Financial Assistance Needed: Florida Strawberry Growers Impacted by Hurricane Milton

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Strawberries

By Clint Thompson Hurricane Milton delivered a blow to Florida’s strawberry industry when it moved through the state on Oct. 9. One grower is hopeful for financial assistance to offset growing input costs into this year’s crop. “We’re roughly on average $3,500 an acre over-invested into this crop, just from the cleanup efforts and redoing things. We’re more invested than …

Registration Ongoing for Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Registration is currently underway for the Southeast (SE) Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, scheduled for Jan. 9-11, 2025 in Savannah, Georgia. The three-day event is catered to specialty crop producers in the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), talked about …

Georgia Farm Bureau to Hold Annual Convention

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

MACON, Ga. – Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) members will gather on Jekyll Island Dec. 8-10 for the organization’s 87th annual convention. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall and inspirational speaker Nick Parker are scheduled to address convention attendees during the general session on Dec. 9 between 8:15 a.m. and …

climate change

Climate Change in the Cold-Hardy Citrus Region

Dan CooperCold Hardy, Weather

Climate change is a key reason that citrus production has progressed in South Georgia, North Florida and South Alabama, the area known as the cold-hardy citrus region. As more varieties, other than satsuma mandarins, continue to be planted in the area, warmer temperatures are needed for trees to flourish. Arnold Schumann, professor of soil fertility and water quality at the …

Sneak Peek: December 2024 Specialty Crop Grower Magazine

Clint ThompsonSneak peek

The cover story of the December issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights Southern Hill Farms in Lake County, Florida. Diversification is the name of the game for David Hill and his family’s farming operation. Blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and vegetable crops are available, which has widened the you-pick season through the fall, winter and spring seasons. The International Fresh Produce …

Second Warmest October on Record

Clint ThompsonWeather

By Clint Thompson As if most did not already realize, October was really warm across the Southeast. In fact, it was toasty across the entire U.S. Pam Knox, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agricultural climatologist, noted in her UGA Extension Climate Blog, that October 2024 was the second warmest October on record since 1895. Adding to the unexpected heat wave, …

Georgia Farmers Support Sen. Ossoff’s Plea to Pass Disaster Assistance By End of the Year

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

Washington, D.C. — Georgia farmers support U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff’s bipartisan push to pass agricultural disaster assistance before the end of the year. Sen. Ossoff testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations on the urgent need to support Georgia agriculture after the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. He pressed both parties to pass agricultural disaster assistance for Georgia before …

Have a Safe Thanksgiving: Toss Lukewarm Leftovers, UF/IFAS Food Safety Expert Warns

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Tasty treats are expected this Thanksgiving, but don’t let the leftovers linger too long this holiday season. Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium that proliferates in food kept at improper temperatures, thrives in high-protein foods of animal origin, including red meat, poultry, pork and gravy, according to an Ask IFAS article. While outbreaks are typically more prevalent in hospitals, nursing homes, prisons …

Thanksgiving

Secret to a Successful Thanksgiving? Know How to Prepare Turkey Safely

Dan CooperPoultry

Thanksgiving Day means family reunions and turkeys being cooked across the U.S. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides safety tips for families cooking a turkey this year, starting with thawing the turkey. There are two safe ways to thaw a turkey: in the refrigerator or in cold water. Please be aware that thawing a frozen turkey on the kitchen …

Export Markets Essential for Pecan Producers Amid Era of Low Prices

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson The current deflated pecan market prices emphasizes the need for additional export markets for Georgia and Alabama producers. Growers are relying on regional and national pecan organizations to open up pathways for the Southeast pecan crop to find an international home, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist. “It certainly creates even more of …