The 2019 legislative sessions in Florida, Georgia and Alabama have officially ended. Each year, agriculture advocates from all three states work tirelessly to fight for their industry. This article serves as a summary of how agriculture fared in the Florida, Georgia and Alabama sessions. Florida: Some Success, but More Work to Be Done By Adam Basford Going into the 2019 …
New Watermelon Rootstock Proves Pest, Disease Resistant
By Karla Arboleda Southeastern watermelon growers have struggled with fusarium wilt and nematodes for decades. A new rootstock may be the light at the end of the tunnel. Carolina Strongback, a new watermelon rootstock, is resistant toward fusarium wilt and nematodes. Researchers developed the watermelon line at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Clemson University. They …
Whitefly-Transmitted Viruses Pose Problems in Vegetables
By Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan The sweetpotato whitefly, commonly referred to as whitefly, is a major problem in vegetable production in Georgia and the southeastern United States. The whitefly can colonize hundreds of host plants in the landscape and has established itself year-round in this region. The pest has a short life cycle and is equipped with prolific reproductive capabilities. Consequently, its …
Sneak Peek: July VSCNews Magazine
The 2019 Florida, Georgia and Alabama legislative sessions have officially wrapped up, and the July issue of VSCNews magazine will tell readers how agriculture fared in each state. Adam Basford, director of state legislative affairs for Florida Farm Bureau, discusses the successes and ongoing work in Tallahassee this session. Mary Ann Hooks, director of governmental affairs with the University of …
Mexican Senator Misinformed on Antidumping Investigation
In a recent letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways & Means Committee, Mexican Senator Gustavo Madero made some confusing and misleading statements. Senator Madero states that the termination of the Tomato Suspension Agreement was “due to the demands of some Florida farmers and their representatives in Congress.” In fact, the …
Legislative Leaders Meet on USMCA and Disaster Relief
It was a busy Friday in the Southeast for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue as he and other legislative leaders sat down with representatives from Florida and Georgia agriculture on June 7. The day started with a meeting in Tallahassee, Florida, followed by a meeting in Doerun, Georgia. The main topics of discussion were the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and …
Disaster Aid Funding Signed Into Law By President Trump
Senators Perdue & Isakson fought for months to secure critical funding for Georgians recovering from Hurricane Michael U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) applaud President Donald J. Trump for quickly signing into law critical disaster relief funding for Georgia and other states impacted by hurricanes, wildfires, floods and other natural disasters. Senators Perdue and Isakson have fought …
Dealing with Blueberry Diseases
By Karla Arboleda Blueberry growers in Georgia may have to manage new and unwanted effects on their fruit when dealing with diseases. Jonathan Oliver, the small fruit pathologist and Extension specialist at University of Georgia, discussed the best way to treat Exobasidium leaf and fruit spot of blueberry with lime sulfur. Applications of lime sulfur during the dormant period have …
Perdue Responds to UGA Study on USMCA
This op-ed, written by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, originally appeared in The Telegraph. He Oversees Nation’s Farm Policy and He Has Bone to Pick with UGA Trade Deal Study The University of Georgia (UGA) recently published a study claiming the new United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) would cost some Georgia vegetable and fruit growers revenue and jobs. The sensational …
Sneak Peek: June VSCNews Magazine
The June issue of VSCNews magazine will be growers’ go-to guide for crucial crop diseases in the Southeast. Gary Vallad, University of Florida (UF) pathologist, authors two articles in this issue. In the first feature, he discusses tomato bacterial spot, including where and how it begins in the transplant house. His second article addresses southern blight and the best ways …