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WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) fails to provide effective near-term relief measures for Southeast fruit and vegetable producers. Florida is the nation’s largest producer of fresh strawberries during the winter months; however, central Mexico’s strawberry production increased fivefold from 2000 to 2017. “This exponential increase presents a clear and present danger to the sustainability of the Florida strawberry …
The Southeast has an incredibly diverse agricultural industry, and it continues to expand. The December issue of VSCNews magazine will explore up-and-coming crops in the Southeast, as well as some international crops that could be a good fit for this region. Hop production has been a popular topic in Florida, especially at the University of Florida’s (UF) Gulf Coast Research …
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Raised on a family farm in Orange Heights, Florida, Reggie Brown recalls taking his chickens to the Gainesville town square for a 4-H contest when he was about 9 or 10. “I won the blue ribbon. I was real proud,” Brown said. As a child, Brown immersed himself in such Florida 4-H projects. For another project, he …
Southeastern agriculture is faced with many challenges, including hurricanes. Most recently, Hurricanes Irma, Florence and Michael have devastated sectors of southeastern agriculture. Steven McNulty, director of the Southeast U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Climate Hub, wants to help farmers prepare their land as best as they can before a storm hits. McNulty organized a recent meeting in Gainesville to gauge …
The Florida-Georgia water war has made it to the nation’s highest court and back multiple times due to a dispute about water conservation. The water war involves the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers. These rivers begin in Georgia, then join to form the Apalachicola River, which is near the Florida border and flows into the Apalachicola Bay. Florida began the war by requesting limitations on …
The Florida Blueberry Growers Association sent out the following release: Time to Monitor for Blueberry Gall Midge Just a reminder to blueberry growers that it is time to monitor for the presence of adult blueberry gall midge on your farms. Adults are typically active beginning in November, with a peak in January and February in Central and South Central Florida, …
Cheap Mexican imports ‘decimate’ U.S. prices and market share WASHINGTON, D.C. — Farmers in Florida will continue to go out of business if the U.S. government fails to provide critical trade relief to combat cheap Mexican produce imports flooding the market, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association CEO Mike Stuart told members of the International Trade Commission on Thursday. Stuart’s testimony …
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced today the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is now accepting applications for $4 million in expected federal funding for the Florida Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The deadline to submit an application to the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is Jan. 11, 2019. The grant, from the U.S. Department of …
As we sit down to dine during the annual Thanksgiving feast, it’s worth noting that much of what we eat comes from Florida farmers, say University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers. Better still, scientists with UF/IFAS try to see if they can breed and grow certain crops in Florida to help growers and consumers. When …
By Breanna Kendrick Citrus root weevil is relatively new to blueberries, but is becoming more of a prevalent issue for some Central Florida growers. Citrus root weevil typically occurs on old citrus ground that has been plowed under for blueberry production. Doug Phillips, blueberry Extension coordinator for the University of Florida (UF), has been trying to identify some controls against …
