By Taylor Sewell Following the Mind Your Melon Foundation’s inaugural Think Outside the Barn (TOTB) event, I am more hopeful than ever for the future of mental health in agriculture. The event was held in May at Southern Hill Farms in Clermont, Florida. While framed as a benefit, the event served as a deeper extension of the organization’s vision: To …
Region’s Specialty Crop Leaders Applaud National Farm Security Action Plan
By Clint Thompson Farm security is national security, and the Trump administration is ensuring both are protected with the National Farm Security Action Plan. The plan highlights agriculture as a focus of the nation’s national security, addressing threats from foreign adversaries, including China. “We feed the world. We lead the world. And we’ll never let foreign adversaries control our land, …
Drought Monitor Update: Various Dry Spots Across Southeast Region
By Clint Thompson Drought across the Southeast remains sporadic and mostly a non-issue, according to the July 17 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Florida remains the state with the most drought-like conditions, especially in the southern part of the state. Extreme, severe and moderate drought conditions are observed in South Florida. Extreme drought is seen in the western part …
Florida Citrus Leader Applauds Block Grant Agreement
By Clint Thompson This week’s block grant agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) concerning federal disaster assistance is a win for the state’s producers, including Dan Richey, president of Riverfront Packing Company. He was present for Monday’s press conference in Felda, Florida, where Ag Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced …
Secretary Rollins Announces $675.9 Million in Disaster Assistance for Florida Farmers
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins met with Florida agricultural leaders and producers on Monday and announced additional U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance to help producers recover from Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene and Milton. Secretary Rollins signed a block grant agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) that provides recovery assistance …
Sen. Ossoff Presses USDA, State of Georgia to Finalize Hurricane Relief
Washington, D.C. — In his continued fight for Georgia farmers, Sen. Jon Ossoff sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper requesting answers on the lack of movement on a block grant agreement for federal relief more than 9 months after Hurricane Helene devastated Georgia’s agricultural communities — and more …
Specialty Crop Leader: SDRP Funds Coming At Good Time
By Clint Thompson Financial relief is available for specialty crop producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024, through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP). That means much needed assistance for growers in Alabama and Georgia who have dealt with their share of hurricanes, freeze events and prolonged drought over the last couple of …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: N.C. Marketing Programs Provide Local Link to Growers
By Frank Giles Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series featuring state marketing programs for specialty crops. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services (NCDACS) offers a state program to help growers brand their locally grown produce. The program is called Got to Be NC (gottobenc.com), and its mission is to expand markets in North Carolina …
Agreement Terminated: Florida Tomato Exchange Applauds Historic Decision
By Clint Thompson The U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement was officially terminated on Monday. The controversial agreement failed to stop Mexican tomato companies from dumping their product into the U.S. market. Its termination also led the Trump administration to impose a 17% antidumping duty on more than $1 billion of tomato imports from Mexico. The Commerce Department’s decision to terminate the …
Drought Monitor Update: Minimal Dry Conditions Seen Across Southeast
By Clint Thompson Drought remains mostly a non-issue for the Southeast amid the constant rainfall specialty crop growers have experienced this summer, according to the July 10 update of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Florida continues to experience the driest conditions, concentrated mostly in the central and southern regions of the state. Severe drought is observed in the southernmost counties, including …



















