Agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs due to the coronavirus pandemic can sign up for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) beginning today. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 11, 2020. Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension economist Adam Rabinowitz discusses the impact of this new program and how it is much different than …
CFAP 2 For Specialty Crop Producers
Are you a producer of specialty crops including fruits, vegetables, horticulture, tree nuts, honey, maple sap, or indigo whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? USDA is implementing Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) 2 for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. CFAP 2 will provide producers with financial assistance …
Alabama Pest Alert
According to the Alabama Extension Commercial Horticulture Facebook page, insect pressure has increased significantly over the past two months. This was reported in 20 locations across Alabama, where moth counts from pheromone traps were collected. For example, the beet armyworm moth numbers were 823 as of Aug. 15, a 1.2X increase from the 682 reported on July 31. Host plants …
North Carolina Farmer of the Year is James Lamb
According to the Sunbelt Expo website, this year’s North Carolina Farmer of the Year is James Lamb. Lamb is now eligible for the Swisher Sweets Farmer of the Year award and $15,000 cash prize given to the overall winner, who will be named at this year’s Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia on Oct. 20-22. Lamb was nominated as North …
N.C. Peach Season Kicks off Summer Season
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services RALEIGH – The first day of summer may be right around the corner, but fresh North Carolina peaches are already available at farmers markets and roadside stands across the state. While not a bumper crop, local growers do expect to have plenty of peaches through Labor Day. “North Carolina grows more than …
Chinese Citrus Imports a Sour Pill for Florida Growers
With tensions high during the coronavirus crisis, move to allow fruit into U.S. raises alarm. See what some are saying about it.
Could Jujube Be a Fruit Tree for the Southeast?
By Kevin Folta I was glued to an uncomfortable seat in a rickety van, speeding down a marginal Chinese highway. A group of scientists ventured out for a day trip, from Wuhan to the Three Gorges Dam. The driver spoke no English, his foot was made of lead, and he chain-smoked one cigarette after another, pausing only to find his …
Specialty Crops of the Andes May Have Potential for the Southeast
By Kevin M. Folta The Andes Mountains are home to great botanical diversity and are the origin of many vegetable species consumed in North America. Worldwide mainstays such as peppers, cassava, potato and tomato all have evolutionary connections to this area, from which over 200 plant species have been domesticated. The vast diversity arises from variation in geographical features, as …