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, …
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 …
Crop Insurance Deadline Nears in Georgia for Cabbage Growers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Georgia cabbage growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2023 crop year is July 1. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the July 1 sales closing date to do so. Federal crop insurance is critical to …
Nominations Open for the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame
TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame is accepting nominations for its class of 2023 inductees. The Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame honors producers, commodity leaders, educators, scientists and others who have made significant contributions to the production of food in Florida. The online nomination form is available on the Florida Ag Hall of Fame website. Visit floridaaghalloffame.org …
New UF/IFAS Blueberry Cultivar: Albus
By Clint Thompson University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry breeder Patricio Munoz is ready to release UF/IFAS’ newest cultivar this fall, Albus. Munoz described what growers can expect from Albus. “This is a high yielding, good flavored cultivar that’s going to be targeting the central part of the state where we have a lot of …
Drought Worsens in Georgia
The drought in Georgia intensified over the past week, while there are only sporadic locations of abnormally dry conditions in Alabama and Florida, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Georgia’s dry conditions encompass most of the southern region of the state and stretch as far north as Franklin and Hart counties in Northeast Georgia. Multiple areas are even observing moderately …