The U.S. House Agriculture Committee will host a Farm Bill listening session in Newberry, Florida, on Monday, April 24. Glenn “GT” Thompson, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, along with U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack and Rep. Darren Soto, will host the session. The U.S. Ag Committee is in the process of reauthorizing the Farm Bill. The listening session will …
Rain, Rain Stay Away: Vidalia Onion Producers Need Dry Weather During Harvest
By Clint Thompson Vidalia onion harvests continue across the Southeast Georgia region. Producers are yearning for dry weather over the next several weeks. Not only will a lack of rainfall allow growers to harvest their crop in a timely fashion, it will also decrease the potential for disease development as onions are harvested and placed into cold storage. Cliff Riner, …
What’s Happening? Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Weekly Field Update 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 reports, “I took what seemed like 100,000 calls, emails and texts last week about some odd symptoms on the older leaves of plants. The symptoms included interveinal chlorosis and what …
North Florida Melons Progressing Quicker Than Previous Seasons
By Clint Thompson It should come as no surprise, but North Florida watermelons are progressing at a faster pace than in previous production seasons. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, attributes the progression to the early planting dates that most growers started with this year. A …
Neopestalotiopsis Confirmed in Georgia Strawberries
By Clint Thompson Neopestalotiopsis disease has been confirmed in Georgia strawberries this year. While the confirmation is isolated to one South Georgia field, growers should be wary that the pathogen is present in the region. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, discussed what the discovery means for the state’s producers. “So far this year we …
Redesigned Florida Grower Citrus Show a Sweet Success
By Clint Thompson The reinvigorated Florida Grower Citrus Show was a crowd-pleaser in its first year hosted by AgNet Media. The annual event was relocated to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) facilities in Fort Pierce. It was streamlined from a two-day format to a one-day event. The show brought …
Redesigned Florida Grower Citrus Show a Sweet Success
By Clint Thompson The reinvigorated Florida Grower Citrus Show was a crowd-pleaser in its first year hosted by AgNet Media. The annual event was relocated to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) facilities in Fort Pierce. It was streamlined from a two-day format to a one-day event. The show brought …
Vidalia Onion Producer: We’re Probably About a Week Behind
By Clint Thompson Harvests of early-season varieties of Vidalia onions are lagging behind compared to previous years. That could soon be problematic for growers as the season continues in Southeast Georgia. Jimmy Cowart, who farms 430 acres in Toombs County, highlights the concern he has with certain onions not being fully mature this early in the harvest season. “It’s been …
Florida Tomato Committee Seeks Nominations for 2023-2025
Maitland, FL – The Florida Tomato Committee (FTC) will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, May 10, for tomato producers to nominate fellow growers or themselves to serve on the committee for a two-year term, from September 2023 to September 2025. The FTC is a federal marketing order that regulates the handling of Florida tomatoes and supports the industry through …
Florida Tomato Committee Seeks Nominations for 2023-2025
Maitland, FL – The Florida Tomato Committee (FTC) will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, May 10, for tomato producers to nominate fellow growers or themselves to serve on the committee for a two-year term, from September 2023 to September 2025. The FTC is a federal marketing order that regulates the handling of Florida tomatoes and supports the industry …