By Clint Thompson The looming landfall of Tropical Storm Elsa should have minimal impact on the vegetable industry in Florida, said Aaron Troyer, farmer and chairman of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. “Most of the crops are out of the ground and harvested right now. Anything there would be your perennial crops like oranges, citrus, that sort of thing,” …
Right to Farm Bill Highlights Florida Ag Interests
By Adam Basford Florida farmers and ranchers gained a significantly stronger level of protection from frivolous lawsuits when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 88 on April 29. Sponsored by Sen. Jason Brodeur and Rep. Jayer Williamson, the Right to Farm bill modernizes the law that was established in 1979. All 50 U.S. states have enacted Right to Farm laws that …
Sulfur Key Tool in Reducing Soil pH
By Clint Thompson Sulfur is a tool that South Florida growers can implement to decrease their soil pH in preparation for the upcoming fall season. Phillip Williams, an assistant professor at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, discusses the importance of bringing the soil pH down to its optimal level of 6.5. “The problem in Southwest Florida, our …
Commissioner Fried Announces Urban and Community Farming Pilot Program
Tallahassee, Fla. — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Energy announced the establishment of the Florida Urban and Community Farming Pilot Program. It provides support for urban and community farming projects to promote cleaner air, lower building heating and cooling costs, and provide additional stable, affordable and secure sources of …
Reduce Food Loss, Waste During Summer
Summertime provides families across the Southeast the opportunity to gather together, socialize and eat some fresh vegetables and fruit and other goodies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides resources to promote the reduction of food loss and waste this time of year. There are four steps that consumers can implement to reduce food waste at home, at the beach or …
Orange Juice on Consumers’ Radar and Florida Fruit in Demand
Weather, disease, and pandemic put a focus on the need to increase production.
UGA Trials: Organic Agriculture Research Gaining Traction in Georgia
University of Georgia Insect Ecology Professor Carmen Blubaugh is researching methods to help organic farmers in the Southeast, according to the University of Georgia Integrated Pest Management Blog. Farmers in the Southeast contend with year-round insect, weed and disease pressure, due to its hot, humid climate. Those challenges are amplified for organic producers, since chemical inputs are limited. Blubaugh and …
Starting Off: Pecan Variety Selection Essential to Long-Term Sustainability
By Clint Thompson Sustainable pecan production starts before the producer plants their tree. The right variety selection could lead to reduced chemical sprays for scab disease, which could save the producer time and money over the course of their pecan trees. Picking varieties like Zinner and Avalon could have positive ripple effects for growers trying to overcome high input costs. …
High Volume, Prices for Melon Growers Heading Into Fourth of July Weekend
By Clint Thompson Vegetable and specialty crop prices are down for most commodities, except watermelon. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, said he heard last week that watermelon prices were holding at about 20 cents per pound. That’s encouraging news for producers heading into this week’s Fourth of July weekend. “Mid-June, …
Focus on Technology: GFVGA to Host Webinar in July
The Georgia Fruit Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) will host a webinar in July, focused on precision agriculture and technology in the produce industry. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, July 13 at 1 p.m. Click here to register. In order to combat the rising costs of inputs, increased imports and labor regulations, growers need to focus on technology to …