The December issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights the Florida Ag Expo, which was held on Nov. 2 at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida. This year’s Expo offered insight and education from industry leaders and university researchers into the latest trends impacting specialty crop production. Topics like crop protection, supply-chain issues, pest management and …
Alabama Pecans High on Quality, Low on Price
By Clint Thompson Like pecans in other parts of the Southeast, Alabama’s crop is high on quality and quantity this season. Their market value remains low, however. That’s not what growers were hoping for with their first full crop following Hurricane Sally. Bryan Wilkins, Alabama Extension research associate, discussed the crop’s progress this year. “It was a little slow getting …
Drought Continues Across Southeast
By Clint Thompson Drought-like conditions have worsened in certain areas of the Southeast, especially in north Georgia, south Alabama and northwest Florida, according to last Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. All of Alabama is either abnormally dry, moderately dry or severely dry, except for a small area of counties located along the Alabama-Georgia state line; specifically, Lee, Russell …
Thinking Outside the Box: Citrus Growers Need to Diversify to Remain Sustainable
If cold-hardy citrus growers diversified their crops and not put all of their eggs in the satsuma basket, it would provide them a better chance at long-term sustainability. It would allow producers an opportunity to combat the negative national stigma concerning citrus juices, says Jude Grosser, a professor of plant cell genetics at the University of Florida Institute of Food …
GFVGA Leader: H-2A Dominates the Conversation at Labor Relations Forum
By Clint Thompson The H-2A program remains a hot topic for Georgia’s specialty crop producers. It certainly was a focus of the Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum hosted by the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) earlier this month. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the GFVGA, discussed the meeting which was held on Nov. 9-10 in Tifton, Georgia. …
Farmworker Groups Lobby for Immigration Bill
More than 60 farmworker groups from across America traveled to Washington last week to urge the Senate to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The United Farmworkers (UFW), the UFW Foundation and other groups made the trip to Washington, D.C. to lobby for the bill, which is a compromise between farm and labor leaders and supported by most farm groups. …
Satsuma Overload: Citrus Growers Need to Diversify
By Clint Thompson Citrus harvest season is in full swing across the North Florida/South Georgia production region. One thing is certain this season: Growers need to diversify their farming operations with citrus varieties other than satsuma mandarins. Grower Kim Jones, who also owns a citrus packing facility in Monticello, Florida, and is part-owner of a similar facility in Tifton, Georgia, …
Pecan Prices Remain Low Across Southeast
Pecan prices remain low, forcing growers to hold large volumes this week, waiting to see if there will be prices to be considered for offers or deciding to keep them in storage, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pecan Report. Buyers for retail and the candy trade are purchasing as needed while waiting for more offerings and price agreements …
Delayed Shuck Split for Stuart Pecan Varieties
By Clint Thompson Stuart pecan varieties have a history of an interrupted and prolonged shuck split. This has been magnified under the current conditions that show a heavy crop load and dry soils. It is very similar to 2016, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist, in his UGA Pecan Extension Blog. Wells said growers are concerned …
Tomatoes Fetching Strong PricesÂ
By Clint Thompson Tomato prices remain high for those vegetable growers who actually have a crop. A lack of supply following Hurricane Ian has aided in prices exceeding $30 per box, according to Bob Spencer, president of West Coast Tomato in Palmetto, Florida. He said Florida production is half of what it should be. Growers are still a month away from production normalizing itself. …