By Kirsten Romaguera, kromaguera@ufl.edu GAINESVILLE, Fla. — With agriculture and marine industries occupying a large portion of Florida’s economy, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) wants to better understand how measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are impacting these sectors. Starting today, faculty from the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics (FRE) department are deploying …
Georgia Peach Crop Primed for Success
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s peach crop is primed for a productive season. Hopefully, the market will oblige, says Dario Chavez, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension peach specialist. “We think, in general, the majority of the varieties did have enough chill (hours). The ones that we think may have some issues with chill are the later varieties, the higher-chill varieties. We …
UF/IFAS Extension Agent Emeritus Defends Florida Farmers
By Clint Thompson Already a difficult production season for Florida’s fruit and vegetable producers, some are unjustly being criticized for trying to manipulate the market and get government handouts, says Gene McAvoy, UF/IFAS Extension agent emeritus. He defended growers and their farming operations amid scrutiny about criticism for not being more gracious with their crop. “It is a very complex …
Two More Days of Potential Frost in North Carolina
By Clint Thompson Mark Hoffmann, small fruits Extension specialist at N.C. State University cautions strawberry growers about upcoming cooler temperatures that could impact fruit production. Hoffmann issued the caution earlier today as potential frost events could occur Thursday and Friday. “We are not out of the woods. Conditions are calling for one or two more potential frost nights in North …
Why Are the Grocery Store Shelves Empty?
By Gopinath (Gopi) Munisamy for UGA CAES News While all industries have been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, food and agriculture have been among the hardest hit segments of the U.S. economy. The primary reason lies in the composition of household food expenditures. The impacts of the pandemic appear to vary by commodity based on two critical issues: perishability and …
South Carolina Strawberries Looking Good Despite Rainy Winter
By Clint Thompson A wet winter in South Carolina has presented challenges to the state’s strawberry producers. But South Carolina’s strawberry production is looking good this year despite the rainy winter, according to Bruce McLean, Jr., Clemson (S.C.) Extension area commercial horticulture agent for Dillon County, Horry County, Marion County and Malboro County. He said production this season is starting …
Facts of the Flow: Lake Okeechobee, 2020 Year-to-Date
(SFWMD) — Here is the latest update on inflows into Lake Okeechobee for the calendar year to date. This data is provided by SFWMD’s DBHYDRO database. There has been no back-pumping into Lake Okeechobee from the Everglades Agricultural Area this year. Source: South Florida Water Management District
Peach Crew Safety a Concern for Farmers During COVID-19
By Clint Thompson Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, says the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has forced peach producers and farming operations to take extra precautions when protecting their crews from becoming sick. “They have separate crews so they’re trying to keep the crews a little more separated this year. …
UF/IFAS Extension Veteran: Farmers Give to Food Banks in Time of COVID-19
By: Brad Buck, bradbuck@ufl.edu With the COVID-19 shutdowns increasing people’s need for food, some consumers rely on nonprofits for a bite to eat. To help, farmers in Florida and elsewhere are donating excess produce to food banks, said a UF/IFAS expert. In fact, some food banks are helping farmers by offsetting some of their costs, thus incentivizing growers to harvest …
U.S. Congressman: A Fourth Relief Bill Will not Happen Fast
By Clint Thompson United States Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) believes if there is a fourth coronavirus relief bill to help people like farmers and aid agribusinesses, it will not happen fast. Scott, along with fellow Congressman Sanford Bishop (GA-02), spoke about the recently passed Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and its different provisions. Due to circumstances regarding …