By Clint Thompson Soil moisture sensors are an integral part of many farmers’ irrigation scheduling strategies. Wes Porter, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension precision agriculture and irrigation specialist, wants more growers to be aware of their benefits. That’s why he’s invited a South Georgia farmer Brandon DeWitt to speak at the upcoming Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, …
Warming Up: Unseasonable Temps Not Helping Chilling Requirements for Fruit Trees
By Clint Thompson Unseasonably warm conditions this winter is normal for a La Niña weather pattern. But it’s not what Southeast fruit tree producers want to experience. Not with chilling hours a vital part of the maturation process. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist, said producers will keep an eye on what temperatures the new year brings – …
Reminder: Alabama Hemp Meetings to be Held in January
Alabama Extension reminds those interested that hemp licensee orientation meetings will be held at five separate locations in January 2022. The meetings will be held from 9 a.m. to noon and will provide an overview of the 2022 hemp season with changes to the hemp rules, requirements licensees must adhere to, hemp budgets and other procedures and deadlines. Licensed growers, …
Register Now for Upcoming Ag Forecast
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Ag Forecast will be a one-day event in 2022. Instead of being held at multiple locations in January like prior years, next year’s event will be held at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia on Jan. 28. Mark McCann, assistant dean for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, discussed the …
OSHA Vaccine Mandate: Fines for Non-Compliance Begin Jan. 10
GFVGA Responds to Latest Announcement The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that businesses that are non-compliant with its vaccination mandate will be fined starting Jan. 10, 2022. The announcement comes on the heels of a federal appeals court ruling that overruled a previous stay that had paused the mandate nationwide. The rule, initially published Nov. 4, applies to …
Sweet Potato Studies: Team Studying Guava Root-Knot Nematode
By Clint Thompson North Carolina’s top vegetable crop will be under the microscope as part of a $5 million, four-year research project funded by USDA-NIFA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI). Craig Yencho, sweet potato breeder at N.C. State University, is part of an 18-member team studying management solutions for the guava root-knot nematode. He said it was introduced into North …
New H-2A Wages Effective Dec. 29
A prior issue of the Florida Citrus Mutual Triangle newsletter provided information about the new wage that growers must pay H-2A labor, effective Wednesday, Dec. 29. The H-2A program allows U.S. employers who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs. The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the Department of …
How Florida Citrus Mutual Is Laying the Groundwork for Future Growth
Legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson could not have been more on point when he said, “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” In the team that is the Florida citrus industry, we all have our positions to fill and roles to play. The growers continue to adapt and adopt new …
ADAMA’s Cormoran® Effective Against Larval Stages of Insect Pests
By Clint Thompson One insecticide from ADAMA could be a secret weapon for Southeast producers hoping to reduce pest pressure in various specialty crops. Cormoran® attacks the larval stages of insect pests, which makes it a vital part of a grower’s insecticidal rotation, says Jorge Menocal, territory sales representative for ADAMA. “When you refer to specialty vegetables, it’s critical to …
Sneak Peek: January 2021 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
By Clint Thompson A new year brings a new name to VSCNews Magazine. That’s right, the leader in specialty crop news will now be known as Specialty Crop Industry. The January issue of Specialty Crop Industry highlights the name change and what it means for its parent company, AgNet Media. The issue also focuses on blueberries and highlights different aspects …