By Clint Thompson Alabama Extension is researching “outside the box” with regards to whitefly management. The pest is a threat to vegetable production not just by feeding on the plant but also by transmitting multiple viruses. It has forced scientists like Andre da Silva, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, to research alternative ways of managing the insect. “You need to think …
Assessing Hurricane Ian’s Impact on Florida Vegetables
By Frank Giles Hurricane Ian will have far reaching impacts on Florida agriculture. An initial estimate released by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) puts farm losses at between $787 million and $1.56 billion. The storm brought hurricane-strength winds to nearly 1.2 million acres agricultural lands in Florida. Vegetable growers are reporting varying degrees of …
Federal Grant: UF Scientist to Investigate Strategies to Control Tomato Disease
Diseases like bacterial spot can threaten tomatoes, a $1.9 billion-a-year crop planted on 330,000 acres across 18 states. Gary Vallad, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor of plant pathology, has been awarded a $5.8 million federal grant to study how to mitigate this disease. “Bacterial spot of tomato is a major challenge to commercial …
Weekly Field Update – 10/17/22
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, “We have had absolutely beautiful weather as of late. This past week, agents were busy harvesting sweet sorghum to make into syrup, to distill, brew and pop (sorghum popcorn). This old timey tradition …
Attention Strawberry Producers: Keep Plants Watered Amid Colder Temperatures
By Clint Thompson Upcoming cold temperatures in the Southeast could impact strawberry plants being planted. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, highlighted in the University of Georgia Extension Strawberry Blog the importance of plants being watered this week as temperatures could potentially drop near or below freezing in some …
Rubio Leads Florida Delegation in Urging USDA to Declare Disaster for the State’s Ag Industry
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) led bipartisan members of the Florida congressional delegation in issuing a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack in support of Florida’s request to declare a Disaster for Florida counties that were impacted by Hurricane Ian, and to make assistance available to growers whose crops were damaged or …
Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum Scheduled for Nov. 9-10
By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers in the Southeast are reminded that registration is ongoing for the annual Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum. The event is scheduled for Nov. 9-10 at ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture in Tifton, Georgia. The event is scheduled the day after the Nov. 8 mid-term elections and provides an opportunity for lobbyist Bob Redding to …
New Push for Farm Workforce Modernization Act
By Frank Giles Despite the myriad challenges thrown at Florida growers, when asked what their biggest challenge on the farm is, most reply sourcing labor. This long-time problem was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Various efforts to ease farm labor pains have been attempted over the years with limited success. A new push is underway to pass the Farm Workforce …
Fighting Fusarium Wilt in Lettuce
By Clint Thompson Fusarium wilt in lettuce is not yet a widespread problem for Florida producers. German Sandoya wants to keep it that way. Sandoya, assistant professor in the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, provides management options for growers to help keep the disease out of their fields. “We’ve only seen it in field plots, so we keep monitoring …
USDA ERS: Peach Production Down 15%
The peach production forecast is down for 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). Production is expected to net 583,500 tons, a 15% decrease from the previous season. California, the top peach producing state, is forecast at 430,000 tons, down 15% from the previous year. Frost events and hail decreased production and quality. The …