By: Ruth Borger, 517-803-7631, rborger@ufl.edu LAKE ALFRED, Fla. — Water is essential to Florida farmers. They scrutinize the amount available, its quality and when and how they should use it to grow crops, feed animals and sustain their livelihood. University of Florida soil and water sciences assistant professor Davie Kadyampakeni works tirelessly with Florida citrus growers to ensure that they …
Alabama: A session unlike any other
Alabama: A session unlike any other By Ashley Robinson Alabama lawmakers have never seen a legislative session like the one that took place this year. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced lawmakers to end Alabama’s 2020 legislative session early, causing several issues to fall by the wayside. Legislators took a nearly two-month break during the COVID-19 outbreak, returing to Montgomery on …
Frustrated Florida Farmer Voices Mexican Imports Concerns
By Clint Thompson COVID-19 was a challenge of pandemic proportions for farmers this spring. Adding insult to injury were the influx of Mexican produce that undercut American producers trying to sell their own product. Florida vegetable farmer Sam Accursio has a potential solution. “The only solution I know is to vote, get the people that are like-minded and want to …
Pecan Industry Seeks to Establish a Research and Promotion Program
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) received a proposal from the National Pecan Federation (NPF) requesting the establishment of a research and promotion program to strengthen the position of pecans in the marketplace, maintain and expand markets for pecans and develop new uses for pecans. USDA is currently analyzing the proposal. If USDA finds the request …
Sweet Market for Melon Farmers
By Clint Thompson Watermelon prices are holding strong for Southeast farmers, according to one South Georgia producer. Terrell Rutland believes extenuating circumstances could help extend the strong market, currently at 20 cents per pound, for growers an extra few weeks. “Anything north got frost bit about the first of May. Florida is through so that kind of puts us in …
Extension’s Mobile Farmers Markets Rolling Again in Metro Atlanta
By Josh Paine for UGA CAES News Mobile farmers markets are rolling again in metro Atlanta to continue serving fresh produce and delivering nutrition education to communities through curbside pickups and digital content. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agents and staff have modified the markets to reduce contact, loading mixed bags of produce like corn, onions, squash, potatoes, tomatoes and …
USDA Trade Mitigation Purchases to Feed People in Need and Aid American Farmers Surpass $2B
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it has purchased more than $2.2 billion of meat, fruits, vegetables, specialty crops and dairy products in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 in its ongoing efforts to feed people in need and assist American farmers and ranchers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. …
N.C. State Specialist: Best Strawberry Season Ever
By Clint Thompson Mark Hoffmann, North Carolina State small fruits Extension specialist, had high praise for this year’s strawberry crop. “This is the best strawberry season ever in North Carolina. I’ve only been here for three years but that’s what all people are telling me; they’ve never had such a good strawberry season,” Hoffmann said. It appears a relatively mild …
UF/IFAS Faculty to Host Webinar Series for Agriculture and Natural Resource Professionals
By: Jarred Shellhouse, 352-273-2599, jshellhouse@ufl.edu GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A new webinar series, focused on professional development for agriculture and natural resources professionals during a global pandemic, is set to take place this summer. Megan Stein, agricultural education and communication lecturer at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, will lead the series. “Our industry groups in agriculture …
UF/IFAS sees success
By Mary Ann Hooks After several disappointing budget years, the 2020 legislative session will go on record as one of the most successful for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The UF/IFAS priority this year was to increase our base budget. We submitted an appropriation request for a workload increase to make up for losses …