By Clint Thompson Consecutive nights of sub-freezing temperatures has Southeast specialty crop producers concerned moving forward this year. Vegetable growers are worried about potential injury to their fruit that were vulnerable in the ground. Strawberry farmers are concerned about wind damage to their crop. Georgia’s Vidalia onion producers are concerned now about the long-term ramifications for their young plantings that …
FFVA Submits Letter to EPA Regarding Methomyl
The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week in response to the agency’s proposed interim registration review decision for the insecticide methomyl. Vegetable and blueberry producers rely on the low-coast, broad-spectrum, long-lasting insect management benefits that the insecticide provides. The FFVA emphasized in the letter that any move to limit …
The Risk of Warmer Winters to Fruit Production
By Pam Knox Georgia is known as “The Peach State,” but the production of blueberries is a much bigger contributor to the state’s economy than peaches. However, both types of fruit have one thing in common. They are being affected by the trend toward warmer temperatures that are being seen across the world due to increases in greenhouse gases in …
Sneak Peek: December 2022 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
The December issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights the Florida Ag Expo, which was held on Nov. 2 at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida. This year’s Expo offered insight and education from industry leaders and university researchers into the latest trends impacting specialty crop production. Topics like crop protection, supply-chain issues, pest management and …
Keeping Florida Citrus Nurseries Viable
By Peter Chaires There are times when this column seeks to illuminate issues that might not be on the front burner of the collective industry consciousness. This is one of those times. Hurricane Ian’s destructive landfall and its unfolding impact on the industry will capture headlines for some time. The devastating impacts of HLB on citrus growers is highly visible, …
Sneak Peek: November 2022 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
The November issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine provides a look at Hurricane Ian and its impact on Florida’s blueberry and strawberry crops. The storm passed through Florida in late September. It brought rains and heavy winds that flooded blueberry bushes and delayed strawberry plantings. Denise Attaway, a writer/editor for the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences at Clemson …
Promotion and Marketing Critical to Florida Blueberry Industry’s Success
By Frank Giles The Florida Blueberry Growers Association hosted its annual short course in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, in October. The meeting featured educational sessions ranging from optimizing pollination and marketing to chilli thrips control and new varieties. Growers were in good spirits at the meeting, despite impacts from Hurricane Ian. While some growers further south in the state took a hard …
Weekly Field Update – 10/17/22
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 reports, “We have had absolutely beautiful weather as of late. This past week, agents were busy harvesting sweet sorghum to make into syrup, to distill, brew and pop (sorghum popcorn). This old timey tradition …
New Push for Farm Workforce Modernization Act
By Frank Giles Despite the myriad challenges thrown at Florida growers, when asked what their biggest challenge on the farm is, most reply sourcing labor. This long-time problem was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Various efforts to ease farm labor pains have been attempted over the years with limited success. A new push is underway to pass the Farm Workforce …
Strawberry Spotlight: Update on Florida Pearl™ Pineberry
By Vance M. Whitaker The patented Florida Pearl™ (FL 16.78-109) pineberry is a newcomer on the U.S. berry market in the last two years. It has appeared in stores under multiple brand names, including Pinkaboo and Berry De Blanc. ABOUT THE BERRYPearl has white flesh inside and out, with a pink blush on the outside when ripe. The seeds also …