By Clint Thompson The lack of moisture in North Alabama led to delayed strawberry plantings for some growers. Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama, expected this would be the outcome in October. He discussed what this means for those producers impacted. “We got strawberries in, finally. We’re a couple of weeks behind what we needed to. Some people …
Florida Blueberry Growers ‘Back on Their Feet’ Following Two Fall Hurricanes
By Clint Thompson Florida’s blueberry crop is in good shape heading into the upcoming production season, all things considering. “I would say in general, folks are back on their feet,” says Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. Phillips’ optimistic outlook comes on the heels of two named storms; Hurricane Ian in …
‘Plenty’ of Christmas Trees in Stock
By Clint Thompson It is that time of year again when families across the Southeast will venture out to Christmas tree farms to find that nice addition to the Christmas season this year. Jeremy Pickens, Alabama Assistant Extension professor in horticulture at Auburn University, says there are plenty of trees to choose from this holiday season. “I think that supply …
GFVGA Leader: H-2A Dominates the Conversation at Labor Relations Forum
By Clint Thompson The H-2A program remains a hot topic for Georgia’s specialty crop producers. It certainly was a focus of the Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum hosted by the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) earlier this month. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the GFVGA, discussed the meeting which was held on Nov. 9-10 in Tifton, Georgia. …
Lots of Leftovers: Food Safety Important This Thanksgiving Season
By Clint Thompson Thanksgiving is the annual gathering of family, food and fellowship. But it can also be a time of spoilage and germs if food is not properly stored following a meal. Keith Schneider, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor of food science and human nutrition, said in UF/IFAS article that foods that …
$3.1 Million in Locally Grown Food Headed to South Carolina Schools
COLUMBIA – South Carolina students will be eating more food grown by local farmers as part of a partnership involving the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and the South Carolina Department of Education. Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture is working with South Carolina distributor Senn Brothers to …
What’s Happening? Clemson Extension Agents Provide Weekly Updates on Crops
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Andy Rollins reports, “Based on Dr. Jeremy Pattisons’ work on fall development in strawberries, we need to have between 600 growing degree days (GDD) (Chandler) and 800 GDD (Camarosa) from October to December. It is suspected that …
Farmworker Groups Lobby for Immigration Bill
More than 60 farmworker groups from across America traveled to Washington last week to urge the Senate to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The United Farmworkers (UFW), the UFW Foundation and other groups made the trip to Washington, D.C. to lobby for the bill, which is a compromise between farm and labor leaders and supported by most farm groups. …
Satsuma Overload: Citrus Growers Need to Diversify
By Clint Thompson Citrus harvest season is in full swing across the North Florida/South Georgia production region. One thing is certain this season: Growers need to diversify their farming operations with citrus varieties other than satsuma mandarins. Grower Kim Jones, who also owns a citrus packing facility in Monticello, Florida, and is part-owner of a similar facility in Tifton, Georgia, …
CRAFT Cycle Four Application Deadline Extended
The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) program is now accepting applications for the fourth cycle of trials. The deadline for applications has been extended to Dec. 31, 2022. This cycle will follow practices established in the first three cycles by partnering with growers to evaluate the effectiveness and economic feasibility of HLB mitigation strategies in commercial settings. The CRAFT …