The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has announced that general registration is open for the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention. The convention will be held Jan. 19-24, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. “New Frontiers” is the theme of AFBF’s 105th consecutive convention, a “can’t miss” event that offers attendees unique insights on the policies and perspectives that will affect …
Hurricane Season Not Over: Future Storms Could Develop in Gulf
By Clint Thompson Hurricane peak season has come and gone, but that does not mean future storms this fall are out of the question. In fact, specialty crop growers should be mindful that potential storms are now more likely to originate in the Gulf Mexico this time of year, which would not provide ample time for producers in Florida, Georgia …
Strawberry Shortage: UGA Extension Agent Confirms Lack of Available Plants
By Clint Thompson Strawberry plantings have begun across the Southeast… at least for those growers who have their plants. Some producers have already expressed to Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, that there is a plant shortage. “We’re a little early really. Some of the guys around here still …
It Is Time to Talk About Quality
By Gerardo H. Nunez Long gone are the days when blueberries were a seasonal product. Nowadays, blueberries are available at the grocery store year-round thanks to innovations in plant breeding and a flood of imported fruit. This is changing the scenario for blueberry growers in the Southeast. Suddenly, growing fruit for the early spring market is not enough. The market …
North Carolina Receives $6.3 million USDA Award for Conservation Easements in the Neuse River Basin
RALEIGH – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service awarded the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services $6.3 million to place conservation easements on farms in the Upper Neuse River Basin. This project was funded through USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). “Securing more funding for conservation easements is a critical step in preserving our …
UF/IFAS Utilizes AI for Herbicide Application
By Clint Thompson One University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher is using artificial intelligence (AI) to apply herbicides more efficiently. Nathan Boyd’s research will help growers to not make chemical applications where they are not needed. “We use artificial intelligence that we’ve trained to differentiate. You could train it to differentiate species. We’ve decided that’s not really …
Don’t Forget! Registration Still Open for Florida Ag Expo Event
By Clint Thompson AgNet Media reminds those interested in attending this year’s Florida Ag Expo that registration is still ongoing for the event, scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 9, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Josh McGill, show director for AgNet Media provides more information for those thinking about attending the event at the University of Florida Institute of Food and …
UF/IFAS Using AI to Apply Herbicides More Efficiently
By Clint Thompson One University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher is using artificial intelligence (AI) to apply herbicides more efficiently. Nathan Boyd’s research will help growers to not make chemical applications where they are not needed. “We use artificial intelligence that we’ve trained to differentiate. You could train it to differentiate species. We’ve decided that’s …
FFVA Convention Tackles Agricultural Labor Issues
By Frank Giles The latest buzz word in agriculture is resilience. That sentiment was evident at the 2023 Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) convention in September. More than 500 attendees gathered in Naples to take care of association business, learn about key issues and enjoy time with industry peers. Despite plenty of challenges, growers were in good spirits during …
Florida Blueberry Growers Hope for a Better Season in 2024
By Leonard Park The Florida blueberry season that began in the summer of 2022 culminated in one of the smallest spring harvests in years. The main culprit was Hurricane Ian. However, the lack of chill hours in December, followed by two harsh cold snaps over the holidays, affected other regions with damaged flower buds and crop delays. For most growers, …












