By Frank Giles As the heat of summer sets in, many specialty crops have finished their seasons in the Southeast. While most crops saw good production this season, markets were again impacted by foreign competition, especially from Mexico. Surging prices for key inputs like fertilizer didn’t help the situation. Even in specialty crops where volume was down due to weather, …
Hot and Dry Weather: Spider Mites Thriving
By Clint Thompson Hot and dry weather conditions in the Southeast this summer are ideal for spider mites. Unfortunately, they have appeared in multiple crops, according to University of Georgia (UGA) Extension specialists. “The dry weather and heat is bad for (San Jose) scale but it is fantastic for mites. I’ve seen more mites in peaches than I probably have …
Florida Lawmakers Focus on Nutrient Management
By Frank Giles The Florida Legislature passed the largest budget on record during its 2022 session. The final tally came in at $110 billion. Lawmakers showed strong support for agriculture, passing several important bills. The Legislature allocated millions of dollars for the industry as well. SB 1000The most significant action was passage of SB 1000 Nutrient Application Rates. The legislation …
Improving Soil Health for Citrus Production
By Tacy Callies In an effort to keep HLB-infected citrus trees productive, many Florida growers are turning to techniques aimed at improving soil health and nutrition. This was the subject of a recent seminar hosted by citrus grower Ed James and sponsored by Sand to Soil Services. More than 30 growers of citrus and other crops gathered at James’ grove …
Fresh Market Tomato Growers Getting Smaller Share of Price Paid
The farm share of the retail price of fresh, field-grown tomatoes—the ratio of what tomato growers received to what consumers paid—fell from 43% in 2020 to 36% in 2021. While the national, monthly average price of such tomatoes at grocery stores fell 11 cents to $1.85 per pound in 2021, the monthly average price received by farmers simultaneously fell 16 …
Citrus Crop Looks ‘Very Promising’
The sweltering heat being felt across the Southeast has done little to dampen the optimism shared by one citrus grower who believes this year’s crop is “very promising.” Kim Jones, who owns a citrus packing facility in Monticello, Florida, and is part-owner of a similar facility in Tifton, Georgia, discusses the state of this year’s crop in North Florida and South Georgia. …
It’s Back: The Giant African Land Snail
By Frank Giles On June 23, 2022, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) confirmed the detection of a giant African land snail (GALS) in the New Port Richey area of Pasco County. FDACS’s Division of Plant Industry started surveying the area, enacted a quarantine and began treatment to eliminate the pest. GALS are illegal to import or possess in the …
Drying Up: Southeast Continues to Suffer Through Lingering Drought
The lingering drought in the Southeast has not let up in previous weeks. In fact, it’s only worsened, especially in Georgia and Alabama, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Abnormally dry conditions have worsened to moderately dry and, in some instances, severely dry conditions in areas across Georgia. The entire state is at least abnormally dry. Most areas, especially in …
Current Labor Market Crisis Provides Spotlight on Problem in Agriculture
By Clint Thompson The current labor crisis sweeping through the United States provides another spotlight on the problem in the agricultural industry. Veronica Nigh, economist with American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), discusses the issue. “I think what’s likely to cause more action is maybe the fact that it’s not just Ag that’s having trouble with wage growth right now. When …
UGA Fruit Pathologist Inducted Into IPM Hall of Fame
By Emily Cabrera The Southern Integrated Pest Management Center (Southern IPM Center) has inducted University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit pathologist Phil Brannen into the Integrated Pest Management Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to commercial fruit growers throughout the southern U.S. over the past 30 years. Each year, the Southern IPM Center recognizes an industry member for extraordinary …