The November issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights the impacts of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton on specialty crop production in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The two storms, separated by less than two weeks, devastated fruit and vegetable crops in Southeast Georgia, the Carolinas and most of Florida. Helene caused an economic impact of $6.46 billion …
Dry Forecast: Zero Chance of Rain Over Next Week
By Clint Thompson The lingering dry weather following Hurricane Helene has left drought-like conditions expanding and worsening across certain areas in the Southeast. Pam Knox, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agricultural climatologist, said the chance of rain in the forecast in grim for the immediate future. “I looked at the seven-day outlook and there’s no rain in most of Georgia …
Pecan Trees Need Irrigation for Shuck Split
By Clint Thompson The lingering dry period following Hurricane Helene is impacting pecan production across the Southeast. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, noted in the UGA Extension Pecan Blog that trees need sufficient soil moisture so shuck split can happen properly. “The crop load that was there is going to create a significant demand for water. Most …
Drought Monitor Update: Moderate Dry Conditions Cover Most of Alabama
By Clint Thompson Drought-like conditions continue to cover the majority of Alabama. According to the most recent release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate conditions in the state start as far south as Mobile and Baldwin counties near the Gulf of Mexico and stretch northward to North Alabama counties, including Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison and Jackson counties. Severe conditions are concentrated …
Leveling the Playing Field: Ossoff, Bishop Offer Protecting Our Produce Act
By Clint Thompson The Protecting Our Produce Act will help Southeast specialty crop producers impacted by imports from South America. That’s the message shared by Sen. Jon Ossoff and Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02) with Georgia growers on Friday in Camilla, Georgia. Each will introduce the bill in the Senate and the House. The bicameral bill would establish a …
Immediate Response Required When Managing HLB
The first chore for growers in the cold-hardy citrus region when managing citrus greening is scouting for the disease and its vector, the Asian citrus psyllid. The next step is prompt removal of any trees infected with the disease, says Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. “At this point, we think greening is still …
IFPA CEO: Specialty Crops in Consideration More Than Ever in Looming Farm Bill
By Clint Thompson The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) will continue to “fight for fresh.” That means the IFPA is fighting and advocating for specialty crop producers in the Southeast in the looming farm bill. Cathy Burns, CEO of IFPA, highlighted during last week’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Atlanta, her organization’s role in the current farm bill discussions …
Drought Monitor: Dry Conditions Worsening Across Alabama
By Clint Thompson Drought is expanding and worsening in Alabama, according to the most recent release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Almost the entire state is covered in drought-like conditions. Most of Alabama is either abnormally dry or moderately dry, though severe drought is observed in parts of Wilcox, Marengo, Perry and Dallas counties in the southwest part of the …
Hurricane Helene, Milton Took Different Paths to Southeast
By Clint Thompson First Helene, then Milton. Mother Nature’s 1-2 punch of hurricanes took different paths in impacting the Southeast this fall. Instead of making their way across the Atlantic, those two major hurricanes originated in the western Caribbean. It did not take long for them to hit the Gulf of Mexico and impact southeastern states; Helene in North Florida, …
IFPA Part of Lawsuit Challenge Against DOL
Washington, D.C. – The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) and nine co-plaintiffs filed a lawsuit contesting the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)’s unconstitutional regulatory overreach and limitations on the freedom of speech of farmers who employ temporary workers. The other plaintiffs to the action are the American Farm Bureau Federation, AmericanHort, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, …



















