By Clint Thompson A Senate resolution to the Farm Workforce Modernization Act is much needed for the future of vegetable and specialty crop farming in Florida. There’s just no guarantee that one will be developed in the near future. Politics are playing a role in the process being slowed, almost to a halt, says Mike Joyner, Florida Fruit and Vegetable …
Sneak Peek: November 2021 VSCNews Magazine
By Clint Thompson The November issue of VSCNews Magazine highlights the upcoming Florida Ag Expo, which will be held on Nov. 18 at the University of Florida (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida. The Expo’s return is highly anticipated following last year’s cancellation due to COVID-19. The magazine outlines …
Watermelon Producer: Unknowns a Real Problem for Growers
By Clint Thompson The supply chain crisis that is gripping the U.S. is leaving watermelon farmers in a state of flux on how to proceed with the upcoming season. Florida growers are two months away from planting this year’s crop. Input costs and availability are on top of producers’ minds, says Lara Land, watermelon producer and executive council member of …
Chlorpyrifos Ban: Tolerances Don’t Expire Until Feb. 28
By Clint Thompson The final rule regarding the ban of chlorpyrifos by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) goes into effect on Friday, Oct. 29. However, Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist, reminds vegetable and specialty crop producers that the tolerances do not expire until Feb. 28. “(Feb. 28) is the date you lose the tolerance, but if …
Increased Blueberry Demand Helping Florida Growers
By Clint Thompson The increased marketing and promotion effort from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) has helped offset some of the lost market share by Florida growers due to increased trade from Mexico. “The Florida blueberry industry has been through the ups and downs that the rest of agriculture in the U.S. has been through. One of the most …
Speeding up the Development of Novel Crops
By Bryan Leong Humans derive most of their calories from 15 crop species, including wheat, corn, rice and potatoes. These crops were derived from wild species through a process called domestication. Plants with desirable traits were propagated in preference to others for hundreds or thousands of years to give us today’s food crops. This process has allowed agriculture to feed …
UF Research: Bags on Peaches Help Keep Pests, Diseases Away
Peaches are popular, especially in the Southeast, with annual national production of about 806,000 tons. Growers can help keep pests and diseases from damaging the fruit by placing bags around individual peaches, University of Florida researchers say. David Campbell, a UF/IFAS post-doctoral researcher, led new research, funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic Research and Extension Initiative grant. UF/IFAS …
Whitefly Management Key for Alabama Producers
Alabama Extension reminds vegetable producers to be on the lookout for silverleaf whiteflies this fall. The pests have become more common during the fall in the Southeast. An increase in activity has led to a reduction in yields for vegetable crops. These include yellow squash, zucchini, tomato, cucumber and snap beans. Costly Impact Whiteflies feed on the leaves but also …
Weekly Updates: Clemson Extension Agents Discuss Various Crops
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in the The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Zack Snipes reports, “We had a nice week of weather last week and are getting some rain this morning (10/25). Strawberry plants are arriving, and growers will be busy putting in plants this week. …
Change in Leadership: Hall to Step Down as GFVGA Executive Director
Starting Dec. 1, the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) will have a new leader. Charles Hall announced his intention to move into a semi-retirement role, beginning Dec. 1. Chris Butts, GFVGA Director of Public Affairs, has been named the association’s next executive vice president. Hall spent 25 years as the executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable …