Optimum Agriculture (Optimum), a global agricultural company focused on land acquisition and management, announced that Optimum ICD Holdings LLC has acquired 5,587 acres of farmland, processing facilities and the trademark Generation Farms, as well as other assets in Tattnall and Toombs counties, Georgia, from Generation Farms, LLC and affiliates (Generation Farms). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. From now …
Are Smaller Farms Dwindling?
Is the number of small- to medium-size farms dwindling? Don Goodwin, president of Golden Sun Marketing, believes it is. “I think the business is becoming much more complex,” he says. As the farming industry continues to evolve, Goodwin says more people are wanting to buy in and are entering the farming space for reasons, like technology sales and development, other …
Plant City’s Fancy Farms Wins 4R Advocate Award
Fancy Farms, a strawberry farm in Plant City, Florida, is one of the five winners of the Fertilizer Institute’s 4R Advocate Award for 2019. The award is being presented this week during Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida. Dustin and Carl Grooms of Fancy Farms will be recognized, as well as Jerrod Parker of Chemical Dynamics as Fancy Farms’ fertilizer service …
Grimmway Farms Opens Facility in Georgia
Jeff Huckaby, Grimmway Farms chief executive officer, hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black at the grand opening of Grimmway’s new Southeast region packing facility and warehouse in Sparks, Georgia, on Feb. 20. Huckaby said he is “really excited” to be making the move across the country, from California to Georgia, to open the …
What’s Happening? Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
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 Anna Sara Hill Zack Snipes Midlands Rob Last Phillip Carnley Pee Dee Brittney King Upstate Andy Rollins Sponsored ContentTriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024SECURE FUNDING NOW | USDA-Sponsored Farming Project …
Sen. Ossoff Pushing to Protect Georgia’s Agriculture from Invasive Species
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working to protect Georgia farms from pests and diseases. Sen. Ossoff has launched a push to pass the bipartisan Beagle Brigade Act of 2023, legislation he co-sponsored to make permanent the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan, Georgia. The center trains the Beagle Brigade, dogs trained by …
Challenging Weather Impacting Alabama Watermelon Producers
By Clint Thompson Alabama’s watermelon crop is on pace for a normal, average year, according to one producer. Jeremy Sessions, who farms 50 acres in Grand Bay, Alabama, said he should be ready to harvest by June 10. This comes despite challenging weather conditions throughout the growing season. “Everything looks pretty good. Early, we had some tough growing conditions. They …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Growers Advised to Have Heat Plan in Place
By Clint Thompson Without an official heat standard from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), fruit and vegetable producers must consider OSHA recommendations for a heat plan as requirements. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), conveyed that belief following a webinar the association presented in March. The webinar shined a light …
USDA Announces $48 Million Available for Farm Labor Housing Across Country
KENNEWICK, WASH – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Basil Gooden announced in April that the USDA is accepting applications for financing to build new housing, aiding local farms and businesses to remain competitive while enhancing the lives of working families. This initiative aims to ensure year-round and seasonal domestic farmworkers have safe, modern and affordable living …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Tracking Progress of Region’s Fruits, Vegetables
By Clint Thompson Sweet Corn Picks Up After Slow Start Florida sweet corn volume was expected to ramp up during the first couple of weeks in April. The increased production was needed for growers who experienced a sluggish start to the season, mostly due to excessive rainfall. The record rainfall kept growers from being able to access the field for …