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In this month’s sneak peek, the June issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights how the Middle East conflict has impacted energy and fertilizer markets. The center of the market disruption is located on the Strait of Hormuz, a main conduit for oil and nutrient movement. Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, talked about the conflict …
By Clint Thompson The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Assistance for Specialty Crops Farmers (ASCF) program will account for $1.625 billion in payments to eligible producers in response to high input prices and market disruptions resulting from unfair trade practices with foreign countries. The program was announced last week and drew praise from industry leaders, including Chris Butts, executive vice …
By Clint Thompson Alabama farmer Taylor Hatchett’s diverse approach in what she grows and how she markets her crop is a reason why Boozer Farms remains a successful farming operation in Chilton County. Some may connect Hatchett and Boozer Farms with the place to get strawberries; or blueberries; or vegetables. No matter what consumers come to purchase at Boozer Farms, …
South Alabama’s citrus production is nearly non-existent. The 2025 snow event made sure of that. One of the few remaining producers is Craig Goolsby, with Silverhill Satsumas in Baldwin County. Goolsby recently added trees to his citrus operation, but that is far from the norm for Alabama citrus growers. According to Goolsby, state plant protection inspectors were recently making the …
By Clint Thompson The weather’s transition from prolonged drought to occasional rains has negatively impacted Georgia’s blueberry crop. Blueberry producer Johnny Allen, located in Alma, Georgia, said his crop encountered fruit splits with this year’s crop. “We went from dry to rains there a little bit, so that hurt us,” Allen said. “When you get in drought and then you …
By Frank Giles Peach breeders at Clemson University and University of Georgia (UGA) work to develop varieties that are suited for the Southeast climate and for resistance to various pests. Dario Chavez, UGA associate professor, describes a rootstock developed in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ksenija Gasic, Clemson professor, describes three newer peach variety releases. P-22 Rootstock P-22 …
By Clint Thompson Florida’s congressional delegation joined other legislative leaders in urging the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer to address challenges facing the specialty crop industry as part of this year’s review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Congressional members issued a letter to the USTR on May 12, highlighting challenges facing U.S. fruit and vegetable growers from increased imports, …
By Clint Thompson Harvest season is just around the corner for Southeast peach producers. For Lane Southern Orchards in Central Georgia, this means working round the clock this time of year. “The H-2A contracts start in February, so that’s when peach season starts,” says Tyler Wainwright, farm manager for Lane Southern Orchards. Wainwright oversees production practices in peach orchards west …
By Clint Thompson A South Georgia watermelon scout believes this year’s crop is still more than a week away from being harvested. “I feel like they are every bit of two weeks off,” said Flanders in an interview with AgNet Media on May 18. “So, I would say it’s going to be two weeks, maybe a little bit longer. And …
By Clint Thompson The cotton jassid’s lingering absence in fields across South Georgia is a win for vegetable producers in the middle of this year’s spring season. Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist, said the insect hasn’t been detected since about February, though researchers and Extension agents have been closely monitoring traps set up across the region. …
