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By Clint Thompson Labor reform is hopefully on the way. It would be a long time coming for Southeast farmers, industry leaders and specialty crop organizations, who have advocated for H-2A reform for years. That includes John Hollay, president and CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE). He expressed thanks to U.S. Representative GT Thompson and his labor …
By Clint Thompson A potential outbreak of the Cyclospora parasite impacting lettuce should serve as a reminder to Southeast farmers about the importance of food safety protocols and keeping good records of food safety activities. Keith Schneider, a professor in the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) food science and human nutrition department, talked about food safety …
By Clint Thompson Ralstonia research is one of the topics highlighted at this summer’s blueberry meetings hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. While it is not as problematic as other blueberry diseases as Florida growers contend with every year, it has the potential to wreak havoc on one of the state’s major fruit crop, …
The Last Word By Wilton Simpson If you’ve spent any time in agriculture, you’ve learned a simple truth: We’re not really farming for ourselves. Every seed planted, every fence repaired, every grove, pasture and field we care for is an investment in what comes next. Agriculture has always been about leaving something better behind for the next generation than what …
By Clint Thompson One familiar insect pest is starting to rear its ugly head this summer. Unfortunately, its arrival is earlier than expected. But that’s the grim scenario facing vegetable farmers preparing for their fall crops. Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension vegetable entomologist, said whiteflies have started showing up in cotton, according to conversations he has had with …
The July 16 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows lingering drought conditions in the southern and northern areas of Georgia, sufficient moisture throughout most of Alabama and extreme conditions in North Florida and down the state’s west coast. Alabama The driest areas in Alabama are located in the northern parts of the state. Moderate drought is observed in Northwest …
By Clint Thompson This year’s satsuma mandarin crop in the cold-hardy citrus region is expected to be an abundant one; bumper even, according to Lindy Savelle, citrus producer and executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association. “We’re going to have another 2024. Bumper. It’s going to be a lot,” Savelle said. “But I’m excited. You know, we’re trying to do …
By Clint Thompson Scab is not the only disease impacting pecan orchards in the Southeast this summer. According to Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, anthracnose has been observed on some pecan leaves this year. “We’ve had a few calls on that this year and did get confirmed in the diagnostic lab that it was anthracnose because there’s …
By Clint Thompson The time is now for legislative leaders to strike a deal on the next farm bill. The House has already released its version. The Senate recently released its draft. The window is open for this important piece of legislation to get passed, says Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and co-chair of the Specialty Crop …
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a bamboo field day in July at Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery in Frostproof. Scientists at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) have initiated several projects to evaluate bamboo varieties and production practices. Phillip Rucks has planted numerous bamboo varieties for evaluation and sells bamboo plants to …
