AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Alabama specialty crop producers interested in growing hemp in 2022 can now apply during the enrollment period. Hemp applications are available through Nov. 29 for those wishing to become a grower or a processor/handler for the 2022 growing season. Applications will be accepted online through the Kelly Registration System (KRS). The application is available through the …
Trichomes: Tiny Plant Organs with Superpower
By Ulschan Bathe Have you ever rubbed a peppermint leaf between your fingers and wondered where the toothpaste smell comes from? It does not come from the inside of the leaf. It comes from the outside. The smell is released from tiny hairlike organs on the leaf surface that are called trichomes. (The name trichome comes from the Greek word …
Elsa Aftermath: FDACS Responds to Secretarial Disaster Designation
Tallahassee, Fla. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has informed Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) that it has granted a Secretarial disaster designation in several counties in Georgia and Florida due to losses caused by Tropical Storm Elsa, excessive wind, and excessive rainfall that occurred on July 7, 2021. …
UF Hops Produces Tasty Craft Beer
BALM, Fla. — A somewhat bitter beer produced from hops grown at the University of Florida (UF) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center is just what UF scientists want. UF scientists showed the latest research results from their hops studies on Tuesday. Craft beer lovers want details about taste and aroma. UF/IFAS researchers see an increase in alpha acid in …
NASS Conducting First Hemp Acreage and Production Survey
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) sent out its first Hemp Acreage and Production Survey this week. Going to nearly 2,000 producers across Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, this survey is designed to collect information on the total planted and harvested area, yield, production, and value of hemp in the U.S. “The Hemp Acreage and Production Survey will provide …
Joint Statement from U.S., Mexican Agriculture Secretaries
AMES, IOWA – Mexican Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Victor Villalobos and United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issued the following statement at the conclusion of their bilateral meeting in Ames, Iowa on Wednesday. “We reaffirm the importance of our two nations’ exceptional agricultural trading relationship and its role in supporting rural prosperity, creating good jobs and providing …
Role of Fungal Pathogen in Citrus Fruit Drop at Center of Symposium
Growers and industry stakeholders gather to learn about the latest in peptide technology. Find out what was discussed.
Caterpillar Pressure Varies Across Florida
Caterpillar pressure continues to vary across Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Respondents in the Manatee-Ruskin region reported that populations are increasing. Melonworms in cucumber and squash were reported at moderate levels. Beet armyworms, cabbage loopers and a few hornworms were reported sporadically. Caterpillars have also been very active in the North Florida region. Scouts are …
Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum an Important Two-Day Event for Producers
By Clint Thompson Next month’s Georgia Agricultural Labor Relations Forum is an opportunity for growers to receive timely information about various labor-related topics. Chris Butts, director of legislative affairs with the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, said the two-day event is essential for producers who need to stay up to date on important labor-related issues. “There are so many …
USITC Investigation: Future of Cucumbers, Squashes Markets at Stake
By Clint Thompson Southeast vegetable and specialty crop producers should find out in the next couple of months the impact of two factfinding investigations by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) on the effects of imported cucumbers and squashes on the U.S. seasonal markets. It could have significant ramifications for future markets for both commodities, said John Walt Boatright, director …