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 …
Numbers Don’t Lie: Minimal Interest from Domestic Workers in Agriculture
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 …
SCFBA Encouraged by Farm Bill Momentum
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 …
Find Fresh, Local Food in South Carolina During National Farmers Market Week
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 …
FFVA Urges Senate Support for Ag Assistance
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 …
Alabama Tomato Producer: Rainfall Challenging This Year
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 …
Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum Set for Aug. 25-26
By Clint Thompson Georgia producers and industry leaders should mark their calendars for this year’s labor relations forum, scheduled for Aug. 25-26 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), talked about this year’s event which will feature talks pertinent to the ag …
Look Before Planting: Inspect Strawberry Plants for Disease Symptoms
By Clint Thompson Strawberry producers are less than three months away before they start planting next year’s crop in Georgia. Their first order of business is ensuring the plants are clean before they are put in the ground. Producers want to avoid a Neopestalotiopsis (Neo) outbreak, and a careful inspection will help make that happen. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia …
Extension Plant Pathologist Provides Disease Update in Alabama
By Clint Thompson Drought continues to be less of a problem for most of Alabama, as evidenced by the latest release of the U.S. Drought Monitor on July 30. However, with the recent rains comes an uptick in disease pressure for the state’s vegetable crops. Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the department of entomology and plant pathology …
UGA Extension Hosts Southeast Citrus Workshop
A part of Georgia’s citrus crop lies in the southeastern part of the state. Aubrey Shirley, University of Georgia (UGA) Tattnall County Extension coordinator, believes that portion is continuing to grow. The main threat to that growth is citrus greening disease. “If we get greening really bad and it starts to hinder production, I think the industry is so young, …