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, “The recent rains have yet again made fields sloppy and hard to harvest. Most of our tomato crop is about finished as are zucchini and cukes. We have had an unusually high amount …
Proposed Changes to Ag Water Requirements
By Taylor O’Bannon, Matt Krug and Michelle Danyluk In December 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its proposed changes to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) Subpart E, which covers agricultural water. Compliance with the requirements of Subpart E has been delayed, since December 2019, to allow FDA adequate time to identify more appropriate …
Opinion: It Is Time to Defend Domestic Specialty Crops
By Frank Giles As the heat of summer sets in, many specialty crops have finished their seasons in the Southeast. While most crops saw good production this season, markets were again impacted by foreign competition, especially from Mexico. Surging prices for key inputs like fertilizer didn’t help the situation. Even in specialty crops where volume was down due to weather, …
Florida Lawmakers Focus on Nutrient Management
By Frank Giles The Florida Legislature passed the largest budget on record during its 2022 session. The final tally came in at $110 billion. Lawmakers showed strong support for agriculture, passing several important bills. The Legislature allocated millions of dollars for the industry as well. SB 1000The most significant action was passage of SB 1000 Nutrient Application Rates. The legislation …
Improving Soil Health for Citrus Production
By Tacy Callies In an effort to keep HLB-infected citrus trees productive, many Florida growers are turning to techniques aimed at improving soil health and nutrition. This was the subject of a recent seminar hosted by citrus grower Ed James and sponsored by Sand to Soil Services. More than 30 growers of citrus and other crops gathered at James’ grove …
Citrus Crop Looks ‘Very Promising’
The sweltering heat being felt across the Southeast has done little to dampen the optimism shared by one citrus grower who believes this year’s crop is “very promising.” Kim Jones, who owns a citrus packing facility in Monticello, Florida, and is part-owner of a similar facility in Tifton, Georgia, discusses the state of this year’s crop in North Florida and South Georgia. …
Current Labor Market Crisis Provides Spotlight on Problem in Agriculture
By Clint Thompson The current labor crisis sweeping through the United States provides another spotlight on the problem in the agricultural industry. Veronica Nigh, economist with American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), discusses the issue. “I think what’s likely to cause more action is maybe the fact that it’s not just Ag that’s having trouble with wage growth right now. When …
UGA Fruit Pathologist Inducted Into IPM Hall of Fame
By Emily Cabrera The Southern Integrated Pest Management Center (Southern IPM Center) has inducted University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit pathologist Phil Brannen into the Integrated Pest Management Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to commercial fruit growers throughout the southern U.S. over the past 30 years. Each year, the Southern IPM Center recognizes an industry member for extraordinary …
What’s Happening? Clemson Extension Provides Weekly Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provide crop updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “Disease pressure is likely to continue to increase given the recent welcome rainfall. Gummy stem blight can be found in cucurbit fields along with downy mildew in cucumbers and watermelons. Maintain …
Farm Legislation a Win for Alabama Agriculture
By Sabrina Halvorson Alabama’s 2022 state legislative season was a success for agriculture with the passage of key farm legislation bills. “I would say overall we were very happy with how it went. We had some priorities that we called the Farm Package here at the Alabama Farmers Federation, and all of that was successful,” said Blake Thaxton, a director …