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 …
What’s Happening? Clemson Extension Provides 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, “Disease pressure is likely to continue to increase given the recent welcome rainfall. Gummy stem blight can be found in cucurbit fields along with downy mildew in cucumbers and watermelons. Maintain …
Farm Legislation a Win for Alabama Agriculture
By Sabrina Halvorson Alabama’s 2022 state legislative season was a success for agriculture with the passage of key farm legislation bills. “I would say overall we were very happy with how it went. We had some priorities that we called the Farm Package here at the Alabama Farmers Federation, and all of that was successful,” said Blake Thaxton, a director …
Water’s Importance to This Year’s Peach Harvest
By Clint Thompson At least another month remains in this year’s peach harvest season for Georgia producers. Amid the current hot and dry weather, conditions have been ripe for minimal disease pressure. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Extension fruit disease specialist, discusses the positive and negative impact that the prolonged drought is having on this year’s peach harvest. “For a …
UF/IFAS Research: Diseases Minimal in Hops
By Clint Thompson Potential hops producers in Florida can rest easy knowing diseases are minimal, if they start with clean material. Gary Vallad, professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, discusses what findings his research has yielded so far in this up-and-coming commodity. “The only …
Senator Ossoff Assures Pecan Growers Indian Tariffs a Top Priority
By Clint Thompson Senator Jon Ossoff’s (D-GA) visit to South Georgia a month ago yielded positive dialogue with the state’s pecan growers and industry leaders. One of the concerns that the Georgia Pecan Growers Association voiced was the high tariffs that India has imposed on U.S. pecans. A month later, Ossoff assures producers that reducing or eliminating those tariffs is …
Second Peak of San Jose Scale Activity Expected
By Clint Thompson Peach producers should be wary of a second peak of San Jose scale crawler activity, according to Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “With the weather starting to come back to whatever normal is and cool down a little bit, I think that will allow the development …
Register Now for EPA Certified Soil Fumigant Applicator Training
Florida specialty crop producers are encouraged to register now for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Certified Soil Fumigant Applicator Training workshop, scheduled for Thursday, July 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hendry County Extension office in LaBelle, Florida. In order for an applicator to utilize fumigants, they must have a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services …
UF/IFAS Scientist: Financial Support ‘Shot in Arm’ for Research to Update BMPs
By Clint Thompson Financial support was just what the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) needed to conduct research and provide farmers with new and improved recommendations for fertilization of five significant Florida crops. Thomas Obreza, senior associate dean for UF/IFAS Extension and project leader, discussed the impact that $8.8 million will have in research pertaining …