By Frank Giles One of the many ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been significant supply-chain disruptions that have impacted the global economy. Agriculture has not been immune to these delays in shipping and availability of key tools growers need to produce crops. At the same time, prices are going up nearly across the board on products and inputs …
‘Resilient’ Strawberry Growers Continue Season Following Freeze
The Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) was encouraged and confident following the coldest night of the winter season on Sunday, Jan. 30. Sue Harrell, director of marketing for FSGA, surveyed and videoed a field on the association’s Facebook page. The crop survived low temperatures in the high 20s. “We protected our crop with overhead irrigation by coating the plants with …
Alabama Growers Permit Available
Alabama Extension reminds interested producers that they can obtain a growers permit that allows them to sell directly to consumers without paying licensing fees or sales tax for raw agricultural commodities that they raise. This allows farmers to market their products anywhere in Alabama and reduces barriers to the availability of fresh and nutritious Alabama products. The agricultural commodities include …
So Far So Good: Blueberry Growers Still Evaluating Crop After Frigid Temperatures
By Clint Thompson Frigid temperatures this past weekend had blueberry growers across the Southeast on high alert. Some applied frost protection, others did not. Some emerged mostly unscathed, while others experienced some damage. The full extent of the impact will not be fully known until later this week, says Renee Holland, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension area blueberry agent and …
Frigid Weather Deep into Florida has Growers on Alert
By Frank Giles The coldest temperatures in years predicted for Florida over the weekend has fruit and vegetable growers worried and preparing to protect their crops. Temperatures in the 20s and 30s are expected deep into the peninsula of Florida. And the freezing weather could persist for up to four hours or more. Gene McAvoy, associate director for stakeholder relations …
Freeze Protection Vital for Florida Blueberry Growers This Weekend
By Clint Thompson Low temperatures in the forecast this weekend means Florida blueberry producers need to apply freeze protection to their crops, says Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. “It’ll definitely get low enough to where folks will be freeze protecting. I know in central Florida, depending on the site because …
Growers Discuss Priorities for 2023 Farm Bill
The 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire in 2023, so preparations are underway to craft the behemoth legislation into law sometime next year. However, it is common for negotiations to extend into the following year. Whether the new farm bill is passed in 2023 or 2024, there’s a lot of work ahead. The farm bill was the focus of …
Downy Mildew Alert: Alabama Cucurbit Growers Be Proactive in Management
By Clint Thompson Florida’s recent diagnosis of downy mildew in lettuce should have Alabama growers on alert about the disease’s eventual movement northward. Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University, discusses why producers should be wary of this disease. “With these moist conditions, that’ll build up the winter nursery …
Downy Mildew in Lettuce: Growers Need to be on Preventative Program
By Clint Thompson One of the most important diseases of lettuce was found last week in a Florida field in the Everglades Agricultural Area. Richard Raid, a professor in plant pathology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, discusses the disease’s impact and why he encourages growers to be on a preventative program. “Lettuce downy mildew …
Alabama Extension Mobile County Fruit, Vegetable Growers Meeting Set for Jan. 27
By Clint Thompson Alabama Extension reminds specialty crop producers that the Mobile County Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association annual meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 27 at the Jon Archer Ag Center in Mobile, Alabama. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Preregistration is required by calling the Mobile County Extension Office at 251-574-8445. Jacob …