By Clint Thompson Cabbage prices are extremely high for Southeast producers. That is good news for growers who actually have a crop. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for most farmers. The Christmas freeze event impacted a lot of the crop, especially in Georgia. Hank Scott with Long and Scott Farms, discussed the impact that multiple days of sub-freezing temperatures had …
Event Reminder: Alabama Peach Production Meeting Scheduled for Jan. 18
Alabama Extension reminds peach farmers and industry leaders that it will be hosting a production meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. (Est.) in Jemison, Alabama. This is a free event for attendees. Those interested can click here to register. The meeting will be held at 14 Padgett Lane, Jemison, Alabama, 35085. Extension specialists will provide updates on various …
SE Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference Draws Good Crowd to Savannah
By Clint Thompson COVID took the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference’s live event away from farmers and industry leaders in 2021. Though the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) held the conference online, it was not the same. When the conference reconvened this past weekend, Chris Butts, executive vice president of the GFVGA, reminisced about the situation two …
Producers, Industry Leaders Meet Again for SE Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference
By Clint Thompson COVID took the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference’s live event away from farmers and industry leaders in 2021. Though the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) held the conference online, it was not the same. When the conference reconvened this past weekend, Chris Butts, executive vice president of the GFVGA, reminisced about the situation two …
An Advocate for All Growers
By Clint Thompson Karla Thompson is a lawyer by training and farmer by marriage. That combination makes her one of the Southeast’s leading advocates for growers. “I think with advocacy work it really helps because I understand the misperceptions and ideas that people have about the ag industry because I had them myself,” Thompson says. “Before I got involved in …
Canada Tops Foreign-Owned Ag Lands in U.S.; China Increasing
By Clint Thompson Foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land continues to be a trendy topic in agricultural and political circles. But one industry leader wants people to know that not all foreign purchases have evil intentions. In fact, the most don’t, says Mykel Taylor, ALFA (Alabama Farmers Federation) Eminent Scholar with Auburn University. “I think we will be wise to …
Upon Further Review: Vegetables Hammered by Cold Temperatures
By Clint Thompson A week removed from one of the worst freeze events in recent memory in the Southeast, vegetable growers are resigned to the reality their crops were devastated by consecutive days of sub-freezing temperatures. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, talks about the devastation, most notably in green production. …
UGA Specialist Cautions Strawberry Growers Against Neopestalotiopsis
By Clint Thompson Neopestalotiopsis has been confirmed in Florida strawberries this season. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, cautions growers to be on the lookout for the disease. “It mimics just about every disease that we’ve ever known in strawberries. People are looking at some of these things and wondering, ‘Is this it?’ I tell them …
H-2A Worker Numbers Still Rising
U.S. agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of U.S. domestic workers can fill seasonal farm jobs with temporary foreign workers through the H-2A visa program. The Department of Labor certified around 317,000 temporary jobs in fiscal year (FY) 2021 under the H-2A visa program, more than six times the number certified in 2005. Only about 80% of the certified jobs …
GFVGA: Omnibus Appropriations Bill Includes Significant Funding for Critical Ag Needs
The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) expressed appreciation for the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, though it failed to address agriculture labor reform. “While the bill failed to include any action on agriculture labor reform, the bill did include significant funding for critical agriculture needs, including Georgia producers,” the GFVGA announced in an email. The bill included $8.25 million for …