Challenges, Success Highlighted During UGA Ag Forecast Meeting

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson The sustainability of Georgia’s No. 1 industry continues to be threatened by various factors; maybe none more so than the high input costs. It was a topic discussed by the state’s legislative and farming leaders during the University of Georgia Ag Forecast meeting last Friday. “We’re looking at commodity prices that were around 20, 30 years ago,” …

Algal Stem Blotch a Growing Concern for Southeast Blueberry Producers

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida, Georgia

By Clint Thompson A fungal pathogen that was isolated to South Florida blueberries not too long ago is now on the radar of growers in North Florida and South Georgia. Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida, cautions farmers about algal stem blotch and believes it is a serious threat if not managed properly. “It’s …

Peaches in Florida: Low Chill Hours Makes Production Challenging

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Peaches

By Clint Thompson Chill hours in Florida have been extremely low in recent years. It makes producing peaches, even those requiring minimal chill hours, challenging, if not impossible. Ali Sarkhosh, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor in horticultural sciences, spoke about peach production in Florida at the recent Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference …

American Pecan Council Aims to Boost India Exports with Reverse Trade Mission

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

Fort Worth, TX – In an effort to grow the pecan industry’s global relationships and increase exports, the American Pecan Council (APC) conducted its first reverse trade mission with Indian nut importers in key growing regions. The mission provided importers an up-close, educational look at the U.S. pecan industry and how the full value chain can offer a high-value, nutritious …

Transparency Needed: Legislators, Industry Leaders Want Clarification with AEWR

Clint ThompsonLabor

By Clint Thompson What started out as good intentions with the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) has evolved into a system disadvantageous to specialty crop producers. That is the mindset shared by Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA). AEWR was intended to protect domestic workers and their potential opportunities for employment. But since …

Florida Blueberry Producer: Expect Full Bloom Maybe By Saturday

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Florida

By Clint Thompson One Florida blueberry producer expects full bloom by the end of this week. The timing is comparable to previous years, says Ryan Atwood, who lives in Mount Dora, Florida and farms 56 acres of blueberries and manages another 350 acres. “I’m expecting to be in full bloom maybe by Saturday. There’s no such thing as a typical …

Biden Administration Invests $207 Million in Clean Energy, Domestic Fertilizer Projects

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week that the USDA is investing $207 million in renewable energy and domestic fertilizer projects to lower energy bills, generate new income, create jobs, and strengthen competition for U.S. producers. The announcement was made by Secretary Vilsack at the 105th annual American Farm Bureau Federation …

Nematode Management Vital for Peach Production

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Peaches, South Carolina

By Clint Thompson Nematode management is essential for peach production in the Southeast. According to Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, if growers do not control the microscopic pests, it can have severe repercussions for future seasons. “You’ve got to take them into account. If you don’t take nematodes into account, there are several things that …

USDA NASS Conducts Hemp Survey

Clint ThompsonHemp, USDA

Athens, GA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) sent the Hemp Production and Disposition Inquiry to nearly 1,600 producers across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina on Monday, Jan. 22. This follows NASS’s 2022 Hemp Acreage and Production survey. Like the 2022 questionnaire, this year’s survey will collect information on the total planted and harvested …

Citrus Trees Weather Sub-Freezing Nights

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Citrus, Florida, Georgia

By Clint Thompson Trees in the Cold-Hardy Citrus Region weathered last week’s multiple nights of sub-freezing temperatures, according to one industry expert. “I had somebody here at the house and they said, ‘Are you still running sprinklers?’ I was like, ‘Heavens no, but it’s all that ice thawing out and running out into the road.’ It’s a pond out there …