Increased food consumption at home amid COVID-19 means potentially more sales of fresh fruits and vegetables for Alabama producers, says Wendiam Sawadgo, Alabama Extension economist. “There was about a 50% increase in consumption at home in (last) March compared to before the pandemic. That sort of tapered off a little bit. But it’s still much higher than it was before,” …
End in Sight? Florida Producers to Continue to Struggle Amid Rising Imports
Florida producers will continue to struggle if the issue of Mexican imports is not addressed, says Zhengfei Guan, UF/IFAS Associate Professor in the Food and Resource Economics Department. Farmers in the Sunshine State will always face an uphill battle if imports of such crops like tomatoes, bell peppers, strawberries and blueberries are allowed to continue. “They’re going to have a …
Best Laid Plans? Georgia Vegetable Producer Adjusting Following Winter Rains
Sometimes a farmer’s best laid plans go awry. Just ask Georgia vegetable producer Ricky Powe. “I was going to have plastic laid and ready to go by Feb. 10 and be waiting on the plants. But with farming, the best laid plan isn’t always what it is,” said the Grady County grower. What stopped this Georgia vegetable producer? How about …
Clemson Extension Offers Tips for Tissue Sampling in Strawberries
According to The South Carolina Grower, it is important for strawberry producers to tissue sample their crop now. This ensures an adequate supply of nutrients are available for the crop, which maximizes yield and quality of the fruit. Justin Ballew, Clemson Commercial Horticulture Agent, said the best method in tissue sampling is randomly select plants. These should be selected across …
COVID Pandemic Forces Farmers to Diversify
The COVID-19 pandemic forever changed how businesses are conducted across the country. Just as much as any other industry, agriculture suffered from the pandemic’s impact. As restaurants closed their doors and schools’ closures kept children at home, farmers lost a significant portion of their clientele. A year later, they have had to adjust to stay afloat. They will have to …
Rural Broadband AFBF President Zippy Duvall Advocates for Reliable Service
Internet broadband access continues to be a major concern for rural communities. It is a major point of focus for American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “Everything that we’re going to move forward to in agriculture is going to be based off the new technology that comes down the pipe to us. It’s going to be run by the …
Ant Control: Alabama Extension Encourages Farmers to Protect Crop
Vegetable crops are vulnerable to ant pressure this time of year. Alabama Extension encourages vegetable producers to implement management tactics as they begin planting this year’s crops. According to Alabama Extension, fire ants can protect aphids and other honeydew producers on vegetables, which makes their effects worse on the plants. Fire ants can also interfere with natural enemies. Ultimately, though, …
Feeling Peachy: Florida Crop Nearing Harvest
Domestic options will soon be available for consumers yearning for that sweet, delicious peach. The first of Florida’s peach crop will be ready in late March, according to Jose Chaparro, UF/IFAS Associate Professor in the Horticultural Sciences Department. He said the peach trees have produced their strongest bloom in the last five years. It is due in large part to …
Vegetable Assessment: Georgia Growers Approve
Georgia vegetable growers have made their voices known: The Georgia Vegetable Commission marketing order has been extended for an additional three years. Producers overwhelmingly voted to extend the assessment of one cent per marketing unit by producers with more than 50 acres crops that include green beans, bell pepper, specialty pepper, carrots, broccoli, beets, eggplant, cabbage, sweet potatoes, cantaloupes, cucumbers, …
Sweet Delivery: GDA Announces Vidalia Onions Will Ship April 19
2021 is the 35th Anniversary of the Passage of the Vidalia Onion Act by the State’s Legislature ATLANTA, Ga. – The pack date for Georgia’s Vidalia onions will be April 19. The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and the Vidalia Onion Committee (VOC) made the announcement. The organizations are also celebrating the 35th anniversary of legislation that helped make Vidalia …