By Clint Thompson If history is an indicator, this spring’s drought could lead to warmer and drier conditions this summer. James Spann, chief meteorologist at the Alabama Weather Network, discussed the unusually dry conditions that encompassed the Southeast for approximately nine months in an interview with AgNet Media. He said the last time dry conditions were this bad during the …
SCFBA Stresses Farm Bill’s Importance Amid ‘Farm Crisis’
By Clint Thompson The specialty crop industry scored a recent victory when the House of Representatives approved H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026. The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) is now putting the full-court press on the Senate to pass the farm bill as well. Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and …
Extension Leader Testimonial: We Need to Rally Around Our Farmers
By Clint Thompson The future of the American family farm is very much up in the air. More and more farms are closing up shop, while more and more agricultural lands are being used for anything besides agriculture. That’s concerning for industry leader Stanley Culpepper. Culpepper, a University of Georgia Extension weed specialist, spoke at the recent Southeastern Specialty Crop …
Drought Monitor Update: Not Much Improvement in Southeast
The May 14 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows exceptional drought and extreme drought conditions still prevalent across areas in the Southeast. The driest area remains in South Georgia, North Florida and Southeast Alabama. Georgia Exceptional drought in Georgia starts in the southwest corner of the state in Decatur County. It expands eastward to Charlton and Camden counties and …
USDA Official: Trade Relationship with Vietnam is Lopsided
By Clint Thompson and Dale Sandlin The U.S. trade deficit with Vietnam was more than $178 billion in 2025. That’s “unacceptable” for President Trump and his administration. More American goods need to be exported to Vietnam, and that includes agricultural crops. In an interview with AgNet Media, Luke Lindberg, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: New Location, Format for Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
The 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo makes its return to Fort Myers on Aug. 12–13 at the waterfront Caloosa Sound Convention Center. The Luminary Hotel, the event’s host hotel, is conveniently connected to the convention center. Enjoy Your Stay The new venue offers several opportunities to refresh and improve the Expo. The convention center will allow educational seminars to …
Drought Monitor Update in Southeast
Despite recent rainfall, exceptional drought conditions continue to be observed across the Southeast region. According to the May 7 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, exceptional drought remains prevalent in North Florida and South Georgia. In the Florida Panhandle, exceptional drought starts in Bay and Washington counties and expands eastward to Nassau, Baker, Bradford, Alachua and Levy counties. Exceptional drought …
Marketing Assistance Loans Program a Possibility for Pecan?
By Clint Thompson Pecan industry leaders are currently discussing the possibility of the industry enrolling in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) Program. The program is administered by the Farm Service Agency and offers loans to farmers of eligible commodities to help manage cash flow needs and provide marketing flexibility. Georgia grower Justin Jones was part …
Drought Monitor Update: Conditions Worsening Across Southeast
By Clint Thompson The April 30 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor paints a grim view of the drought conditions being experienced across the Southeast. Almost all of Georgia is observing either extreme drought or exceptional drought. Nearly all of South Alabama is seeing extreme drought conditions, while the northern and southwestern parts of Florida are observing either extreme drought …
Open Burn Ban Lifted for All North Carolina Counties as Fire Danger Moderates
RALEIGH – Effective at 8 a.m. Friday, May 8, the N.C. Forest Service has lifted a ban on all open burning for Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Stokes and Union counties. The ban, which went into effect statewide March 28 due to hazardous forest fire conditions, was lifted …



















