By Clint Thompson Georgia’s bout with neopestalotiopsis fruit rot disease in strawberries this year means producers need to be more cautious in how they order their plants every summer. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources (ANR) agent for Peach and Taylor counties, believes growers need to spread the risk among multiple nurseries. It will help …
UF/IFAS Researchers Pioneer Techniques to Boost Passion Fruit Production
With Florida in peak passion fruit season, researchers are eyeing the sweet tropical fruit as a cash crop. At $3 per fruit at some supermarkets, farmers are able to receive $5 per pound for their harvest, according to Ali Sarkhosh, associate professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) horticultural sciences department. This price shows …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: The Last Word
By Michael Schadler Suspension Agreement Purgatory The never-ending story of the United States-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement added a new chapter over the last year when the Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE) issued a request to the Biden administration to terminate the 28-year-old agreement. So far, FTE has received no response. The Tomato Suspension Agreement is an agreement between the U.S. Department …
Summer Blueberry Meetings Tackle Disease Management in Florida
By Frank Giles The Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hit the road in July to host a series of meetings in key blueberry-growing regions of the state. MANAGE RESISTANCE UF/IFAS researchers covered several production topics during the meetings. Phil Harmon, professor of plant pathology, spoke about disease management …
Rep. Lucas Discusses Optimism About Farm Bill Being Finalized in ’24
By Clint Thompson U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK.), the longest-serving Member on the House Committee on Agriculture, prefers the farm bill to be completed in 2024 rather than rolling over into 2025. He said the likelihood of that happening hinges on a little bit of luck with less than half the year remaining. “The lay of the land is changing, …
Game Changer: Chemical Option for Peach Thinning
By Clint Thompson One of the most tedious, but necessary parts of peach production centers on fruit thinning. Producers must remove much of their crop so what’s remaining can increase in size and yields. One North Carolina State University researcher is confident a chemical option will soon be a viable alternative for growers. Mike Parker, associate professor and Extension specialist …
Ag Policy Leaders to Headline Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
By Frank Giles The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is scheduled for Aug. 21–22 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. This year’s event will be the second at the fairgrounds — a venue which was well received by attendees of last year’s Expo. The event features an expansive trade show providing growers with an opportunity to learn about the …
Best North Carolina Peaches in Recent Memory
By Clint Thompson North Carolina peach farmers are experiencing a bumper crop this year; the best crop in recent memory, according to one producer. “It’s the best crop I’ve seen, and I’m 44-years-old. It’s an outstanding crop for North Carolina,” said Brad Thompson, president of the North Carolina Peach Growers’ Society. The reason for such optimism is simple; there was …
Alabama Producers Optimistic About Pecan Crop
By Clint Thompson Alabama pecan producers are feeling optimistic about the crop for the first time in four years. Not since 2020 have the state’s pecan farmers felt this good about its crop heading into harvest season, according to Bryan Wilkins, Auburn University research associate. “It was a decent June drop, but it just really thinned them out like they …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: State Funding Tackles Wildlife Troubles in Agriculture
By Clint Thompson Agricultural pests are sometimes not just bugs and diseases but include animals looking for a food source. Unfortunately, for Georgia’s specialty crop producers, that food source is often their crops. Georgia’s legislative leaders are arming state agencies with substantial funding in next year’s budget to tackle this problem. Included in the budget was $150,000 directed to the …



















