By Clint Thompson A contentious issue at the heart of specialty crop farmers in Georgia and Florida is one of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA)’s main core principles for the 2023 Farm Bill. It focuses on trade and foreign competition which has frustrated fruit and vegetable growers for decades. Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and co-chair of …
SCFBA’s Recommendations for Farm Bill Highlight Unfair Trade
By Clint Thompson A contentious issue at the heart of specialty crop farmers in Georgia and Florida is one of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA)’s main core principles for the 2023 Farm Bill. It focuses on trade and foreign competition which has frustrated fruit and vegetable growers for decades. Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and …
IFAS Blueberry Management Tips
Florida blueberry growers are just a few weeks away from harvest season. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences offers growers management tips for this point in the season. Producers should monitor for botrytis and apply control measures as needed. Any applications of fungicides prior to a need for overhead irrigation as freeze protection can help reduce disease …
Blueberry Management Tips for February
Florida blueberry growers are just a few weeks away from harvest season. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences offers growers management tips for this point in the season. Producers should monitor for botrytis and apply control measures as needed. Any applications of fungicides prior to a need for overhead irrigation as freeze protection can help reduce disease …
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. Statewide Guido Schnabel reports, “The new year started with a disappointment and scare for some strawberry growers; stunted plants, gaps in the strawberry rows and leaves dying. The extent of the damage is yet …
UGA Specialist Provides Blueberry Harvest Tips
By Clint Thompson Blueberry harvest season is just around the corner for Southeast producers. Proper harvest and handling practices can make the difference in growers producing the best fruit quality. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, provided reminders for farmers during the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. The main tip is to handle …
Flavors of Florida Returns for 8th Year
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Flavors of Florida, the premier University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) tasting showcase, is now an annual event on the UF campus. The March 23 event will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in the Champions Club at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field. Tickets are available at early bird pricing …
Grower Associations Gearing Up for Farm Bill
By Clint Thompson What the future of agriculture looks like could be shaped by how discussions materialize this year in preparation for the 2023 farm bill. The farm bill’s passage will have lasting ramifications for Southeast specialty crop producers who hope to remain sustainable for the foreseeable future. For one specialty crop organization, the bill’s inclusion or exclusion of language …
Sneak Peek: February 2023 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
The February issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights various topics impacting one of the most important sectors in agriculture. Everything from the upcoming Farm Bill, to the recently passed omnibus bill, to blueberry production, to the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference are covered in this month’s issue. The fruit and vegetable conference returned to Savannah in January and …
Blueberry Bloom Period Vital Time for Growers to Protect Against Diseases
By Clint Thompson Looming warmer temperatures mean blueberry blooms will soon start opening up across the Southeast. That means growers need to be diligent in applying necessary fungicide sprays. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, discussed the various diseases producers should be wary of during open bloom. “At bloom we’re concerned about mummy berry …