Citrus growers discussed their challenges and voiced their needs during a farm bill listening session held April 24 in Newberry, Florida. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-15), chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, along with bipartisan members, including Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03), Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09), Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-01), listened to comments …
Thank You for a Great Florida Grower Citrus Show!
Dear Growers, Exhibitors, Sponsors, Industry Members and Friends, On behalf of AgNet Media, we sincerely appreciate the support of the exhibitors, sponsors and growers who attended the Florida Grower Citrus Show. The new location and refreshed format were a great success. The tailgate-style tradeshow was an exciting addition. We want to thank the exhibitors and sponsors. Without them, events like …
Chairman of House Committee on Ag: AEWR Change a Threat to Food Security
By Clint Thompson Looming Congressional Review Act resolutions could reverse recent changes to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). But it will require specialty crop producers and industry leaders speaking out against substantial pay increases that could force some farmers to close up shop. GT Thompson, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, shared that belief during Monday’s Farm Bill …
Florida Strawberry Grower: Food, National Security Are One and the Same
By Clint Thompson Dustin Grooms is not just a fourth-generation specialty crop farmer in Plant City, Florida, he is an army veteran and proud American who recognizes the dangers this country is in if it does not prioritize providing more support to producers across the country. Grooms was one of the many speakers during Monday’s Farm Bill listening session. He …
Florida Peach Crop Expected to be Undersized This Season
By Clint Thompson Florida’s peach producers are well underway in harvesting this year’s crop. The peaches this year are undersized, due mostly to the warm spring leading up to harvest, says Jose Chaparro, associate professor in the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). “Down south in central Florida they’ve already been picking U-F Sun and U-F …
Major Scientific Breakthrough in Onion Research
University of Georgia Extension vegetable pathologist Bhabesh Dutta has led an international team of researchers that have identified a gene cluster in two Pantoea species that produce a phosphonate compound to kill onions. This is a major breakthrough for the onion industry and should pave the way for scientists to breed onions against phosphonate compounds, which are associated with bacterial …
Farmers, Industry Leaders Express Concerns During Farm Bill Listening Session
By Clint Thompson Agricultural leaders and producers in the Southeast voiced their concerns and appreciation to members of the House Committee on Agriculture during a Farm Bill listening session held Monday in Newberry, Florida. The conference room at the University of Florida Food and Agricultural Sciences-Newberry location was standing room only as farmers and industry leaders representing the agricultural sector …
Inflation Continues to Impact Organic Produce Sales
Ongoing inflation continued to impact organic fresh produce sales in the first quarter of 2023 as overall dollar sales grew by slightly less than 1%, and volume declined by 3.4% from the same per year-over-year period, according to the Q1 2023 Organic Produce Performance Report released by Organic Produce Network (OPN) and Category Partners. Overall, the total produce department gained …
UGA’s Tyson Discusses Vidalia Onion Harvest Season
By Clint Thompson Vidalia onion industry specialists are optimistic about this year’s crop despite the challenges it encountered during the early part of the production season at Christmas time. Multiple days of sub-freezing temperatures stymied the growth of plants after they were just put into the ground. It led to some plant stand issues, said Chris Tyson, University of Georgia …
Weather Impacts on Georgia Strawberries
By Clint Thompson Steady rainfall this production season has increased disease pressure in Georgia strawberries. Diseases like anthracnose and phytophthora root rot have been common occurrences in strawberry fields this year, said Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist. “There have been several things in strawberries that have been problematic this year, and diseases have been …