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By Brett Bultemeier EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of two articles on pesticide label changes related to the Endangered Species Act. In the May issue of Specialty Crop Grower, “Endangered Species Act compliance for herbicide application” discussed the need to check your points related to erosion and runoff. If you haven’t read that article, go back …
By Clint Thompson Timing is critical for water needs for next season’s citrus crops across the Southeast. Much of the groves in the cold-hardy citrus region of North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama are receiving their share of rainfall. But others are not. It is why producers need to remain diligent in applying water to their trees, says Mary …
By Clint Thompson Fruit and vegetable production will be under the spotlight during this year’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, scheduled for Aug. 20-21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. There are no shortage of topics impacting growers across the Southeast, including Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. They’ll be discussed during a panel discussion featuring leaders from …
Drought continues to be mostly a non-issue across the Southeast. This summer has provided adequate moisture across southern states like Alabama and Georgia. Even in Florida where dry conditions are prevalent, they have improved in recent weeks. This is according to the June 19 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Florida’s driest conditions are concentrated to the southern area of …
Florida’s watermelon market prices endured a drastic drop this year, and so did growers’ profits. According to a blog post from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), pricing this year tracked below prices recorded in 2023 and 2024. The average reported price on June 13, 2025 was $115.50 per bin. That compares to $231 per …
By Clint Thompson Watermelon prices have not cooperated for Southeast growers looking to capitalize on their crop this summer. That’s a disheartening scenario for Georgia producers who are in the middle of their harvest season and will continue to be for a couple of more weeks. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental …
In June, the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) hosted a spring vegetable production field day to highlight research being conducted at the center. As field day attendees disembarked from the tractor-pulled trolleys, SWFREC master’s graduate student Bryan Merlos Osorio grabbed a microphone and quickly began describing the vegetable horticulture research trial in front of them. Among many things, …
By Clint Thompson Southeast specialty crop growers should circle July 1 on their calendars. It could serve as a pivotal date in producers’ fight against the continued spike of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) and Michael Marsh, president and chief executive officer of the NCAE, challenged the legality of the AEWR. July …
By Frank Giles Social media has become a popular platform to share ideas about human health and food. Some of that information is constructive, but some of it is misleading. The conversation over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in crops was an early example of how social media can shape the debate over technology and the food we eat. While the …
Alabama Extension is reminding its plum growers about the potential dangers of black knot disease, a fungal infection caused by Apiosporina morbosa. David Lawrence, regional Extension agent in central Alabama, noted in an article on the Alabama Extension Commercial Horticulture Facebook page, that the disease primarily impacts plums, though it has the potential to infect other prunus species like cherry …
