Meister Media Worldwide and AgNet Media today announced the sale of Florida Grower magazine and its Florida-related assets to AgNet Media, effective March 1, 2022. Through Florida Grower, Meister Media has invested more than 25 years of commitment to Florida’s citrus, vegetable and other specialty crop producers. Initiatives like the Florida GrowerSM Citrus Show, the Florida GrowerSM Citrus Achievement Award …
Georgia Ag Forecast on Friday, Jan. 28
University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension reminds specialty crop producers that this year’s Georgia Ag Forecast meeting will be held on Friday, Jan. 28 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The meeting will be held just one day this year and will include the latest economic projections for the U.S. and state agriculture to inform farmers …
Alabama Pecan Producers Remain Optimistic
By Clint Thompson Alabama pecan producers are optimistic about next year’s potential crop. But they are also keeping an eye on rising input expenses and the impact fertilizer costs will have on the bottom line. That’s the message being conveyed to Bryan Wilkins, Alabama Extension Research Associate. “They’re farmers, so they’re always optimistic, but they’re keeping an eye on things …
Georgia Peach Producer: We’re Racking Up Chill Hours
By Clint Thompson Cold January temperatures have brought increased chilling hours for Georgia’s peach crop. Growers like Drew Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms and president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, are elated about the recent cooler temperatures being felt throughout the state. “All the peach growers, we’re pretty excited. Chill hours, that’s been the question mark for …
Florida Farmer: We’ve Diversified, That Helps
By Clint Thompson Rising input costs. Accelerated imports. Little if any increase in market prices. It has become increasingly more difficult for Florida’s specialty crop producers to find sustained success. Vegetable farmer Marie Bedner credits diversification for Bedner Farms staying as successful as long as it has. “We’ve diversified and have the three retail stores, which that helps. We’re direct …
ABT Populations Low Across South Florida
Asian bean thrips (ABT) populations were low this week across South Florida, according to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The largest population counts were reported in snap bean blooms in central Hendry County. Even then it did not surpass 0.5 ABT per bloom. There was also only a few ABT on sticky traps, and counts …
Weed Control in Peach Orchards
By Clint Thompson Weed control in peach orchards is an important management tactic. This is important for young and older orchards, says Wayne Mitchem, N.C. State Extension Associate and Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium Coordinator. “The idea is to try to minimize competition so we can maximize that tree growth in those formative years of the orchard so we can …
Fungicides Key During Grape Pruning
By Clint Thompson University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Fruit Disease Specialist Phil Brannen reminds grape producers that fungicides need to be applied as they prune their crop ahead of next season. “While they’re pruning and during the time they’re pruning, we do have some concerns about pruning wound injuries and pathogens that come in on pruning wounds. We do recommend …
San Jose Scale Management: Horticultural Oil Applications Key for Peach Producers
By Clint Thompson Horticultural oil applications are essential this winter for peach producers hoping to manage San Jose scale insects. Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, says the warm winter conditions across Southeast aid the scale’s development. Growers can ill-afford to miss an application. “Getting ready for their dormant applications …
DHS Requirement: Non-U.S. Individual Travelers Entering U.S. Must Be Fully Vaccinated
WASHINGTON – Beginning today January 22, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will require non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States, either by land ports of entry or ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders, to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. They will also have to provide related proof of vaccination. These new restrictions will apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for both essential and non-essential reasons. They will not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents …