molecular mechanisms of two treatments: 1-Methylcyclopropene …
The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHB) was awarded $1.3 million from the U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) to expand export opportunities for domestic blueberries. “We applaud Secretary Tom Vilsack, Undersecretary Alexis Taylor, and the Senate Agriculture Committee for their visionary leadership in creating the RAPP program,” said Kasey Cronquist, president of USHBC. “Their support …
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 24, 2024) – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) has released the following statement following the U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s passage of the farm bill: “We thank Chairman Thompson and his staff for including so many investments for specialty crops in his bill, as well as the countless Democrats and Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee …
By Clint Thompson Registration is officially open for this year’s Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo, scheduled for Aug. 21-22 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. The two-day event, hosted by AgNet Media, provides vital information for both the citrus and specialty crop industries, while also allowing attendees to interact with tradeshow vendors that will be in attendance. Josh …
By Clint Thompson Tarnished plant bugs have impacted Alabama’s strawberry crop this season. Growers’ success in managing the pest in the future will depend on scouting, says David Lawrence, regional Extension agent in central Alabama. “Especially the growers that have seen them this year, they need to mark that date on their calendars of when they saw it, and the …
Agricultural pests are sometimes disguised as animals looking for food sources. Unfortunately for producers in Georgia, that food source will often be their crops. Georgia’s legislative leaders are arming state agencies with substantial funding in next year’s budget to tackle this substantial problem. Included was $150,000 directed to the Georgia Department of Agriculture for the Feral Hog Task Force and …
