By Maegan Beatty Cold-hardy citrus is grown across a few thousand acres in more than 16 counties in North Florida and South Georgia. The satsuma mandarin is a cold-hardy species that has been grown throughout North Florida since the 1800s. The fruit is typically medium sized, a reddish orange color and can produce the highest quality in cooler winters and …
Citrus Research Board Hosting Educational Webinar Series
California’s Citrus Research Board (CRB) has announced its 2023 Citrus Growers Educational Webinar Series. CRB will hold four one-hour webinars on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. The dates are June 6, 13, 20 and 27. Each webinar will highlight valuable research and practical discussions for growers. Here’s the lineup: JUNE 6Topic: Tree Density and Pruning Affect Fruit Numbers, Size, Quality and …
Vegetable Farmer: SB 1718 is Going to be Very Impactful in South Florida
By Clint Thompson As if finding an adequate labor force wasn’t hard enough for specialty crop producers in Florida, it will likely become even more challenging starting July 1. When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 1718, it marked a significant crackdown on illegal immigration in the state. But it could also devastate many of the state’s farming operations in …
Don’t Miss the Deadline: Blueberry Commodity Commission Nominations Due by May 26
Any blueberry producer interested or knows someone that is interested in serving on the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Blueberries need to remember that nominations are due by Friday, May 26. Nomination forms can be found at – agr.georgia.gov/cpf, under the nomination form tab or by emailing andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov. Nominations will be accepted through email or by mail at Andy Harrison, …
Farming’s Future? Precision Ag Conference Highlights Needs for Specialty Crop Industry
By Clint Thompson The International Conference of Integrative Precision Agriculture last week allowed farmers to vent current concerns and industry experts to counter with potential remedies of the future. George Vellidis, conference planning committee chairman, discussed the importance of the two-day event held in Athens, Georgia. “The University of Georgia has identified precision ag as a key area for investment …
Cold-Hardy Citrus Production and Challenges
By Maegan Beatty Cold-hardy citrus is grown across a few thousand acres in more than 16 counties in North Florida and South Georgia. The satsuma mandarin is a cold-hardy species that has been grown throughout North Florida since the 1800s. The fruit is typically medium sized, a reddish orange color and can produce the highest quality in cooler winters and …
Elderberry Grows in Popularity Due to Health Benefits
By Maegan Beatty Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) is a fruit crop that is suitable for both commercial and home growing. In April, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted an orchard field day, where Dave Jarnagin of Hyldemoer and Company gave an educational presentation on the elderberry and elderflower. Elderberries are native to North America but …
Elderberry Grows in Popularity Due to Health Benefits
By Maegan Beatty Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) is a fruit crop that is suitable for both commercial and home growing. In April, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted an orchard field day, where Dave Jarnagin of Hyldemoer and Company gave an educational presentation on the elderberry and elderflower. Elderberries are native to North America but …
Everglades Ag Area Vital to America’s Food Security
By Frank Giles The region south of Lake Okeechobee, comprised largely of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), is one of the most unique farming landscapes on the planet. Its wide-open vistas can be seen from space, and the land’s dark, rich soils contribute to the production of a significant portion of America’s specialty crop supply. Over the years, farming expanded …
Cucurbit Downy Mildew Found in South Carolina
First it was Florida. Then Georgia. Now South Carolina. Downy mildew disease has moved its way up the Southeast region. According to the South Carolina Grower, cucurbit downy mildew was identified in South Carolina on May 12. The identification came from butternut squash grown in a sentinel plot at the Coastal Research and Education Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Vegetable …