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By Clint Thompson The Southeast region continues to observe expansion of extreme drought throughout North Florida and South Florida, along with South Georgia. This is according to the Feb. 19 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Florida Extreme conditions in the Florida Panhandle start as far west in Walton and Holmes counties, stretching eastward to Nassau, Duval and Saint Johns …
Irrigation and fertilizer applications are important management tools for Florida citrus growers following the recent freeze event in late January/early February. Davie Kadyampakeni, associate professor in soil, water and ecosystem sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), discussed both facets of tree maintenance during a postfreeze webinar hosted by the UF/IFAS Citrus Team. Key …
Georgia’s young citrus trees appear to have endured more impact from the recent freeze event than older, mature trees. That’s an initial assessment made by Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist. “I’m still getting reports, and we’re just starting our evaluation, but we’ve got a lot of leaf drop and leaf burn. There is …
By Clint Thompson Strawberry research continues to be a focus at Auburn University. It needs to be for Alabama growers to have a viable future. Sushan Ru, assistant professor in horticulture at Auburn University, hopes to provide her growers with strong alternative varieties. She updated growers about her research during the recent Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) Conference …
By Clint Thompson Potential disease buildup in the short term and long term is a concern for Florida blueberry growers coping with the aftermath of the recent freeze event. Short-term concerns deal mostly with botrytis. Long-term impacts deal with stem blight, explained Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, …
As growers surveyed fields and groves after the freeze in late January and early February, it was clear the damage had been catastrophic in many cases. That was confirmed by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson with the first estimate of damage released on Feb 20. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) preliminary estimates of losses to Florida …
Registration is now open for the 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, set for Aug. 12–13 at the waterfront Caloosa Sound Convention Center in downtown Fort Myers. The Expo has earned a reputation as a top event for commercial producers. The event brings together citrus and specialty crop growers, allied industry companies, researchers and industry leaders for two days of …
By Frank GilesMore than two years after the 2018 farm bill expired, a new draft of the legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives on Feb. 13. That same day, Congresswoman Kat Cammack hit the road in Florida to host farm bill listening sessions in Alachua, Lake Wales and Clewiston. The House version of the bill is called the …
By Clint Thompson Alabama growers need to know where their fruits and vegetables will be sold before the plants are put in the ground. That’s a message that was emphasized during the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) Conference on Feb. 5. AFVGA President Taylor Hatchett talked about her own farming operation’s experience when speaking at the conference. She …
By Chris Butts The new year provides us with the opportunity to reflect, reset and develop new goals and objectives for the coming months. Looking back to January of 2025, the fruit and vegetable industry has made progress on important issues like labor rates and H-2A program rules. Successful Conference Here in Georgia, we are finding reason for optimism. We …
