By Frank Giles Citrus growers and industry stakeholders gathered in Bonita Springs last week for the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference. After being sidelined the previous two years due to COVID-19, the conference drew a record crowd of more than 500 registered attendees. The event, hosted by Florida Citrus Mutual, was packed with educational programming and meetings for various …
Cover Crops a Management Practice with Multiple Benefits
By Clint Thompson The fallow season means an opportunity for specialty crop producers to implement cover crops. It is a management tool that helps growers remain sustainable now and into the future. It is also a practice that Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, …
Georgia Farmer Testifies About Imports Impact During Senate Hearing
By Clint Thompson A Senate hearing held on June 9 allowed one Georgia blueberry producer to discuss the challenge of competing against imports from other countries. Karla Thompson, representing JET Farms in Camilla, Georgia, testified in a hearing held by the Senate Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade. The discussion highlighted rising imports and their impact on Georgia producers. …
Cover Crops a Management Practice with Multiple Benefits
By Clint Thompson The fallow season means an opportunity for specialty crop producers to implement cover crops. It is a management tool that helps growers remain sustainable now and into the future. It is also a practice that Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research …
New UF/IFAS Blueberry Cultivar: Albus
By Clint Thompson University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry breeder Patricio Munoz is ready to release UF/IFAS’ newest cultivar this fall, Albus. Munoz described what growers can expect from Albus. “This is a high yielding, good flavored cultivar that’s going to be targeting the central part of the state where we have a lot of …
Bumper Pecan Crop in 2022?
By Clint Thompson Hurricane Michael’s impact on the pecan industry in the Southeast still impacts pecan crop producers almost four years later. Samantha McLeod, executive director of the Georgia Pecan Growers Association, explains how the storm disrupted the trees’ bearing process. It led to a bumper crop in 2020. Another is expected this season. “We are anticipating a bumper crop …
Resistance to Tebuconazole is Widespread in Gummy Stem Blight Fungus in South Carolina
South Carolina cucurbit growers should reduce tebuconazole applications in managing gummy stem blight. The pathogenic fungus has become moderately resistant to this very commonly used fungicide, according to Clemson plant pathologist Tony Keinath in The South Carolina Grower. Seven watermelon fields were sampled in 2019 (six fields) and 2021 (one field) in Beaufort, Bamberg, Barnwell and Hampton counties. Of 229 …
Budgeting for Success: Economist Outlines Importance
By Clint Thompson Budgeting has emerged as a significant management tool for specialty crop producers. If growers hadn’t implemented the practice before COVID-19, most certainly are now during an era of unpredictable input expenses and price fluctuations from one month to the next. Wendiam Sawadgo, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension economist, outlines the importance of farmers utilizing this important …
Results of the Florida Citrus Research Order Referendum
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced that the state’s citrus growers reauthorized the Florida citrus research order in a statutorily required referendum conducted by the department. The results of the ballots returned yielded 76% “yes” votes representing 69% of total citrus acres. The Florida Citrus Research Order has a six-year cycle and is subject to renewal upon request by …
Florida Citrus Research Order Referendum Results
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced that the state’s citrus growers reauthorized the Florida citrus research order in a statutorily required referendum conducted by the department. The results of the ballots returned yielded 76% “yes” votes representing 69% of total citrus acres. The Florida Citrus Research Order has a six-year cycle and is subject to renewal …