By Clint Thompson Georgia farmers looking to grow hemp can’t do so without the state legislature first authorizing $800,000 to the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) to oversee hemp production. In response to a hemp production plan submitted by the GDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) required that the Georgia Legislature appropriate funds for oversight, according to University of …
Managing Spotted Wing Drosophila in Organic Fruit Production
By Ashley Robinson Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), a fruit fly originally from southeast Asia, has emerged as the most devastating pest of small fruits globally. Losses due to SWD can be as high as 100 percent and have been especially devastating for organic producers due to the lack of insecticide options to fend off the pest. RESEARCH PROJECT Researchers are …
Georgia Grown Continues to Gain Ground
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Grown program continues to expand every year and highlights products grown in the state, like blueberries, pecans, milk and Vidalia onions. Its presence at events throughout the year, like the Sunbelt Ag Expo, allows the Georgia Department of Agriculture to showcase Georgia grown products, which help make agriculture the No. 1 industry in the state. …
Ag Groups Respond to Senate Passage of USMCA
Yesterday we reported that many agricultural groups were pleased with the signing of the phase-one trade agreement between the United States and China. Today, the trade news continues as the U.S. Senate has passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by a vote of 89-10. Many agricultural groups also cheered that news. Secretary Perdue Statement on Senate Passage of USMCA (USDA) — …
Ag Groups Respond to Phase One Trade Deal Signing
Secretary Perdue: China Phase I Deal is a Bonanza for American Agriculture U.S. Secretary Perdue issued the following statement after President Donald J. Trump signed the historic Phase One Trade Agreement between the United States and China: “This agreement is proof President Trump’s negotiating strategy is working. While it took China a long time to realize President Trump was serious, …
Phase One Trade Deal Signing: ‘Momentous Day for U.S. Agriculture’
President Donald Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He signed the phase one trade deal between the two countries in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday morning. The agreement comes after more than 18 months of imbittered trade relations between the United States and China, creating a significant strain on the agricultural industry. “This is a very …
Fried on USTR Commitments to Seasonal Produce Protections
(FDACS) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offered the following statement regarding formal commitments recently made by U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to protect American seasonal produce growers from unfair trade practices harming the industry: “While discouraging that the USMCA (U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement) and its implementing legislation lacked protections for our seasonal producers, I thank Ambassador Lighthizer for his formal commitments to …
New Website All About Harmful Algal Blooms
(UF/IFAS) — The University of Florida (UF) has unveiled a new website to address the public’s confusion surrounding harmful algal blooms (HABs), The website addresses causes of such events, effects and attempts to combat future blooms. Scientists from several University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) departments and affiliated groups teamed up to provide expertise for the site, …
Drones Detect Two Tomato Diseases With 99 Percent Accuracy
(UF/IFAS) — New technology being developed by University of Florida scientists identifies two dangerous tomato diseases with 99 percent accuracy. This finding is critical because diseases can cost growers millions of dollars annually in the state’s third most valuable crop. Thus, the earlier farmers detect those ailments, the better their chances of treating them before the diseases cause excessive damage. …
Tips for Gall Midge Management
By Oscar Liburd and Doug Phillips Blueberry gall midge is a small fly that feeds on the floral and vegetative buds of blueberries. Reports of gall midge damage on blueberries grown in Florida have become more common in recent years. In cases where there was severe feeding injury to floral buds, the midge can significantly affect yield. DESCRIPTION AND LIFE …