Field Tours Highlight of Florida Ag Expo

Web AdminEvents, Florida Ag Expo

By Clint Thompson The Florida Ag Expo is a little more than a week away. Pre-registration is just a few days away for those interested in attending the event, scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 9, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. One of the highlights of the event every year are the field tours at the University of Florida Institute of …

The Future of Florida Blueberries Driven by Automation

Web AdminFruits, Specialty Crops

By Frank Giles Last week, the Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) hosted its annual fall meeting in Lakeland at Bonnet Springs Park and Event Center. The meeting’s education program covered a wide range of topics, including production, labor and the farm bill debate. Leonard Park, FBGA president, noted in his welcome address that last season was a struggle for Florida’s …

Drought Update: Dry Conditions Worsening Across Southeast Region

Web AdminDrought

The lack of rainfall over the past week led to drought conditions worsening and expanding across areas of the Southeast, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor update. An extreme drought is observed in multiple areas across Alabama. One area is in the southwest part of the state in parts of Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Monrore, Conecuh and Escambia counties. North …

Vilsack Speaks on Possible Extension to Farm Bill

Web AdminFarm Bill

By Clint Thompson The chances of an extension to the 2018 Farm Bill increases every day that legislative leaders fail to pass a new one. That is the outlook shared by Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, who spoke on the subject last Tuesday. “Each day that goes by without a speaker, without a budget and without a Farm Bill, the likelihood …

Improving Yields and Traits in U.S. Hemp Crops  

Web AdminHemp, Research

Two research grants will help improve domestic hemp production in the future. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research’s (FFAR) Hemp Research Consortium provided two grants totaling $1.17 million to Cornell University to support a breeding program aimed at cultivating hemp for grain, fiber and CBD production in U.S. growing regions. Consortium partners contributed matching funds for a total investment …

Crop Insurance Deadline is Nov. 20 For Florida Blueberries and Whole-Farm Revenue Protection

Web AdminBlueberries, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Florida blueberry producers that the deadline to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2024 crop year is Nov. 20. Growers who are interested in the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection policy and are late fiscal year filers have until Nov. 20 to apply for crop insurance. Current policyholders who wish to …

Wage Rate

GFVGA Advises Growers to Carefully Consider FLSP Program

Web AdminLabor, USDA

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) cautions its specialty crop producers about participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP Program). The GFVGA wants growers to carefully consider what is required of their farming operations to participate in the grant program that will use up to $65 million …

SCFBA Co-Chair: When Are We Going to Get a Farm Bill?

Web AdminFarm Bill

By Clint Thompson Like other agriculture-based organizations across the country, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) is concerned about the current upheaval in Washington, D.C. The absence of a Speaker of the House has pushed back legislative issues like the next Farm Bill. It has created concern among specialty crop leaders about when one would actually be created, says …

Crop Insurance Deadline Is Nov. 20 For Florida Blueberries and Whole-Farm Revenue Protection

Web AdminBlueberries, Florida

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Florida blueberry producers that the deadline to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2024 crop year is Nov. 20. Growers who are interested in the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection policy and are late fiscal year filers have until Nov. 20 to apply for crop insurance. Current policyholders who wish …