Recent Rains Typical of El Niño Weather Pattern

Clint ThompsonWeather

By Clint Thompson The rain-starved region of the Southeast is quickly accumulating moisture during December. Every week this month has provided much-needed rain for a region that was impacted by drought much of the fall. Pam Knox, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agricultural climatologist, believes this is consistent with what is typically expected from an El Niño weather pattern. “It …

UF/IFAS Research: Is Calabaza the Next Great Gourd for Southeast Growers?

Clint ThompsonFlorida

If you have eaten at various Caribbean, Central or South American restaurants, you might be familiar with a specialty pumpkin called the calabaza. It is the center of the plate for a team of University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers hoping the gourd is ripe for a new industry in the Southeast. With two years …

Climate Change Challenges Vegetable Production

Clint ThompsonVegetables

By Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez Climate change is increasingly impacting agriculture and our lives in general. Agricultural crop production, including organic vegetable production, faces growing challenges associated with heat and drought. Temperature plays an essential role in plant development and function by determining the rate of biological activities. Each crop has a specific optimal temperature range. Cool-season crops (e.g., lettuce, broccoli, …

Wage Rate

What Adverse Effect? NCAE President Discusses Petition to Labor Secretary

Clint ThompsonLabor

By Clint Thompson Why have an adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) if there is no adverse effect on domestic workers? That’s a question that Michael Marsh, president and chief executive officer of the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE), wants answered from Acting Department of Labor Secretary Julie Su. “We’re trying to get her to just simply follow the law …

Challenge with Automation in Specialty Crops

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Automation could be the key to a specialty crop producer remaining sustainable. The more tasks that artificial intelligence (AI) can perform on the farm, the fewer responsibilities that would be needed via the H-2A program. But the reality of an automated harvester being made available on a commercial scale for all growers may present more of a …

Drought Monitor: Dry Conditions Reduced Across Southeast

Clint ThompsonWeather

Drought conditions are lessening across the Southeast, due to recent rain events. In the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor, extreme drought has been reduced across areas of North Alabama and North Georgia. Most of South Georgia is drought free, while only a couple of counties in the Florida Panhandle are abnormally dry. Alabama remains the driest among the three states. …

Drought’s Impact on Alabama Pecan Crop

Clint ThompsonAlabama

By Clint Thompson Alabama’s prolonged drought in the late summer and fall impacted the size of this year’s pecan crop, according to Bryan Wilkins, Auburn University research associate. But the lack of rainfall actually helped the quality of this year’s crop in Mobile and Baldwin counties. “It’s cut the size of the nuts, but from what I’ve been seeing, it …

Immigration Reform Needed for Future of Farming

Clint ThompsonLabor

By Clint Thompson Immigration reform would go a long way in helping specialty crop producers secure an adequate and reliable workforce for the future. But too many sides with too many opinions have kept this important step from becoming a reality. Bob Redding, who works for the Redding Firm and serves as a lobbyist for agricultural groups in Washington, D.C., …

UGA CAES Leads Effort to Combat Emerging Threat to Watermelon, Cucumber Production

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

Southeast cucurbit producers face numerous challenges in production, leading to decreased profitability and less produce on grocery shelves. Weeds, insect pests and plant diseases are prominent biotic threats. Among the plant diseases, one fungus — Colletotrichum spp., which causes anthracnose — is an emerging threat to watermelon and cucumber production along the east coast. “There is a huge threat from this particular …

California’s H-2A Ranking a Plus for Southeast?

Clint ThompsonLabor

By Clint Thompson California’s surge up the states leaderboard pertaining to H-2A workers is a plus for Southeast specialty crop producers, according to one industry leader. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), believes it will help enlighten legislative leaders about the challenges associated with navigating through a complicated and expensive program. “I …