COLUMBIA – Two farm credit associations are supporting organic certification for Palmetto State farmers by supplementing a popular grant program offered by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA). The Organic Certification Cost Share Program uses federal money to reimburse producers and handlers of agricultural products up to 50% of their total allowable organic certification costs, up to a …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Weekly Field Update – 11/9/20 Coastal Zack Snipes reports, “It seems like we experience fall and summer in the same day this time of year. I visited a few farms and saw residual damage from whiteflies (silver leaves, virus, and …
CFAP 2 Application Deadline is Dec. 11
Producers impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and qualify for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) 2 still have time to submit their applications. The deadline is Dec. 11. It is open to growers of specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, honey, horticulture and maple sap. The United States Department of Agriculture implemented this program to provide producers financial …
U.S. Looking for Trade Action Against Fresh Produce Imports
Fresh produce coming into the United States is receiving increased scrutiny from the Trump Administration. Imported strawberries are now on the list of imported items that the administration wants investigated for possibly harming U.S. fruit and vegetable growers. Strawberry imports, mainly from Mexico, represent about 16% of the U.S. market, valued at approximately $2.5 billion every year. Gro-Intelligence Dot Com …
Mulch Improves Water Conservation in Vegetable Production
By Juan Carlos DÃaz-Pérez For centuries, horticulturists have modified the crop microenvironment to extend the production season and enhance crop growth, yield and quality. Some of the techniques to achieve environmental modification include the use of mulches, high tunnels, greenhouses, etc. Mulches are widely used in both conventional and organic vegetable production. According to Wikipedia, “a mulch is a layer …
Plethora of Plant Diseases Following Rainy Season for Alabama Producers
A wet 2020 has had Alabama vegetable and specialty crop producers fending off plant diseases. Even before the state encountered a couple of hurricanes, including Sally in mid-September and Zeta in late October, it had already received its share of rainfall. Not surprisingly, the excess moisture led to numerous plant diseases, according to Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist …
Storing Pecans May Not Be Best Option for Growers
A popular option that Georgia pecan producers are utilizing to combat low prices is to put them in storage in hopes of improved prices in the future. However, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells cautions growers who take this approach. “That’s most of what I hear taking place. I haven’t heard a lot (of pecans) over the …
NIHC Receives USDA Market Access Program Funding for International Research and Promotion of Hemp
NIHC Becomes First Hemp Organization Officially Recognized by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service as Market Access Program (MAP) Partner WASHINGTON – The National Industrial Hemp Council announced it received $200,000 in U.S. Department of Agricultural (USDA) Market Access Program (MAP) funding to support export market development of industrial hemp.  “We are grateful for USDA confidence and the recognition of NIHC as the …
USDA Restricts PACA Violators in California, Florida and Texas
November 13, 2020 – General News PRESS RELEASE: WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA …
Why You Should Drink Your Orange Juice
Recent stats confirm the citrus-fueled beverage supports a healthy lifestyle. In this day and age, that element is essential.