Tallahassee, Fla. — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried shared important reminders with Florida producers to prepare for and as they recover from any potential impact from Hurricane Ian. Take precautions to prepare and protect your family and agricultural operation. Develop an Emergency Plan – Ensure your household and employees know your hurricane plan, including meeting points, emergency contact lists, and alternate evacuation routes in case infrastructure …
NCDA&CS Offers Organic Certification Cost-Share Assistance
RALEIGH (N.C.) – Organic growers in North Carolina (N.C.) can apply for partial reimbursement of the cost of becoming certified or for recertification through a program offered by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Growers who are certified or recertified between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022, can apply for assistance through the program. “Applicants can be …
Biden-Harris Administration Makes $500 Million Available to Increase American-Made Fertilizer Production
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Tuesday that the Biden-Harris Administration is making $500 million in grants available to increase American-made fertilizer production to spur competition and combat price hikes on U.S. farmers caused by the war in Ukraine. “USDA believes in the growth of innovative, local businesses owned and shared …
Florida Agriculture Braces for Hurricane Ian
As Hurricane Ian approaches landfall this week, state agriculture associations and agencies are springing into action to prepare for the storm. Several events schedule for the week have been cancelled or postponed, including Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s Labor Relations Forum planned for Sept. 28-30 in Orlando. The association will provide further information on new dates for the event. Matt …
Small U-Pick Farm Expands by Adding New Products for Customers
By Frank Giles Beginning farmers face obstacles when there is no land, equipment and expertise being handed down from one generation to the next. But many multigenerational farms face similar challenges when family transitions take place. The Casey family in Hernando County has dealt with those issues as the younger generation sought to keep the farming tradition alive. Jeff Casey, …
Florida Blueberry Growers Support 301 Investigation
The Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) added its voice to other agriculture producer groups in support of the Florida delegation’s Section 301 petition to protect the state’s fresh fruit and vegetable farmers from the rapidly rising onslaught of heavily subsidized Mexican produce. “Now is the time to deliver relief to domestic producers under assault from foreign imports, including blueberry growers,” …
Pecan Producers on Alert with Hurricane Ian
By Clint Thompson Hurricane Ian’s impending path through South Georgia has pecan farmers on heightened alert this week. Though Ian is expected to be downgraded by the time it leaves Florida, it is still expected to bring high wind gusts and heavy rain events later this week and into the weekend. That is not good news for pecan producers on …
What’s Next? Grape Producers Should Protect Vineyards After Harvest
By Clint Thompson The grape season has concluded or will soon end for producers in Southeast. But management continues after the final grape is harvested. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist Phil Brannen highlighted what growers should be doing this time of year and its significance heading into next season. “The biggest thing they can do and it’s …
Parts of Southeast are Abnormally Dry
By Clint Thompson Dry conditions are minimal across southeastern states like Florida, Georgia and Alabama but persist in certain areas of the region, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. A couple of counties in the southwest part of Georgia, including Early, Seminole and Decatur, are now abnormally dry after several weeks of sufficient moisture. Abnormally dry conditions are also observed …
World Peach, Nectarine Production Update
By Clint Thompson Freeze events in late winter and early spring impacted peach and nectarine production in the top three growing states of California, South Carolina and Georgia, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service. Production in the U.S. is expected to decrease by more than 100,000 tons to 605,000. It has been cut in half over the …