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By Clint Thompson The spotted lanternfly is currently not in a Georgia county that’s heavy into grape production. Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, wants to keep it that way. Part of Georgia grape producers’ defense against the invasive species is reporting it every time it is observed. Industry experts …
Fresh vegetable imports increased significantly over the past two decades. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service Situation and Outlook Report, the percent of availability accounted for by imports in fresh vegetable increased substantially from 2000 to 2023. In 2023, the import share of fresh-market availability was 35.2%, down from the peak of 35.4% in 2022 but …
By Frank Giles Chilli thrips have been a thorn in blueberry growers’ side for several years, but the pest is now growing an appetite for strawberries. With a host range of more than 200 plants, chilli thrips has plenty of options to sustain populations and spread to other areas. In strawberries, the pest can strike early in the season and …
Christmas trees are synonymous with the Christmas season. But homeowners who prefer live Christmas trees must determine how to dispose of their tree once the season is over. Murilo Morato, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Agriculture (UF/IFAS) and Natural Resources Extension agent in Escambia County, advises that trees can be a given a second life …
According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, thrips pressure is being observed at high populations in Homestead, Florida. Dakshina Seal, entomologist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Tropical Research and Education Center, has observed high population levels of melon thrips and Asian bean thrips on beans, cucumber and eggplant. Overall populations are …
By Clint Thompson A weak La Niña weather pattern is expected any time now, according to a University of Georgia Climate Blog post from Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist. She said the predictions are from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. “The conditions are there, but they’re just not quite strong enough. One of the things about La …
By Clint Thompson Disaster relief assistance took too long for Southeast growers impacted by Hurricane Michael in 2018. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) ensured his farmers that history would not repeat itself following Hurricane Helene, which moved through the region on Sept. 26-27. Ossoff’s bipartisan push helped spur the Senate to pass legislation last weekend that included $21 billion agricultural disaster …
By Clint Thompson Strawberry harvests are supposed to not start in North Alabama until the second week of April. But weather conditions were favorable for bloom and fruit development in December, according to Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama. It is now a concern for the region’s producers about what it means for those plants next spring. “We’ve …
By Frank Giles In October, the Florida Blueberry Growers Association hosted its annual meeting in Lakeland. Educational sessions focused on a variety of topics that are top-of-mind for growers. Grower Survey Results Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, shared results of his annual grower survey. There were 61 growers responding, covering …
Imagine sipping on a bubbly, refreshing drink at your next holiday gathering, surrounded by family and friends. But this time, the mixture in your hand isn’t just delicious – it’s also nutritious. That’s what you get when you make holiday mocktails with Florida-grown produce, and they pack a punch in terms of health benefits. Fresh citrus fruit juices from oranges, …
