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By Clint Thompson Southeast pecan producers may already be observing nut drop in next season’s crop. University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells noted in the UGA Extension Pecan Blog that nut drop is occurring in multiple varieties. He emphasized that what growers are seeing is a “natural drop.” “It typically begins just before rapid fruit expansion (about …
By Clint Thompson Alabama vegetable growers must be aware that bacterial spot disease has been observed in tomatoes in South Alabama. Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the department of entomology and plant pathology at Auburn University, discussed the disease and its propensity to becoming widespread. “One (disease) I saw down in the Wiregrass is bacterial spot. It’s …
The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill into law drew praise from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “The One Big Beautiful Bill marks the start of a new golden age for America and American agriculture. This historic piece of legislation makes permanent the largest tax cuts in history. “It provides immediate tax relief to farmers, ranchers, and …
By Frank Giles In mid-May, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center hosted a tomato field day to showcase research being conducted at the facility. The event was well attended, filling up several wagon loads of people who made their way through six field stops that focused on nematodes, tomato …
By Clint Thompson One University of Georgia scientist is hoping his beloved canine can help pecan growers sniff out new profits in the form of truffles. Tim Brenneman, a plant pathologist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is training “Goldie,” a Lagotto Romagnolo, to sniff out and find truffles hidden in pecan orchards. Truffles are …
Researchers, scientists, and beekeepers have been looking for answers as to what caused the catastrophic honeybee losses earlier this year. Last month, information from new research by the USDA Agricultural Research Service identified the cause behind the devastating losses. The study’s findings point to alarmingly high levels of viral infections caused by Varroa mites with genes that are resistant to a common …
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) announced that almost 65 million acres of U.S. farmland are being actively managed using the 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices. A 4R acre is defined as an acre of U.S. cropland under management using 4R practices, which stands for the right fertilizer source at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place. These …
Specialty Crop Alliance Praises Key Investments in House-Passed Farm Bill (WASHINGTON, D.C./July 2, 2025) – Leaders of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) are expressing strong support for the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” highlighting its vital investments in America’s specialty crop industry. “We are grateful to Chairmen Thompson and …
America’s specialty crop growers often face challenges that are unique to their segment of agriculture. John Walt Boatright, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), says USDA has acknowledged these challenges through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program. “A program designed specifically to help specialty crop growers deal with their rising input costs and volatile markets. USDA created …
Fruit is scarce this season on satsuma trees. There was an oversupply of satsuma mandarins in the cold-hardy citrus region last season. That will not be the case in 2025. According to Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and member of the Georgia Citrus Commission, satsuma supply will be extremely low for the upcoming season. “In our …
