By Craig Frey Sustainability of agricultural operations involves good stewardship of resources. Since at least the 1980s, sustainable nutrient management has been closely associated with the 4Rs — right source, right rate, right placement and right timing of nutrient applications. Over the last several decades, the grower, industry and research communities have continued to identify ways to reduce inputs while …
Why Florida OJ Is a Winter Wellness Win
Marketing campaign serves up a ray of sunshine just in the nick of time.
Alabama 2022 Private Pesticide Applicator Training Calendar
Alabama Extension has released its Private Pesticide Applicator Training and Testing for the 2022 calendar year. The classes are designed for producers who need to take the private pesticide applicator test in order to purchase restricted use products. They will also be discussing chemical safety and sprayer calibration during the class. Any farmer or applicator who applies pesticides on a …
AFBF, Other Groups Send Letter Requesting Ag Workers Be Exempt From Travel Restrictions
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), along with more than 60 agricultural groups, including the Alabama Farmers Federation, Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Georgia Agribusiness Council, Georgia Farm Bureau and Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, sent a letter to the Biden Administration requesting that agricultural workers from South Africa be exempt from travel restrictions. The “Proclamation on Suspension of Entry …
Warming Up: Temperatures in Forecast Not Good for Peach’s Chilling Requirement
By Clint Thompson Alabama’s peach crop is off to a promising start with its chilling hour requirement. But that’s not expected to continue, however, according to Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University. “I think we’re off to a pretty good start. We currently have about 258 chill hours. We typically …
Baldwin, Mobile Counties Added to Domestic Sweet Orange Scab Quarantine
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI), is establishing a quarantine for Elsinoë australis, the fungal causal agent of sweet orange scab (SOS), in all of Baldwin and Mobile counties to prevent the spread of the disease. The quarantine area encompasses seven nurseries and 60 acres of citrus …
Heat Management Strategies for Tomatoes in High Tunnels
By Juan Carlos Diaz-Perez, Sudeep Bag and Tim Coolong Protected agriculture technologies such as high tunnels (HT) are increasing in popularity in the United States, particularly with small and organic growers. High tunnels, also known as hoop houses, typically have a pipe framework covered by a single-layer plastic film (4 or 6 mil thickness). In contrast to greenhouses, high tunnels …
HLB Quarantines Established in Multiple Alabama Counties
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI), is putting in place new quarantines for huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening disease. The quarantines are confined to areas in Baldwin and Mobile counties in Alabama. The action is necessary because HLB was detected in plant tissue samples …
ACES to Host Hemp Licensee Meetings
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) will host five meetings in January for licensed hemp producers in advance of the 2022 season. Growers can choose one meeting to attend based on scheduling and availability. These meetings will replace the one normal mandatory meeting held in previous years. These meetings will cover regulations from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries …
ADAI to Host Citrus Industry Meeting
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) will host a Citrus Industry meeting on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. at the ADAI auditorium in Montgomery, Ala. The in-person meeting will highlight developments from the citrus survey conducted by the department and the potential impact that citrus canker detections have for the industry in Alabama. The current status of …