By Frank Giles The final U.S. citrus forecast of the 2021–22 season, released July 12, bumped up the estimate a bit from June forecast. Florida’s all-orange forecast rose 1%, to 40.95 million boxes, due to a slight increase in non-Valencia orange production and a 1% increase in expected Valencia orange production. However, the crop was the smallest since the 1942-43 …
Growers Encouraged to take Farm Bill Survey
Florida specialty crop growers are encouraged to provide feedback via the House Agriculture Committee 2023 Farm Bill online feedback survey. Providing input is essential to inform federal representatives of the needs and interests of Florida’s agricultural community as Congress looks to enact major policies that will drive the food and nutrition systems for years to come. “Agriculture is the backbone …
Water and Soil pH Critical to Citrus Nutrition
There 17 essential elements that plants need to grow. Three of those elements come to plants via water and the atmosphere. The 14 other elements come from fertilizer applications. Almost all of those are dependent on soil pH to determine how well they are picked up by plants’ root systems. Getting the soil pH just right was discussed in the …
More Flexibility for Crop Insurance Reporting
Southeast specialty crop growers now have more flexibility to use their own records to adhere to crop insurance reporting requirements. This will aid farmers who sell through direct marketing channels to collect insurance, report annual production or file a claim, says Marcia Bunger, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA). “This particular change is going …
N.C. State to Host Turfgrass Field Day
Registration is ongoing for the Lake Wheeler Turfgrass Field Day, scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Lake Wheeler Turfgrass Research Lab in Raleigh, North Carolina. The annual field day offers attendees an opportunity to view the N.C. State University Turfgrass Program’s research trials while interacting with faculty and staff. The topics for this year’s field day include cultural practices, …
Tomato Season: Prepare for Bacterial Spot
By Clint Thompson Tomato season may have just ended in North Florida, but the fall crop will soon be planted. Josh Freeman, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor in horticultural science, estimates planting will begin around July 20-23. But growers should be mindful of one disease that could threaten the fall crop, especially amid …
Critical Time to Protect Against Scab Disease
By Clint Thompson It is a critical part of the production season for Southeast pecan growers. Producers should be diligent in their fungicide sprays against scab disease. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, stresses why this is an important time for farmers in protecting this year’s crop. “It’s a super critical time because those nuts are growing so …
Bacterial Spot a Concern for Fall Tomato Crop
By Clint Thompson Tomato season may have just ended in North Florida, but the fall crop will soon be planted. Josh Freeman, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor in horticultural science, estimates planting will begin around July 20-23. But growers should be mindful of one disease that could threaten the fall crop, especially amid …
Rainfall Helps Alleviate Some Drought Across Southeast
Recent rainfall across the Southeast was just what the doctor ordered to help alleviate some of the region’s dry conditions. It has helped do so in Alabama, Florida and Georgia, though parts of the region remain either abnormally dry or moderately dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Georgia remains the state with the worst dry conditions. Much of the …
Insect Activity Increasing Across Alabama
Insect activity has increased across Alabama, according to Alabama Extension. Traps record pest populations across the state over a two-week period. Specialty crop producers should be wary of beet armyworms and southern armyworms. Beet armyworms have increased 32% compared to a 75% increase for fall armyworms. According to the pest monitoring report, there were 99 beet armyworms on July 1, …