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By Clint Thompson Drought conditions did not improve over the past week. In fact, conditions only worsened across most of the Southeast region, according to the March 26 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Florida The driest part of Florida remains in the northern and southern regions of the state. Exceptional drought has expanded in North Florida to include Calhoun, …
By Clint Thompson Plant source remains the best way for Southeast strawberry producers to manage neopestalotiopsis (Neo). Growers who obtained plants from nurseries with histories of Neo contamination have observed the disease this year. Those producers who got plants from disease-free nurseries out west have enjoyed Neo-free production seasons, says Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease …
Growers Gather To Tackle Crop Threats and Safety Standards By Clint Thompson and Frank Giles The Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference convened in January in Savannah, Georgia. The Savannah Convention Center, where the event is held, recently expanded, so attendees had a bigger trade show to enjoy. The conference provides more than 80 hours of educational programming on specialty …
More than two million landowners rented out 348 million acres of farmland, according to the results of the 2024 Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land (TOTAL) survey, released this month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Of these acres, 79% are owned by non-farming landlords. Non-operating landlords include entities who rent out agricultural land …
By Clint Thompson One of the most devastating watermelon diseases in the Southeast can be overcome. But it comes with a high cost for growers. Fusarium wilt is an annual problem that North Florida and South Georgia watermelon producers must contend with every year. Some growers are resorting to grafted plants in hopes of overcoming the disease. Grafting is a …
By Clint Thompson It is not breaking news to say that times are tough in agriculture. Even before missiles were launched into Iran on Feb. 28, specialty crop growers were feeling the pinch of an unfavorable economy. Crop prices were not ideal. Input costs, especially with labor, were high. Seasonal imports continued to flow into the country. The war in …
SEBRING, Fla. — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson joined Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida legislative leaders, and agriculture industry champions in Highlands County this week as the 2026 Florida Farm Bill was officially signed into law. Sponsored by Senator Keith Truenow and Representative Danny Alvarez, Senate Bill 290 delivers major victories for Florida’s farmers, ranchers, fishers, families, and rural communities. …
By Clint Thompson Tax relief has been a huge part of this year’s session in the Georgia Legislature. Fuel tax relief was one way the state’s legislators helped Georgians. Another came via state income tax refunds. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed HB 1000 into law on Friday, authorizing the return of almost $1.2 billion in state income tax refunds. The …
By Frank Giles and Clint Thompson The freeze that struck Florida in late January and early February brought the coldest air to the state in more than a decade. Freezing temperatures caused significant damage to specialty crops across the state. In many areas, the frigid temperatures held for hours, exacerbated by high winds that thwarted freeze-protection efforts many growers tried …
By Clint Thompson The Georgia pecan industry is going back to the basics with the University of Georgia Pecan Beginners Class, held in conjunction with the Georgia Pecan Conference this year on March 31 in Perry, Georgia. University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells highlighted the topics scheduled to be covered in the class, which will be held at …
