Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Zack Snipes Midlands Phillip Carnley Rob Last Sarah Scott Pee Dee Bruce McLean Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and Strength to Sweet Corn Pest ManagementJanuary 1, …
AFVGA Executive Director: Crop Insurance Essential Following March Freeze Events
By Clint Thompson Crop insurance is a necessity that all growers need to utilize. Alabama’s specialty crop producers need only to look back at March to see how one weather event changed the outlook for an entire crop. Blake Thaxton, executive director of the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA), said the sub-freezing temperatures over multiple days especially impacted …
Registration Ongoing for Upcoming Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo
By Clint Thompson Registration is ongoing for the upcoming Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo, scheduled for Aug. 16-17. This year’s two-day event will be held in a new location, at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. Josh McGill, show director for AgNet Media, discussed the excitement surrounding this year’s Expo, which starts with its new location. “We’re super excited …
FFVA Convention Scheduled for Sept. 25-27
Florida specialty crop growers interested in attending this year’s Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) convention need to mark their calendars for Sept. 25-27. The three-day event will be held at The Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida. Attendees will learn about the latest trends and receive industry updates impacting their fruit and vegetable industries. The Ritz-Carlton in Naples will reopen on …
UF/IFAS Scientist to Train for National Leadership
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Lorenzo Rossi’s role with the American Society for Horticultural Science will begin to increase. Recently selected for the organization’s Leadership Academy, Rossi will commence training to support agricultural production on a global scale. Rossi, an assistant professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River and Research and Education Center …
Phytophthora a Concern for Georgia Melon Farmers
By Clint Thompson South Georgia watermelon producers should be wary of an uptick in disease pressure following heavy rainfall in recent weeks. University of Georgia Extension vegetable plant pathologist Bhabesh Dutta highlights the two diseases that has his attention and should be the focus of growers moving forward. “Our growers have already been alerted about downy mildew, phytophthora,” Dutta said. …
Disaster Declaration Key for Georgia Peach Producers
By Clint Thompson A natural disaster declaration for 18 Georgia counties by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is vital assistance for peach producers impacted by the mid-March freeze. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, discussed how important this declaration is for his growers who suffered near 100% loss. “What the declaration does …
Sneak Peek: July 2023 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
The July issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights WP Rawl, a leading vegetable business in South Carolina that has thrived for nearly 100 years. Ashley Rawl, a third-generation family member and vice president of sales, marketing and product development, talks about the secret to his company’s success. It has had a willingness to adapt to the changing economic climate. …
Central Alabama Strawberry Season: Better Than Average
By Clint Thompson Strawberry season was a success for growers in central Alabama. Weather conditions the last few months allowed for producers to maintain their season longer than normal, said David Lawrence, regional Extension agent in central Alabama. “We finished two or three weeks ago, which is, if you can get into June with strawberries, you’ve done good. We had …
Tomato Suspension Agreement Not Florida vs. Mexico
On June 16, the Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE) filed a request with the Department of Commerce to terminate the Tomato Suspension Agreement. This request was based on established facts and U.S. antidumping law. Days later, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA), a trade group that represents importers of Mexican produce, issued a press release attacking the FTE and wildly mischaracterizing …