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Citrus greening disease continues to loom over the cold-hardy citrus region. While the industry expands in South Georgia and North Florida, the threat of the disease (also known as huanglongbing, or HLB) remains a focal point of citrus meetings, including on July 28 at the Southeast Georgia Citrus Update in Lyons. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and …
By Clint Thompson The Senate Agriculture Committee’s failure to advance the farm bill on Thursday was mostly due to disagreements over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That’s an unfortunate development for members of the specialty crops community, including Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA). “Sadly, those things are …
The adverse effect wage rates (AEWRs) have been updated by the U.S. Department of Labor for agricultural occupations. The new rates for H-2A workers are based on the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. This significantly impacts producers in the Southeast, especially in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. For Florida the new AEWRs for field and …
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Lowcountry Report Zack Snipes Midlands Report Rob Last Daniel Lyon
Freeze protection is a vital part of university research in the cold-hardy citrus region. Growers in South Georgia, South Alabama and North Florida only have to look back to last season to see temperatures that dropped to dangerously low levels for citrus production. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed freeze-protection measures at the …
By Clint Thompson A domestic workforce for specialty crop producers is all but nonexistent. It is why growers, specialty crop organizations and industry specialists support reform to the current H-2A system. Reform is needed to ensure farmers have a reliable workforce for years to come. John Hollay, president and CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers praised U.S. Representative …
WASHINGTON — The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued the following statement after Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Chairman John Boozman scheduled a meeting of the full Committee to consider the farm bill on August 6, 2026. “The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance supports any step that brings us closer to enacting a bipartisan five-year farm bill before …
COLUMBIA – Farmers markets are community hubs, small business incubators, and a great source for fresh food grown by local farmers. During National Farmers Market Week, enjoy the bounty of South Carolina farms by visiting a market near you. National Farmers Market Week is this week. It’s a perfect time to acknowledge the importance of South Carolina farmers. “When farmers sell …
The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) is urging the Senate for $12 billion in agricultural assistance. The FFVA submitted a letter last week to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Florida senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, looking for support in maintaining at least $12 billion in assistance included in the budget package approved by the House. “As the …
By Clint Thompson Increased rains in Alabama have provided difficult weather conditions to grow tomatoes. That’s according to Chad Smith, who grows tomatoes in St. Clair County in the central part of the state. “It’s been pretty challenging,” Smith said. “Like I would prefer for it to be dry versus too wet. It got to a point where it was …
