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 …
North Florida Watermelon Update
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon producers should carefully consider whether another round of fungicide applications is in their best interest, especially as harvest season nears an end for many. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, said fields that are mostly free of disease may not …
Tomato Season Update
By Clint Thompson Tomato season has all but finished for the year in Florida, 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 production and market facing Southeast producers. “The South and Central Florida season is effectively over. North Florida and …
Rain Events Help Across Southeast
Increased rain events across the Southeast are alleviating more of the drought-like conditions being felt in Alabama, Georgia and Florida, according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Sporadic areas in Alabama are abnormally dry. These include Morgan, Cullman, Jefferson and Cherokee counties in the northern area of the state. Also, a small part of Henry County along the …
Florida Citrus June Forecast Mixed
By Ernie Neff The June 10 federal citrus crop forecast increased the expected Florida Valencia orange crop by 2% but dropped the state’s grapefruit and tangerines/tangelos production expectations. The forecast was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The projected Valencia crop rose 500,000 boxes from the May forecast, to 22.5 million boxes. NASS declared …
Commissioner Fried Submits Testimony to U.S. Senate Ag Committee on Unfair Trade
Tallahassee, Fla. – 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 …