Matt Joyner, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM), reported that a group of Florida citrus growers spoke to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency representatives about federal relief programs at the recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The Expo was held this year at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. “This year’s Expo …
Hurricane Idalia’s Possible Impact on Florida Strawberry Growers
By Clint Thompson The storm known as Idalia will become a hurricane by the time it makes landfall in Florida this week. That’s not good news for the region’s strawberry growers already preparing for the upcoming season. Producers are already laying plastic with expectations of planting their crop in September. A storm, with potential to reach Category 3 status, could …
Sewage Scrutinized for Polluting Indian River Lagoon
The summer months often see a rise of blue-green algae problems in Lake Okeechobee and its surrounding estuaries. Along with the algae come various claims of who is to blame. One thing is certain amid all the debate, nutrient and water-quality issues are an extremely complex problem with no single solution or party to blame. A recent study released by …
Update: Yellow-Legged Hornet Nest Eradicated
By Clint Thompson Only a couple of weeks after the yellow-legged hornet was sighted in Georgia, a nest has been safely eradicated, says Tyler Harper, Georgia Ag Commissioner. Harper announced the development during a news conference on Friday morning and called it a huge win for Georgia agriculture. “We are here today to announce that within two weeks of initial …
Idalia Could Impact Florida Strawberry Growers
By Clint Thompson The storm known as Idalia will become a hurricane by the time it makes landfall in Florida this week. That’s not good news for the region’s strawberry growers already preparing for the upcoming season. Producers are already laying plastic with expectations of planting their crop in September. A storm, with potential to reach Category 3 status, could …
Dry Conditions Expanding Across Southeast
Dry conditions are becoming more widespread across the Southeast. In some areas of the region, the dry weather is classified as a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The worst conditions are observed along the Florida Panhandle. A moderate drought starts in Escambia County and stretches Liberty and Franklin counties. Abnormal drought conditions continue eastward to Jefferson County. Dry …
Seminis Pepper Varieties Solution for Bacterial Leaf Spot
By Clint Thompson Seminis Vegetable Seeds (Bayer) has an answer for those pepper producers combating bacterial leaf spot disease. New varieties with disease resistance are critical for growers who are concerned that they are overusing imperfect fungicides. Andrew Scruggs, market development representative in North Carolina for Bayer Vegetable Seeds, discussed the situation facing growers. “You think about the Southeast United …
Warm Temps, Dry Conditions Help Whitefly Numbers Increase
By Clint Thompson The inevitable has finally happened in the Southeast; whitefly populations are on the rise. It was bound to happen considering the prolonged hot and dry weather conditions being experienced across the region. “I think it’s still probably localized, but yeah, there are some fields, if you start getting squash coming up, it just pulls them in like …
Drought Monitor: Dry Conditions Expanding Across Southeast
Dry conditions are becoming more widespread across the Southeast. In some areas of the region, the dry weather is classified as a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The worst conditions are observed along the Florida Panhandle. A moderate drought starts in Escambia County and stretches Liberty and Franklin counties. Abnormal drought conditions continue eastward to Jefferson County. …
USDA Announces $72.9 Million in Grant Funding Awarded to Support U.S. Specialty Crop Producers
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced on Wednesday that $72.9 million has been awarded to 55 states and territories through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The grant program provides funding to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and support specialty crop growers through marketing, education and research. “USDA is excited to announce …