Transitioning Tips for Summer to Fall Vegetable Crops

Web AdminDisease, Organic, Pests

By Ayanava Majumdar, Chip East and Eric Schavey The southeastern United States is the hotbed of insect and disease issues in vegetable crops. Growers constantly have to deal with not only established pest and weed issues, but also the invasive ones. Organic farming of vegetables is a challenge for producers everywhere in the United States, and the battle against insect …

Thompson, Comer Lead Letter to GAO Regarding Foreign Investments in U.S. Farmland

Web AdminLegislative

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican Leader of the House Committee on Agriculture, Glenn “GT” Thompson, and Republican Leader of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, James Comer, were joined by 128 of their Conference colleagues sent a letter last weekend to comptroller general Gene Dodaro of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The letter requests a study regarding foreign investment in U.S. farmland …

Abnormally Dry Conditions Increasing Across Southeastern States

Web AdminDrought

By Clint Thompson Abnormally dry conditions are starting to worsen in counties across Alabama and Georgia, while only a small portion of the Florida Panhandle is abnormally dry. Florida mostly has sufficient moisture following Hurricane Ian last week. This is according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Alabama Conditions Alabama’s dry conditions are located mostly in the southwest part of the …

Hurricane Ian Hits Florida Citrus Hard 

Web AdminCitrus

Although early assessment attempts were limited by cell phone and internet outages, Hurricane Ian likely caused extensive citrus fruit loss as it tore through Florida Sept. 28–29. The catastrophic hurricane churned through the Gulf and Peace River Valley citrus regions, then headed northeast to impact Highlands and southern Polk counties and the Indian River citrus region. REGIONAL REPORTS Ray Royce …

The Florida Ag Expo Program Now Available

Web AdminFruits, Vegetables

By Frank Giles The Florida Ag Expo is scheduled for Nov. 2 at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC). The educational program is now published. It will provide attendees with a wide range of topics from the supply chain to pest management. The morning general session will host industry leaders speaking on key issues facing the specialty crop …

USDA Disaster Relief Programs Available to Growers

Web AdminUSDA

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is sharing important resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist Florida agricultural producers who suffered losses due to the storm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by Hurricane Ian that USDA has multiple programs to provide assistance in the wake of disasters. USDA staff …

Citrus Growers Stymied by Snails

Web AdminCitrus

By Clint Thompson Florida citrus growers can add bulimulus snails to their growing list of pest problems. The snails are challenging some citrus groves across the state, says Lauren Diepenbrock, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences assistant professor and entomologist. The Damage They Do While the bulimulus snails do not do much in terms of physical damage …

GFVGA Executive Vice President: Georgia Producers Dodged a Bullet

Web AdminGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s specialty crop producers dodged disaster when Hurricane Ian shifted eastward and headed mostly around the state this week. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), said his organization is thankful that its growers avoided the worst impact of the hurricane. But their thoughts and prayers are with their Florida …