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By Clint Thompson One Florida tomato grower’s assessment of this year’s crop focused on the plethora of challenges that state’s producers had to contend with. Whether it was from hurricanes in the fall to unfavorable markets, the challenges were on multiple fronts and impacted production for Tony DiMare and other Florida producers. He discussed this year’s crop in an interview …
By Clint Thompson High temperatures this week have watermelon producers concerned about potential sunburn on this year’s crop. It could impact growers in the North Florida region who have already started harvesting and those in South Georgia and South Alabama that are still a few weeks away. “In some cases, these fields that haven’t been walked over yet, as long …
By Clint Thompson Farmers spend a substantial amount of money every year to operate a labor force for their crops. It’s the defining issue that John Walt Boatright, deals with as director of government affairs at American Farm Bureau. “No matter where we go and no matter who we talk to in farm country, labor continues to be the focal …
Recent rainfall has provided much-needed moisture for parts of the Southeast, and it is reflected in the May 15 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Georgia mostly has sufficient moisture except for a couple of areas that have abnormally dry conditions. One area includes Colquitt, Grady, Thomas, Brooks, Lowndes, Echols, Clinch, Lanier, Atkinson and Ware counties in South Georgia; as …
Trees in the cold-hardy citrus region are expected to produce a low crop in 2025 following a massive crop in 2024. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, believes the trees’ alternate bearing cycle will contribute to the decreased crop in 2025, especially for satsuma mandarins. “This alternate bearing pattern probably started in 2023. That …
By Clint Thompson The lack of movement towards a new farm bill has Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), frustrated and calling for much needed action to help specialty crop producers. Even though the SCFBA applauded the recent U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s Reconciliation draft release that advanced investments …
By Clint Thompson The opening of the University of Georgia (UGA) Grand Farm in early May provides hope to specialty crop producers that innovative technologies could one day replace costly labor expenses that are negating potential profits. One fruit grower believes in its mission and helped provide legislative support for the research site, located adjacent to the Perry Fairgrounds. “I …
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon harvests are expected to take off this week amid prolonged sunshine in the forecast. In fact, some have already started. “I saw some busses locally that were loaded with watermelons, so apparently somebody started over the weekend,” said Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Regional Specialized Extension agent in …
By Clint Thompson Challenges accompany the use of machine harvesters in Florida blueberry production. But as growers who implement the technology on their farms will attest, the long-term benefits are worth the short-term headaches. Ryan Atwood, Kyle Hill and Kyle Straughn were part of a grower panel at a Florida blueberry meeting in Citra on March 6. They agreed that …
Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Midlands Rob Last Sarah Scott Pee Dee Christiana Huss Upstate Briana Naumuk
