By Clint Thompson Alabama hemp meetings begin next week across the state. Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension specialist, talked about the state of the industry. “We’re in the process of the medical marijuana license application period. I think that’s going to change the landscape a little bit. A lot of hemp growers got into it to learn …
Christmas Freeze ‘Not Much of an Impact’ on Florida Blueberries
By Clint Thompson Timing can make the difference in the success of a specialty crop. In the case of Florida blueberries, it likely has helped the crop survive one of the coldest freeze events in recent memory. Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, explains how the lack of blooms in Florida’s …
Georgia Pecan Production Meetings Scheduled
By Clint Thompson Georgia pecan producers can mark their calendars for the upcoming county production meetings scheduled over the next couple of months. The scheduled meetings include stops in Appling County (Jan. 31), Grady County (Feb. 1), Toombs, Treutlen and Montgomery counties (Feb. 7), Tattnall County (Feb. 13), Colquitt County (Feb. 16), Cook County (March 1), Irwin County (breakfast meeting …
Upon Further Review: Vegetables Hammered by Cold Temperatures
By Clint Thompson A week removed from one of the worst freeze events in recent memory in the Southeast, vegetable growers are resigned to the reality their crops were devastated by consecutive days of sub-freezing temperatures. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, talks about the devastation, most notably in green production. …
Alabama Hemp Meetings Beneficial to Long-Term Sustainability of Crop
By Clint Thompson Alabama’s hemp producers and industry leaders should make plans to attend one of the scheduled hemp meetings in January. Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension specialist, believes these meetings – which are scheduled throughout the state – are beneficial to the long-term sustainability of the crop. “It allows us to get a lot of growers …
North Alabama Strawberry Plants Impacted by Cold, Deer
By Clint Thompson The cold weather experienced over Christmas weekend wreaked havoc on strawberry plants in North Alabama. Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama, described the impact his growers’ plants incurred during the multiple days of below-freezing temperatures. “What I’m hearing from some of my strawberry growers is they got out there to put row covers on just …
Florida Tomato Industry Pioneer Paul DiMare Passes Away
On Dec. 30, Paul J. DiMare passed away at the age of 81. DiMare had served as president of DiMare Fresh, a Florida-based company which grew into one of the nation’s top tomato producers. He moved to Florida in the 1960s to oversee the tomato growing and packing business started by his father and uncles. Over the years, DiMare made …
Florida Tomato Legend Paul DiMare Passes Away
On Dec. 30, Paul J. DiMare passed away at the age of 81. DiMare had served as president of DiMare Fresh, a Florida-based company which grew into one of the nation’s top tomato producers. He moved to Florida in the 1960s to oversee the tomato growing and packing business started by his father and uncles. Over the years, DiMare made …
GFVGA: Omnibus Appropriations Bill Includes Significant Funding for Critical Ag Needs
The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) expressed appreciation for the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, though it failed to address agriculture labor reform. “While the bill failed to include any action on agriculture labor reform, the bill did include significant funding for critical agriculture needs, including Georgia producers,” the GFVGA announced in an email. The bill included $8.25 million for …
Uncovered Georgia Strawberries Likely Suffered ‘Moderate’ Damage
By Clint Thompson Part of Georgia’s strawberry crop suffered some damage during sub-freezing temperatures over the past week. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, said the crop that was not covered was most susceptible to temperatures that stayed mostly in the 20s and 30s since Christmas Eve morning. “I …