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 Rob Last Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundNovember 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024SECURE FUNDING NOW | USDA-Sponsored Farming Project Underway in the Southern …
USDA Announces Planned Trade Missions for ’24
WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week the next steps in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s efforts to bolster U.S. agricultural trade, including the department’s planned trade missions for 2024 and the opening of a public comment period for the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). These efforts will help to support further growth in agricultural exports and …
Undersecretary Keys in on Specialty Crop Trade
While meeting with reporters at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual convention, USDA Undersecretary for Trade, Alexis Taylor, keyed in on trade missions that could be particularly beneficial to the nation’s specialty crop industries. Taylor said funding from the USDA will also help the industry with trade challenges. “In addition to some market development work, we’re doing a hundred …
Florida Ag Community Continues Work to Enhance Water Quality Management
By Frank Giles Water quality and quantity are issues that cross all political and economic boundaries in Florida. When blue-green algae and red tides occur, they make front-page news and keep these challenges top-of-mind for all Floridians. Agriculture and the water-quality debate have been closely intertwined over the years. As a large user of water for irrigation and the need …
USDA ERS Research: Organic Blueberry Production on Rise
A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) study has concluded that organic blueberry production has expanded tremendously over the past decade. Yields reached 77.5 million pounds in 2019 compared to 11.9 million pounds in 2008. Florida has contributed to the rise in organic yields. It produced less than 160,000 pounds in 2008 but increased to 1.9 million …
South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline: Mite Pressure Update
Mite pressure is low but increasing in southern Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Southern red mites were reported in blueberries in central Florida. Broad mites were reported in a few pepper fields across Southwest Florida. Broad mite infestation increased to low levels in pepper fields along the east coast. In eggplants, two spotted spider mites …
USDA AFRI Grant to Allow Researchers to Help Southern Blueberry Growers in States Like Alabama
A nearly half-a-million-dollar grant will allow Auburn University professors and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station researchers to help blueberry growers in states like Alabama where growing the fruit has its challenges. Funded by a $497,827 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), the project is titled, “Expanding Southern highbush blueberries to underserved regions of the …
USDA ERS Study: Blueberry Second Most Popular U.S. Produced Berry
A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) study concludes that blueberries are the second most popular berry in terms of value and volume of U.S. production. Highbush and lowbush varieties are the two main types, with highbush blueberries being used for the fresh market and lowbush used in the processed market. Approximately 90% of the total domestic …
Sprouts Farmers Market named FFVA Customer of the Year Â
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association honored Sprouts Farmers Market with its 2023 Customer of the Year Award during FFVA’s 79th annual convention at The Ritz-Carlton in Naples last month. The annual award recognizes the important role that food service and retail merchandising play in the promotion and sale of fresh Florida produce. It is given to a valued partner …
Growers Hope for a Better Season in 2024
By Leonard Park The Florida blueberry season that began in the summer of 2022 culminated in one of the smallest spring harvests in years. The main culprit was Hurricane Ian. However, the lack of chill hours in December, followed by two harsh cold snaps over the holidays, affected other regions with damaged flower buds and crop delays. For most growers, …


















