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By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers rely on industry supporters like Will Bentley, president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council, to be a voice at the state and federal levels. It is a responsibility that Bentley does not take lightly. “For us at the Agribusiness Council, we feel like our role is to take that fight to the capitol; whether that’s …
By Clint Thompson First chlorothalonil. What’s next for watermelon growers? It was the message delivered by Nick Dufalt, a plant pathologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, to producers and industry leaders at the Suwanee Valley Watermelon Institute meeting in Fanning Springs on Nov. 30. Chlorothalonil’s usage could be reduced in the near future by …
By Clint Thompson Paper mulch is a management option that watermelon producers could be using in the near future. While plastic mulch has long been utilized in vegetable production, paper mulch provides growers a more efficient and effective product to use during the season. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent …
By Clint Thompson University of Georgia (UGA) bell pepper research centered on phytophthora resistance is a focus of Ted McAvoy’s studies on the UGA Tifton campus. The UGA Extension vegetable specialist explains that resistant varieties exist but in other parts of the country not suited for South Georgia producers. He hopes to change that. “Phytophthora is the No. 1 soil-borne …
By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers and farming operations should be prepared for strict heat regulations that loom on the horizon, according to Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Butts stresses the importance of producers having plans in place for how to prevent heat illness and how to treat it. They would be …
COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service to offer more than $4 million in competitive grants to support middle-of-the-food-supply-chain infrastructure for domestic food and farm businesses and other eligible entities. Grants under the Resilient Food System Infrastructure (RFSI) program will support expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, …
Much-needed rainfall continues to help alleviate a lot of the drought conditions present in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Southeast Alabama is drought-free, as well as most of central and southern Georgia and nearly all of Florida. Alabama’s worst drought conditions are mostly concentrated to the central and northern areas of the state. Extreme drought …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched an online application for Direct Loan customers. More than 26,000 customers who submit a Direct Loan application each year can now use an online, interactive, guided application that provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet, and build …
By Clint Thompson Pecan prices were less than desirable for Southeast producers. But they could have been a lot worse, explains Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist. He said prices, while low, have stayed steady throughout the harvest season. It is mainly due to China being a buyer again this year. “This year we haven’t seen a …
U.S. agricultural exports in fiscal year (FY) 2024 are projected to be $169.5 billion, which would be a decrease of $2.5 billion from the August forecast. Horticultural product exports remain unchanged at $39.5 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service and Foreign Agricultural Service Situation and Outlook Report. Whole and processed tree nuts, like pecans, are …
