What’s Next? Georgia Pecan Grower Stresses Education with Potential Exports to India

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson The trade mission to India last April went about as well as could be expected, according to Georgia pecan industry experts. But what happens next? Justin Jones, Georgia pecan grower, chairman of industry relations for the American Pecan Council and co-owner of brand Zorro Pecans, discussed the next step in making a trade partnership with India, not …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: State Funding Tackles Wildlife Troubles in Agriculture

Clint ThompsonSpecialty Crop Grower Magazine

By Clint Thompson Agricultural pests are sometimes not just bugs and diseases but include animals looking for a food source. Unfortunately, for Georgia’s specialty crop producers, that food source is often their crops. Georgia’s legislative leaders are arming state agencies with substantial funding in next year’s budget to tackle this problem. Included in the budget was $150,000 directed to the …

Sweet Grown Alabama Day Highlights State’s Specialty Crop Industry

Clint ThompsonAlabama

By Clint Thompson Alabama fruits and vegetables were highlighted on Saturday as part of the third annual Sweet Grown Alabama Day throughout the state. Aisling Walding, assistant director for Sweet Grown Alabama, said the spotlight was put on Alabama agriculture at 14 participating farmers markets. “Sweet Grown Alabama Day was just a way to show love to Alabama farmers and …

USDA Expands Fresh Market Beans Insurance Program to Florida

Clint ThompsonUSDA

VALDOSTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding the fresh market beans insurance program to two southern Florida counties: Hendry and Palm Beach. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) currently offers coverage in New York, North Carolina and Virginia. “Fresh market bean growers in Florida and stakeholders have asked for crop insurance,” said Davina Lee, director of RMA’s …

USDA Announces July Lending Rates for Farmers

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for July 2024, which became effective July 1, 2024. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide access to capital to help producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.           “I encourage our lenders and borrowers alike to work with our …

Paper Mulch a Viable Option Against Nutsedge

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Paper mulch continues to show adequate evidence in North Florida watermelon research that it provides strong nutsedge control. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, discussed this year’s research with the WestRock product. “We’re very excited about the potential in the future. There’s no …

Pure Speculation: Hard to Estimate Georgia’s Pecan Production This Year

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Pecan harvests are on the horizon for Georgia producers. How many yields the state’s pecan farmers will produce is almost impossible to estimate, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist. “It’s hard to really put a number on or estimate Georgia’s pecan production at this point because of all the planting that’s taken place …

Nuseed Carinata Covers New Ground

Morgan AssafSponsored Content

Nuseed Carinata raises expectations as a superior alternative to fallow ground or conventional winter cover crops.  It not only provides substantial agronomic benefits to your land, carinata also is harvested for use as a unique feedstock for certified, stainable biofuels, rewarding growers for the contract production of carinata grain for end-use markets. The Gold Standard in Cover Crops Nuseed Carinata invigorates …

Chitwood-Brown Discusses Machine Harvesting of Tomatoes

Web AdminUncategorized

Earlier this year, Jessica Chitwood-Brown took over the lead tomato breeding post at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida. The center has a long history of tomato breeding success. One of her objectives is to continue the effort to breed stakeless tomatoes, which could facilitate mechanical …