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By Frank Giles In the competitive world of fresh produce, growers must remain agile and quick to adapt to changing conditions. There are many different pathways to success despite the challenges. One path is a growth trajectory to spread risks and ensure supply. Another path is to remain small and focused on a niche product or customer base. And there …
By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry growers can mark their calendars for this summer’s grower meetings, set for three dates and locations in July. This summer’s meetings will be held on Tuesday, July 8, at the Polk County Extension Office in Bartow, Florida; Thursday, July 10, at the Hardee County Extension Office in Wauchula, Florida; and Thursday, July 17, at the …
By Clint Thompson Christmas tree production in Alabama can be an enticing endeavor, especially for retirees looking for some form of supplemental income. But potential growers need to be wary of what they’re getting into before planting their first tree, says Jeremy Pickens, Alabama assistant Extension professor in horticulture at Auburn University. “You’ve got to be planning ahead; putting your …
By Clint Thompson Alabama tomato grower Destiny Allman Gladden just started the planting process for this year’s crop. A successful season will depend just as much on market prices improving than the production itself. “We’ve really seen a great production the past couple of years. We’ve had beautiful tomatoes, pretty good crop,” Gladden said. “Marketing wise, it really boils down …
By Clint Thompson Another month of sweet corn harvests is expected in South Florida. One grower believes the favorable weather conditions contributed to strong quality and quantity in this year’s crop. “We’ve had really good weather. It’s been a little dry, but we have not had any freezes that have knocked things out. We haven’t had any floods to damage …
The grape production season is underway, and Southeast producers need to ensure their vineyard sprayers are properly calibrated, according to Sarah Lowder, University of Georgia (UGA) viticulture Extension specialist. She noted in the UGA Extension Viticulture Blog that proper calibration ensures growers are applying the right amount of product to their vines, maximizing effectiveness, minimizing waste and protecting the crop …
COLUMBIA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service has partnered with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to award $4.1 million for 26 projects through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program. The 26 projects consist of four infrastructure projects and 22 equipment projects to build resilience along the middle of the supply chain while strengthening local …
By Clint Thompson Southeast specialty crop farmers can expect the portal to apply for federal disaster relief assistance to open in the next couple of weeks, no later than the end of the month. That is according to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who testified before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and …
By Frank Giles Make Estate Planning a Top Priority Sometimes when writing this column, I will scan the internet looking for topics that could be relevant for this page. Doing just that for this month’s issue, I came across a headline that had eye-catching power. It was a write-up from American Farm Bureau Federation Associate Economist Samantha Ayoub titled “Estate …
By Clint Thompson Florida’s tomato season was challenged from the start. But considering growers were able to weather two hurricanes, they churned out a solid crop, said Robert Guenther, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange. “We really had a horrible start to the season with two hurricanes coming through Florida. That really put us back. I would say …
