By Clint Thompson A second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is inevitable. Perhaps we are already in it, just a few months ahead of the fall forecasts that most projected would coincide with flu season. But you can pencil in COVID-19 as another challenge farmers will have to face this fall, especially as preparations are already underway for the fall …
Florida Vegetable Farmer: Future of American Farming Dismal
By Clint Thompson Florida vegetable farmer Sam Accursio paints a gloomy picture for the future of farming and the availability of food in the United States. “It’s dismal, unless the American consumer says we’ve had enough. We are going to support these American growers or we’re going to be hungry some day. It may not be in my lifetime. It …
San Jose Scale Problem for Peach Producers
By Clint Thompson Brett Blaauw, University of Georgia assistant professor in the Department of Entomology, says the time is now to treat San Jose scale crawlers which are peaking in peach orchards. “Right around late June, early July and then again in August, we see these real high populations of their larvae, the crawlers. Crawlers are also susceptible to insecticides. …
Nikki Fried: Our Growers Cannot Compete
Florida Ag Commissioner Makes Comments on USMCA By Clint Thompson Not every leader in the agricultural community believes the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was the right move for American farmers. Even after the USMCA entered into force on Wednesday, Nikki Fried, Florida Ag Commissioner, remained vocal to her opposition to the agreement, mainly due to its impact on specialty crop …
Valent U.S.A. Offers Fast, Long-Lasting Insecticide
By Clint Thompson Valent U.S.A. is offering a new insecticide that offers fast and long-lasting control of soft-bodied insects of vegetable and citrus crops. This is the first year that producers will have access to Senstar Insecticide. It provides farmers with two effective modes of action for control of soft-bodied insects, including whiteflies, aphids, thrips and pysillids. “Southeast vegetable and …
Secretary Perdue: President Trump Delivers USMCA, a huge win for U.S. Agriculture
Contact: USDA PressEmail: press@oc.usda.gov (Washington, D.C., July 1, 2020) – Today, The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) enters into force, replacing the decades-old NAFTA. USMCA is a better deal for America’s farmers, consumers and workers that will set them up for success for decades to come. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue penned an oped in the North Carolina Fayetteville Observer …
Root Borers a Danger to Grapes in the Southeast
By Clint Thompson The time is now for grape producers to protect their crop against the grape root borer, said Brett Blaauw, assistant professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Georgia. He said usually in north Georgia, the grape root borers will emerge in early July. According to the UGA Extension Viticulture Blog, if farmers have not …
Shriveled blueberries could signal “mummy berry” disease
By Paul Pugliese for CAES News Blueberries are one of the most popular backyard fruits for Georgia because they are relatively low maintenance compared to other fruit species. However, there is one particular disease issue known as “mummy berry” that can be problematic for blueberry growers. The disease is easily recognized when the fruit begins to ripen, as infected berries …
Watch Out for Green June Beetle in Fruit Crops
Elina Coneva, Extension Specialist & Professor at Auburn University, said now is the time for fruit crop producers to scout for adult Green June beetle emergence. According to the Extension News Release, the beetles are considered a serious pest and can injure fruits of numerous crops including grapes, apple, pear, quince, plum, apricot, peach, nectarine, blackberry and raspberry. Adult beetles …
Expos Canceled Due to Changing COVID-19 Conditions
Although grower and exhibitor interest remains high, AgNet Media has canceled the 2020 Citrus Expo and Vegetable & Specialty Crop Expo in the interest of public safety. For nearly three decades, Citrus Expo has been a tradition that growers look forward to each year. Unfortunately, that tradition will be on hiatus this year, due to the recent rapid escalation of …