When the light goes on, it’s lights out for a ruinous strawberry pathogen. Just imagine this: Pulling an ultraviolet lamp behind a tractor out into your farm in the middle of the night, pointing the UV light at the strawberries and zapping powdery mildew right out of the leaves and fruit. That’s the idea behind new research led by UF/IFAS …
QLA Deadline Extended: Applications Now Due April
WASHINGTON, March 5, 2021 – Vegetable and specialty crop producers in the Southeast that want to apply for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program now have an extra month to submit an application. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended the deadline from March 5 to April 9 for producers to apply, due to recent winter storms and some clarifications …
Citrus Achievement Award Winners Believe in Future of the Industry
Optimistic and progressive producers speak out on what lies ahead for the Sunshine State’s signature crop.
Disease Management: Onions Vulnerable Amid Rainfall, High Temperatures
Field conditions are conducive for disease pressure to increase in Vidalia onion fields in Southeast Georgia. That’s why Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension Area Onion Agent at the Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia, is imploring farmers to stay on top of their fungicide sprays. “Looking around the fields last week, we definitely saw more disease …
Flash Drought: Potentially Devastating to Crops
Parts of the Southeast have experienced excessive rainfall this year. But periods of prolonged dry spells could be just around the corner and be detrimental to the growth of vegetables and specialty crops. What is really concerning to Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist, are those flash droughts. She spoke about the impact flash droughts can have on …
Soil Sampling: Management Practice Key for Upcoming Season
One of the most overlooked management practices for vegetable and specialty crop producers is also one of the most essential this time of year. Soil sampling can save producers money by providing valuable information about the nutrient content in their soils. It is a more efficient means of preparing for the upcoming season instead of just guessing, said Joe Kemble, …
North Carolina Festival Canceled
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler has announced the cancellation of the 2021 Got to Be NC Festival, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “We are making progress in the state getting people vaccinated against this deadly virus, but we still have a ways to go in these efforts before a larger percentage of the population is vaccinated,” Troxler said. “We …
Pecan Nominations: Deadline for Promotion Board is March 26
Attention pecan producers who are interested in serving on the American Pecan Promotion Board. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for pecan growers. The deadline is Friday, March 26. Eligibility requirements include that producers and importers must have produced or imported more than 50,000 pounds of inshell pecans or 25,000 pounds of …
Industry in Decline: Citrus Greening, Irma Impacting Florida Citrus Production
Florida citrus production has decreased for almost two decades. According to Marisa Zansler, director of economic and market research at the Florida Department of Citrus, the two main factors for the state’s steady decline are citrus greening (huanglongbing, known as HLB) and Hurricane Irma. Staggering Statistics Zansler presented staggering statistics during the Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference on Feb. 26 …
Climate Change: Weather Event Impacting Agriculture
Climate change is impacting the agricultural industry across the U.S. Increased temperatures since the latter part of the 20th century have had a major impact on farming operations, especially in the Southeast. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist, spoke about the impact climate change has had on farmers during a discussion with the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. “We …