The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released its priorities for the 2023 farm bill. The priorities were identified by a working group of Farm Bureau members and staff from across the country. AFBF’s overarching priorities include: Continuing current farm bill program funding; Maintaining a unified farm bill that includes nutrition programs and farm programs together; Prioritizing risk management tools …
Dry Weather Delaying Strawberry Plantings in North Alabama
By Clint Thompson The current dry weather is delaying strawberry plantings in North Alabama, says Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama. A lack of rain this fall means growers don’t have adequate moisture to keep their beds properly shaped. Producers are more than a week behind in getting their plants in the ground as a result. “It’s slowing …
Giving Blueberries a Boost to Continue Consumption Growth
By Frank Giles The Florida Blueberry Growers Association hosted its annual short course in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, in October. The meeting featured educational sessions ranging from optimizing pollination and marketing to chilli thrips control and new varieties. Growers were in good spirits at the meeting, despite impacts from Hurricane Ian. While some growers further south in the state took a hard …
Promotion and Marketing Critical to Florida Blueberry Industry’s Success
By Frank Giles The Florida Blueberry Growers Association hosted its annual short course in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, in October. The meeting featured educational sessions ranging from optimizing pollination and marketing to chilli thrips control and new varieties. Growers were in good spirits at the meeting, despite impacts from Hurricane Ian. While some growers further south in the state took a hard …
Tomato Prices High Following Hurricane Ian
By Clint Thompson Tomato prices are extremely high right now. Unfortunately, there’s not much supply for growers to take advantage. “North Florida and South Georgia are probably the only domestic supply of tomatoes we’ve got for the foreseeable future,” said Josh Freeman, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor in horticultural science. Freeman estimated those …
New Date Set for Ag Labor Relations Forum
The 48th annual Agricultural Labor Relations Forum has been rescheduled following the postponement from Hurricane Ian. The labor relations forum will now be presented in a virtual format over a four-week period, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 25. The Florida Specialty Crop Foundation presents the forum. It educates agricultural employers, including growers, shippers, farm labor contractors and other employers, on compliance with Ag labor laws …
Vidalia Onion Plants Progressing Amid Dry Weather
By Clint Thompson The current dry spell is having a minimal impact on the growth of this season’s Vidalia onion crop. All seedbeds are grown under irrigation pivots, according to Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension area onion agent. “All our seedbeds are under irrigation so we can give them the water they need. There is something about rainwater when …
Ag Labor Relations Forum Rescheduled Following Ian
The 48th annual Agricultural Labor Relations Forum has been rescheduled following the postponement from Hurricane Ian. The forum will now be presented in a virtual format over a four-week period, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 25. The Florida Specialty Crop Foundation presents the forum. It educates agricultural employers, including growers, shippers, farm labor contractors and other employers, on compliance with Ag labor …
USDA Provides Payments of nearly $800 Million in Assistance to Help Keep Farmers Farming
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA directed USDA to expedite assistance to distressed borrowers of direct …
Florida’s Tomato Supply Good Despite Hurricane Ian
Florida’s November tomato crop will be smaller than normal due to the impact of Hurricane Ian, but Florida will remain a significant supplier from now through December. The weather since the hurricane has been ideal, allowing growers to quickly recuperate fields. This means that even those farms that sustained damage will be able to harvest a portion of their crop, according to …