Attention Florida specialty crop producers: Save the date and register for an upcoming virtual Florida brassica production workshop. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) will host the workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 23, from 9 a.m. to noon. The workshop will provide up-to-date information on Florida brassica production. Highlighted topics include weed management, nematode management, nutrient …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Weekly Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provide crop updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “Pests and diseases are beginning to increase in the area. Powdery mildew is apparent in cucurbit crops. The most efficacious treatments are Vivando and Gatten. Rotation is critical to protect these …
It is Japanese Beetle Season
The Japanese beetle is showing up in Georgia vineyards, according to the University of Georgia (UGA) Extension Viticulture Blog. In large enough numbers, Japanese beetles can be a severe pest of grapes during the summer, feeding mainly on foliage and rarely on the berries. New plantings are most susceptible. Older, established vines can withstand some feeding damage, but young vines …
Be Careful of Foliar Sulfur Sprays Under High Temperatures
Foliar sulfur sprays applied during June and July can provide multiple benefits for pecan production. They include the suppression of mite populations and increasing nut size. Sulfur may also help suppress some minor foliar diseases and aid in scab suppression on cultivars with moderate scab resistance. While foliar sulfur sprays have proven advantages, though, growers should be wary of applying …
Carlson Receives Citrus Achievement Award during Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference
By Frank Giles Citrus growers and industry stakeholders gathered in Bonita Springs last week for the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference. After being sidelined the previous two years due to COVID-19, the conference drew a record crowd of more than 500 registered attendees. The event, hosted by Florida Citrus Mutual, was packed with educational programming and meetings for various …
Don’t Miss the Buzz About Pollinator Week
By Frank Giles This week is National Pollinator Week. Pollinator species, such as bees, other insects, birds, and bats play a critical role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States. Honeybee pollination alone adds more than $18 billion in value to agricultural crops annually. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) used the week as an occasion …
New Developments in Glyphosate Cases
There have been a few new developments in cases involving the popular herbicide glyphosate. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with environmental groups that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) didn’t adequately consider whether or not the herbicide causes cancer or threatens endangered species. The litigation against glyphosate began after EPA reauthorized the label and use of the herbicide …
Cover Crops a Management Practice with Multiple Benefits
By Clint Thompson The fallow season means an opportunity for specialty crop producers to implement cover crops. It is a management tool that helps growers remain sustainable now and into the future. It is also a practice that Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, …
Georgia Farmer Testifies About Imports Impact During Senate Hearing
By Clint Thompson A Senate hearing held on June 9 allowed one Georgia blueberry producer to discuss the challenge of competing against imports from other countries. Karla Thompson, representing JET Farms in Camilla, Georgia, testified in a hearing held by the Senate Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade. The discussion highlighted rising imports and their impact on Georgia producers. …
Hired Farm Workers, Wages Increased in April
The number of hired farm workers and wage rates increased during this past April, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 630,000 workers hired directly by farm operators on farms and ranches throughout the country during the week of April 10-16, 2022. It increased by 3% from the April 2021 reference week. By comparison, …