georgia pecan

Point of Emphasis: Pecan Leader Stresses Tariff Reduction into India

Web AdminExports/Imports, Pecan

By Clint Thompson One of the National Pecan Federation’s main points of emphasis was highlighted by the Georgia Pecan Growers Association when a U.S. senator visited the state last week. Senator Jon Ossoff’s (D-GA) visit to South Georgia allowed Samantha McLeod, executive director of the Georgia Pecan Growers Association, to stress the importance of reducing import tariffs into India. “One …

Storms’ Impact on Blueberries

Web AdminBerries, Research, Weather

By Clint Thompson Last weekend’s heavy rains in South Florida reminds the state’s blueberry producers the vulnerability of their crop during hurricane season. The combination of strong winds and prolonged rain showers provide a threat to blueberries, says Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. “It depends on whether we get wind, …

Pecan Industry Leader Cautions Against Potential Surge in Scab Disease This Summer

Web AdminDisease, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Hot and dry spring weather conditions in the Southeast meant minimal scab disease pressure for pecan producers. But growers need to be mindful of a potential disease surge if rain persists this summer in the region. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, cautions producers about the potential impact that scab disease can have at this …

What’s Happening? Clemson Extension Agents Provide Weekly Crop Updates

Web AdminGeneral, Specialty Crops

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, “Insect and disease activity is increasing in the area across a broad range of crops. In cucurbits, we are seeing powdery mildew and gummy stem blight in watermelon. Remember to keep …

Mechanical Harvest Technologies for Strawberries

Web AdminStrawberry, Technology

By Yiannis Ampatzidis Vegetable growers face several serious challenges with respect to farm labor. The number of domestic farmworkers has decreased substantially. In some cases, growers are unable to fully harvest their marketable fruit. A high percentage of the remaining domestic workers are not legally authorized to work in the United States. The costs to recruit temporary foreign agricultural guest …

Citrus Breeding Must Focus on Speed and Results

Web AdminFlorida Grower

By Peter Chaires It is typical for research and program planning to begin well before the current year’s programs and projects are completed and reports are filed. This always presents a challenge. However, the rapidly changing dynamics in the citrus industry has impacted this process in a profound way. The loss of growers, acreage and infrastructure is front and center …

Citrus Achievement Award Winner Kristen Carlson Crafting a Way Forward

Web AdminFlorida Grower

By Frank Giles Since HLB was first confirmed in Florida more than 15 years ago, the state’s citrus crop has been on a steady decline. This season is set to finish with historically low production. Every segment of the industry has felt the pain of HLB’s endemic march. On the one hand, it is easy to understand why some would …

Surging Input Costs Impact Florida’s Specialty Crop Season

Web AdminFlorida Grower

By Clint Thompson Strong market prices for some specialty crops have been tempered by input costs that have spiked to levels many growers had not experienced before the COVID-19 pandemic. No Florida specialty crop producer was immune from feeling the financial pinch this year from rising expenses associated with fertilizer, chemicals, diesel and freight. “Our input costs are so much …

online

Main Concern for Georgia’s Specialty Crop Producers: Increasing Imports

Web AdminExports/Imports, Georgia, Specialty Crops

By Clint Thompson High input costs. Supply availability. Weather unpredictability. All are challenges that Georgia’s specialty crop producers are facing this year. But the main concern remains market pricing, or lack thereof. Growers are still being haunted by imports and their impact on producers being able to make a profit, said Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit …

Alabama Extension to Host Strawberry Production Meeting

Web AdminAlabama, Strawberry

One of Alabama’s specialty crops will be the focus of an upcoming strawberry production meeting. The state’s growers are invited to attend. Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) will host a strawberry production meeting on Tuesday, June 14 in Jemison, Alabama. The meeting will start at 5 p.m. (est.) and conclude at 9 p.m. The meeting is designed specifically for producers …