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By Clint Thompson Watermelon prices have not cooperated for Southeast growers looking to capitalize on their crop this summer. That’s a disheartening scenario for Georgia producers who are in the middle of their harvest season and will continue to be for a couple of more weeks. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental …
In June, the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) hosted a spring vegetable production field day to highlight research being conducted at the center. As field day attendees disembarked from the tractor-pulled trolleys, SWFREC master’s graduate student Bryan Merlos Osorio grabbed a microphone and quickly began describing the vegetable horticulture research trial in front of them. Among many things, …
By Clint Thompson Southeast specialty crop growers should circle July 1 on their calendars. It could serve as a pivotal date in producers’ fight against the continued spike of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) and Michael Marsh, president and chief executive officer of the NCAE, challenged the legality of the AEWR. July …
By Frank Giles Social media has become a popular platform to share ideas about human health and food. Some of that information is constructive, but some of it is misleading. The conversation over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in crops was an early example of how social media can shape the debate over technology and the food we eat. While the …
Alabama Extension is reminding its plum growers about the potential dangers of black knot disease, a fungal infection caused by Apiosporina morbosa. David Lawrence, regional Extension agent in central Alabama, noted in an article on the Alabama Extension Commercial Horticulture Facebook page, that the disease primarily impacts plums, though it has the potential to infect other prunus species like cherry …
The Environmental Protection Agency has been updating its process for registration of pesticides to include more deference to the Endangered Species Act. The agency has recently released new guidance for herbicide applications. Changes will impact how growers use pesticides and can impact how herbicides are applied. There is a lot to digest with these changes. During the Citrus & Specialty …
The 2025 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo will feature a special speaker and inspirational message from retired Battalion Commander Jack Oehm of the Fire Department of New York City (FDNY). Oehm was a battalion chief who first arrived at Ground Zero after both World Trade Center towers collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001. It was a tragic day for Oehm, the …
By Clint Thompson A significant uptick in North Florida watermelon acreage over the last two years has increased production substantially, which has led market prices to drop; as was the case this year. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, highlighted the situation facing his region’s growers. …
By Clint Thompson Mental health was a focus of the recent Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing. Legislators asked witnesses, including American Farm Bureau (AFB) President Zippy Duvall, about the stigma surrounding mental health concerns in the agriculture industry. Duvall testified about the importance of farmers discussing their feelings, even when times are tough. “When I was back on the …
By Clint Thompson Frequent rain events in Georgia and Alabama have created a potential good and bad scenario for the states’ pecan producers. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, highlighted how the increased rainfall has impacted the region’s pecan crop. “From the standpoint of the crop’s needs, water is great for them. We’ve just gotten into the nut-sizing …
