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 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued the following statement last week reacting to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry’s release of legislative text for the budget reconciliation package. “We are grateful to Chairman (John) Boozman and his staff for advancing these vital investments in specialty crops that the Specialty Crop Farm Bill …
WASHINGTOWASHINGTON – The National Potato Council thanked Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairman John Boozman and his staff for including vital specialty crop investments in the committee’s reconciliation draft released last week. “The provisions supporting specialty crop growers are not merely beneficial – they are essential for the survival and international competitiveness of our family farms and the entire …
By Clint Thompson Sweet Grown Alabama hosted its annual farm to table dinner on Thursday, June 5 at Dalrymple Farms in Coffee County. The event provided attendees with another opportunity to sample locally grown goods, consisting of locally raised beef, fresh vegetables and honey. “Sweet Grown Alabama was honored to host our fifth annual farm to table dinner down in …
By Clint Thompson Disaster relief remains a significant issue for Georgia’s specialty crop producers still reeling from major storms, including Hurricane Helene last fall. Fruit and vegetable farmers were pummeled by the storm when it moved through the region as a major hurricane in late September. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins testified before the House Ag Committee on Wednesday about a …
By Clint Thompson North Florida’s watermelon season is nearing its final few days of harvest. It’s not as if there isn’t plenty of fruit still left to be sold. The low market prices are contributing to growers finishing up this year, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live …
By Clint Thompson Vegetable research was the subject of a recent Extension agent training at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Campus. One crop that Ted McAvoy, UGA Extension vegetable specialist, is currently focusing on is okra. He spoke about its significance for Georgia growers. “It’s the first time and I’m very excited about it. When I interviewed with the …
Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, talks about how downy mildew has impacted North Florida’s watermelon crop this year. He also demonstrates what symptoms look like. Downy mildew can degrade or destroy the plant’s foliage very rapidly. It thrives in a wet, humid environment, and the …
By Clint Thompson Two of Florida’s top tropical fruits were highlighted by an industry expert during an interview with AgNet Media. Jonathan Crane, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor and tropical fruit crop specialist, discussed the state of this year’s avocado and mango crops, heading into the summer. “The avocado crop has been down because …
By Clint Thompson The future of Florida’s peach industry potentially rests on results generated from research at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). With labor expenses at an all-time high and showing no signs of slowing, Florida’s peach growers need a more efficient way to produce a crop that is heavily reliant on manual labor. …
Recent rainfall has been a welcome sight for Floridians, but it can be a concern for the state’s citrus growers who are producing next year’s crop. Chris Oswalt, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences citrus agent, cautions growers about citrus canker amid the increased moisture in the region. “With rainfall, you need to be concerned about those …
