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By Clint Thompson Hurricane Helene’s $138 million impact to the pecan industry is devastating for Georgia growers. What’s even more demoralizing is that those preliminary estimates may not cover the entire losses to the pecan industry, explains Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. “We’re still looking at the possibility of more losses with whatever nuts are left in …
Preliminary Agricultural Damage Assessment Estimates Losses at $1.5 – $2.5 Billion (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/October 17, 2024) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson sent a letter [ 1.1 MB ] to the United States Secretary of Agriculture formally requesting a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Disaster Declaration for Florida counties impacted by Hurricane Milton. Hurricane Milton caused catastrophic damage to Florida’s agricultural producers, compounding losses and …
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s blueberry industry suffered a $52 million impact following Hurricane Helene. An additional $150 million impact could also be realized with future quality losses. Preliminary estimates for the economic impact of Hurricane Helene topped $6 billion, according to totals released last week by the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). Russ Goodman, …
Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Zack Snipes Midlands Phillip Carnley Pee Dee Christiana Huss Brittney King
Hurricane Milton’s extensive damage to Florida’s agriculture community has led AgNet Media and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to cancel this year’s Florida Ag Expo event, originally scheduled for Nov. 7 at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida. The hurricane has caused widespread damage to crops, greenhouses and farm …
By Clint Thompson First Helene, then Milton. Mother Nature’s 1-2 punch of hurricanes took different paths in impacting the Southeast this fall. Instead of making their way across the Atlantic, those two major hurricanes originated in the western Caribbean. It did not take long for them to hit the Gulf of Mexico and impact southeastern states; Helene in North Florida, …
Washington, D.C. – The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) and nine co-plaintiffs filed a lawsuit contesting the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)’s unconstitutional regulatory overreach and limitations on the freedom of speech of farmers who employ temporary workers. The other plaintiffs to the action are the American Farm Bureau Federation, AmericanHort, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, …
By Clint Thompson Florida’s agricultural industry is in the spotlight this week at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia. Florida is this year’s Spotlight State, which allows the “Fresh From Florida” campaign to be on display for visitors to come see. Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson was in attendance on Tuesday and talked about this opportunity to promote Florida …
Hurricane Helene left devastation in its wake following its trek through Georgia on Sept. 27. One of the main crops impacted were blueberries. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, noted in the UGA Blueberry Extension Blog that blueberry disease management should be a focus of blueberry producers moving forward. “In areas that got a …
By Clint Thompson A pecan grower’s instinct following a high-wind event is to save as many trees as they can. For producers in Southeast Georgia following Hurricane Helene, the trouble in salvaging a leaning tree may not be worth the time and expense. The tree may still end up dying or be useless over time. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia …
