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By Clint Thompson Georgia’s Vidalia onion industry was not immune to the damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene when it moved through the region in late September. Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension area onion agent at the Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia, said plant stands were impacted; especially those planted right before the storm’s arrival on …
By Clint Thompson Hurricanes delivered devastating impact on fruits and vegetables this year in the Southeast. Whether it was Debby, Helene or Milton, each storm wreaked havoc on the region’s specialty crop production. But how long it takes to recover differs from storm to storm and on the commodities that were impacted, says Christa Court, University of Florida Institute of …
The success of citrus under protective screen (CUPS) in protecting Florida citrus from citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing or HLB, was not surprising to Arnold Schumann. The professor of soil fertility and water quality at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center is thankful research had yielded a temporary solution …
Florida’s 10% increase in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) prompted some of the state’s agricultural organizations to send a letter to Florida’s congressional delegation imploring the need for labor reform. Florida’s AEWR increase is the largest in the country and will rise to $16.23. “While we have long advocated for significant reforms to the H-2A program, to include stabilizing …
By Clint Thompson Georgia Governor Brian Kemp pleaded for federal hurricane disaster relief assistance during this week’s Georgia Farm Bureau meeting in Jekyll Island, Georgia. He spoke specifically about block grants that would aid his state’s farmers still recovering from Hurricane Helene. “I continue to urge the current administration, the incoming administration and those in Congress to fund block grants …
By Clint Thompson Last week was a welcome sight for Alabama’s peach producers. Multiple cold days in a row allowed the state’s peach trees to catch up in accumulating chill hours. Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, provided an outlook on where chilling stands in the state. “We were quite …
By Clint Thompson This year’s Suwanee Valley Watermelon Institute meeting brought together experts and Extension agents from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) with North Florida producers to highlight the industry and certain trends that will impact production next season. Mark Warren, UF/IFAS Extension agent in Levy County, discussed the meeting that was held on …
By Clint Thompson Following the recent elections, the messaging remains the same from agricultural groups to legislative leaders – devise a new farm bill sooner rather than later. Bob Redding, who works for the Redding Firm and serves as a lobbyist for ag groups in Washington, D.C., discussed the current outlook for the important piece of legislation that is overdue. …
By Clint Thompson The labor crisis impacting specialty crop production can only be solved one way – with Congressional assistance. That’s the belief shared by Michael Marsh, president and chief executive officer of the National Council of Agricultural Employers. Immigration reform has long been a controversial issue that needs to be resolved so fruit and vegetable producers can operate with …
All of Alabama is experiencing dry conditions. North Florida’s drought is worsening, while all of western and northern Georgia is at least abnormally dry. This is according to the most recent release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Most of the southern and central portions of Alabama are either moderately dry or severely dry. Severe conditions start in Mobile County, expanding …
