It is iced tea season in Florida. But whether you take your tea hot or iced, sweet or unsweet, black or green, the infused leaf in your cup could soon originate from a Florida farm. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are investigating whether it is feasible to produce tea plants in the Sunshine State. …
Results of the Florida Citrus Research Order Referendum
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced that the state’s citrus growers reauthorized the Florida citrus research order in a statutorily required referendum conducted by the department. The results of the ballots returned yielded 76% “yes” votes representing 69% of total citrus acres. The Florida Citrus Research Order has a six-year cycle and is subject to renewal upon request by …
Leader McCarthy, Thompson Call for Reduced Barriers to U.S. Agriculture Production
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Agriculture Committee Republican Leader Glenn “GT” Thompson sent a solutions-focused letter to President Joe Biden on Tuesday calling on the Administration to reverse overly burdensome regulations and policy barriers to U.S. agriculture production that have caused uncertainty for farmers, ranchers and working families. The letter to the president outlines administrative actions which would immediately …
Florida Citrus Research Order Referendum Results
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced that the state’s citrus growers reauthorized the Florida citrus research order in a statutorily required referendum conducted by the department. The results of the ballots returned yielded 76% “yes” votes representing 69% of total citrus acres. The Florida Citrus Research Order has a six-year cycle and is subject to renewal …
Pecan Expert: We’re Cautiously Optimistic on Price
By Clint Thompson This year’s pecan crop has the potential to be really strong, though harvest season is still a few months away. The question is will market pecan prices also be good for growers following last year’s down production season? Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, provides an outlook on the current market situation facing pecan producers. …
What’s Happening? 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. Statewide Extension Entomologist Tom Bilbo reports, “As tomatoes and other fruiting vegetables progress, make sure you’re protecting yields from insect and mite pests. I’ve seen a fair bit of caterpillar pressure (fruitworms and loopers). Bt (DiPel, …
A Primary Challenge to Pepper Production
By Pamela Roberts, Aastha Subedi, Erica Goss and Jeffrey Jones Bacterial spot of pepper is one of the most common and chronic disease challenges to pepper production. Infection can occur on the stems, leaves and fruit of the pepper plant. SYMPTOMS AND SPREADSymptoms on the leaves start as small, water-soaked (dark, greasy-like spots) areas that are light brown at first …
Fried Calls on Congress to Protect Florida Farmers
Last week, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried submitted written testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade urging Congress to address unfair foreign trade practices causing decades-long harm to Florida farmers and the lack of protections for the domestic seasonal produce industry. “Our state’s fruit and vegetable farming industry …
Duvall Discusses Supply Chain Disruptions with President Biden
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall spoke recently with President Joe Biden to discuss several supply chain challenges farmers and ranchers are facing and the importance of final Congressional action on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act to address the backlog at our ports. “I had a good discussion with President Biden about several issues, including the importance of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act to America’s farmers and ranchers,” Duvall said. “He wholeheartedly agreed …
Florida Tomato Season Update
By Clint Thompson Florida tomato season has all but finished for the year, while South Georgia’s season is beginning to ramp up. Michael Schadler, manager of the Florida Tomato Committee and executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, discusses the current Florida tomato season production and market facing Southeast producers. “The South and Central Florida season is effectively over. North Florida and …