Hurricane Helene Impact: Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates

Clint ThompsonSouth Carolina

Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Hurricane Helene cast tropical storm forced winds over most of South Carolina Friday as she tore through Florida and Georgia. The western part of the state took the brunt of the damage and large …

Ag Commissioner Simpson Launches Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program for Farmers Impacted by Hurricane Helene

Clint ThompsonFlorida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has announced that Florida farmers and growers impacted by Hurricane Helene can now apply for interest-free loans through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Loans can be used by eligible producers to restore, repair, or replace essential physical property – including fences, equipment, greenhouses, and other buildings – …

Helene

Growers Cautioned To Be Wary of Fruit Quality Following Helene

Dan CooperFresh, Hurricanes

Georgia’s citrus growers may have dodged catastrophic results from Hurricane Helene, but they might not know the full impact of the storm for at least a couple of more weeks. Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association, warned that though fruit may still be in the trees, it may have suffered irreparable damage from high winds when the …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: The Last Word

Clint ThompsonSpecialty Crop Grower Magazine

Top Policy Priority is Labor Reform By George F. Szczepanski  I was fortunate enough to take on the role of executive director of the National Watermelon Association at the beginning of 2023. The board’s decision to hire me was primarily influenced by the public policy work I had done as a part of the International Fresh Produce Association staff. As …

Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates

Clint ThompsonSouth Carolina

Weekly Field Update 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 Midlands Phillip Carnley Rob Last Pee Dee Brittney King Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and Strength to Sweet Corn Pest ManagementJanuary …

GFVGA Executive Director: Imports Forecast Shows ‘Growing Dependency’ on Other Countries

Clint ThompsonTrade

By Clint Thompson Agricultural imports are so commonplace that a projected increase is not a surprise to Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA); disappointing but not surprising. Ag imports in fiscal year (FY) 2025 are forecast at $212 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service and Foreign Agricultural …

Updated Drought Conditions Across Southeast

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Drought

The latest release of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows the recent rainfall has had minimal impact on the drought conditions in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Almost all of Alabama is experiencing some level of drought conditions; ranging from abnormally dry, starting in Mobile and Baldwin counties; all the way to extreme drought in parts of Jackson and Limestone counties …

Rains Mean Potential for Increased Disease Pressure in Southwest Alabama

Clint ThompsonAlabama

By Clint Thompson Much-needed rainfall in Southwest Alabama means specialty crop growers should be wary of increased disease pressure in the region. Jacob Kelley, regional Extension agent in Southwest Alabama, cautions producers about the potential for disease buildup moving forward. “The drier weather was nice because of less disease impact. We’ve had a pretty clean year as far as diseases …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Controlled-Release Fertilizers Expensive but Efficient

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Specialty Crop Grower Magazine

By Clint Thompson Imagine a scenario for North Florida watermelon producers where leaching of nitrogen fertilizer is greatly reduced, and labor expenses are cut significantly. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research is proving it’s not just a dream but a potential reality. Bob Hochmuth, UF/IFAS regional specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, is one of …

UF/IFAS Scientist Secures $3.5 Million Grant to Study Soil Micro-Predators

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Micro-predators like viruses, nematodes, protists and some bacteria are constantly working in the soil to hunt and kill the pathogens that threaten plants. But how they do this “dirty” work is not well understood. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded $3.5 million to a University of Florida Institute of Food and …