The hint of fall in the air and the calendar turning to September means pumpkins are growing across Alabama. But producers need to be wary of certain diseases that can be detrimental to the pumpkin growing season, says Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist. “We do have a lot of pumpkins coming in. I was walking around a large patch …
H-2A Process Should Be Smoother Next Season
The H-2A application process had its challenges this spring in getting the farm workers needed from Mexico to Florida and Georgia. Veronica Nigh, economist with American Farm Bureau, believes the process should continue to improve next season amid the coronavirus pandemic, even if a vaccine is not in place. “A good deal of uncertainty was presented both to farmers and …
Deadline is Friday, Sept. 11 to Apply for CFAP
The deadline is this week for farmers and ranchers to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to the coronavirus pandemic and are interested in applying to receive direct payment relief need to do so by Friday, Sept. 11. According to VSCNews, more than 160 commodities are eligible for …
Citrus Breeding Progress on Track in Florida
Find out what several experts are seeing in the field and the lab.
USTR Offers Encouraging Action for Blueberry Producers
One commodity that’s been at the center of unfair trade disputes by producers in Georgia and Florida was at the forefront of the federal agencies’ plan of action issued this week. Georgia Ag Commissioner Gary Black was pleased to see the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) requesting the International Trade Commission to initiate a Section 201 global …
COVID-19 Safety Trainings: How to Protect Your Farm Labor
Back by popular demand, additional training dates have been added for COVID-19 safety trainings for farm workers and supervisors. The additional dates include Sept. 16, Â Sept. 24, Â Oct. 7, Â Oct. 13 and Oct. 21. The trainings will be held via zoom from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will include English and Spanish instruction. It is free training on how …
Ask the Expert: What does CFAP Mean for Specialty Crop Producers?
By Carl Purvis, USDA In this Ask the Expert, Charles Stephens, Associate Deputy Administrator, Specialty Crops Program, for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) answers a few questions on how the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) can assist specialty crop growers. What is the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)? CFAP provides direct payments to producers to offset price declines and additional …
Collins Statement on Trump Administration Requesting Investigation into Mexico’s Unfair Trade Practices
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) released the following statement after the Trump Administration released a 28-page report detailing how it would address threats that increased imports pose to American producers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables. The report also requested a U.S. International Trade Commission investigation into blueberry imports from Mexico, which have long harmed blueberry farmers in …
High Tech Farming Coming to Hampton County, S.C.
$314 Million Agriculture Technology Campus a Big Win for Local Food COLUMBIA – A 1,000-acre agribusiness cluster in Hampton County, South Carolina will employ 1,547 people in growing, packing and shipping tomatoes, leafy greens, blueberries and other fresh produce – using a cutting-edge approach called Controlled Environment Agriculture. The $314 million Agriculture Technology Campus is a joint venture encompassing multiple …
NCDA&CS, WNC Communities Sign Proclamation to Continue Hemlock Restoration Initiative
RALEIGH – North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today co-signed a proclamation with Jennifer Ferre, the executive director of WNC Communities, in which both leaders pledge continued support for the Hemlock Restoration Initiative. Troxler first announced the allocation of seed funding for the initiative in March of 2014. Since then, collaboration with WNC Communities has resulted in positive momentum in …