WASHINGTON – Unfair trade practices with Mexico continue to be at the forefront of Florida’s specialty crop producers. Legislators are doing what they can to protect seasonal producers. Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) and Congressman Darren Soto (D-Fla.) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation earlier this month to help Florida fruit and vegetable growers combat Mexico’s unfair trade practices. “Illegal seasonal dumping and …
Freeze’s Full Impact on Cold-Hardy Citrus Still Unknown
Southeast citrus trees were undoubtedly impacted by multiple days of sub-freezing temperatures during Christmas week. An exact understanding of the impact will not be known for another couple of months, believes Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. “The freeze was significant, but you never really know for sure until the plants start to flush out …
Farm Income Down Despite Higher Prices at Grocery StoreÂ
Farm sector income is expected to drop in 2023. Net farm income is forecast to decrease by $25.9 billion or 15.9% from 2022 to $136.9 billion in 2023. Net cash farm income is forecast to decrease to $150.6 billion in 2023, a decrease of $39.4 billion or 20.7% from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service …
Facing Tomato Disease Throughout South Florida
One tomato disease remains prevalent in South Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Target spot (Corynespora cassiicola) is being observed at moderate to high levels in tomato fields across the region. It is also extremely high in older plantings in fields on the east coast. Target spot symptoms can be confused easily with bacterial spot and early …
Farm Income to Drop in 2023
Farm sector income is expected to drop in 2023. Net farm income is forecast to decrease by $25.9 billion or 15.9% from 2022 to $136.9 billion in 2023. Net cash farm income is forecast to decrease to $150.6 billion in 2023, a decrease of $39.4 billion or 20.7% from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research …
Alabama Strawberry Producer: Row Covers ‘Knocked Wind Off’ During Christmas Freeze
By Clint Thompson North Alabama strawberry producer Jeremy Calvert believes implementing row covers during the Christmas freeze event saved the majority of his crop. “Everything that I’ve got looks pretty good considering the cold event that we had in December. All of our berries were covered. Anywhere that the row covers might have blown up or were at the short …
On Target: Tomato Disease Increasing in South Florida
One tomato disease remains prevalent in South Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Target spot (Corynespora cassiicola) is being observed at moderate to high levels in tomato fields across the region. It is also extremely high in older plantings in fields on the east coast. Target spot symptoms can be confused easily with bacterial spot and …
New Chemistry Labeled for Peach Producers
By Clint Thompson Southeast peach producers will be interested to know that the bifenthrin product, Brigade 2EC, now has a supplemental label for peaches, along with pome fruits and pomegranates, according to the University of Georgia Extension Peach Blog. Bifenthrin is a pyrethroid, making it a broad spectrum insecticide that is effective against multiple insect pests, especially stink bugs and …
Refreshed format for Florida Citrus Show
By Frank Giles Over the years, the Florida Grower Citrus Show has become the premier event for growers on the East Coast of Florida while drawing growers from other key production regions as well. Last year, AgNet Media purchased the assets of Florida Grower magazine. With that transaction came the show. Since that time, the team at AgNet Media, along …
Florida Strawberries Face an Increase in Angular Leaf Spot
By Clint Thompson Angular leaf spot disease has been problematic for Florida strawberry growers. The colder winter weather contributed to its impact this season, says Natalia Peres, professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. “It usually becomes worse when we have freeze events which we’ve had …