By Richard Flournoy, Risk Management Agency Whether you grow almonds or apples, peppers or prunes, crop insurance options are available. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) administers Federal crop insurance that protects 76 specialty crops, and we’re continuing to improve and expand insurance options for specialty crop producers. New in 2021 First, for young citrus trees, the biggest threats are freeze, …
Update on Hop Variety Trials, Breeding
By Zhanao Deng, Shinsuke Agehara, Hugh Smith, Gary Vallad, Johan Desaeger, Zhengfei Guan, Jack Rechcigl and Simon Bollin In 2015, the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) began field trials to grow hops in Central Florida. A research and Extension team consisting of approximately 20 faculty and staff members (Figure …
Commissioner Fried Encourages Producers to Apply for Pandemic Assistance
Tallahassee, Fla. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced updates to a pandemic assistance program for agriculture producers. The updates to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP2) include expanded eligibility and increased flexibility. USDA has set a deadline of Oct. 12, 2021 for eligible producers to apply or modify CFAP2 applications. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and …
UF/IFAS Studying Phosphorous in Tomatoes, Potatoes
By Clint Thompson A renewed focus on phosphorous recommendations by University of Florida/IFAS researchers should help producers be more efficient with their fertilizer applications and reduce its impact on the environment. That’s the goal, says Kelly Morgan, professor and center director at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee, Florida. “Phosphorous is becoming the largest issue as far …
Pecan Producers Optimistic with Potential for Price Increase
By Clint Thompson Pecan harvest season is upon us here in the Southeast. While projections are that this year’s crop will be substantially less than last year’s, growers are optimistic, especially with the potential for increased prices, said Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. “Those that have a crop, which is mostly growers with young trees, and we’ve …
UGA Specialist on Citrus Greening Disease: Stop it Before it Starts
By Clint Thompson The citrus greening disease that has decimated Florida citrus production has one University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist concerned about its potential impact in Georgia. Jonathan Oliver encourages Georgia producers to quickly dispose of infected trees if any are found. “Really, it’s important that before we get very much greening or very much …
Why This Lifelong Citrus Grower Is Taking a Deep Dive Into Regenerative Agriculture
Brad Turner has a passion for learning. His new focus: alternative means of growing Florida’s signature crop.
Old Fruit Crops Could Offer New Opportunities
By Kevin Folta Someone walking from Key West to the Carolinas 200 years ago would not likely find any of the crops found in modern produce sections. While there are a few distant cousins of blueberries, onions and tomatoes growing in the wild, the dominant commercial crops grown in the Southeast were brought here from somewhere else. Tomatoes, strawberries, citrus …
H-2A Study: Farmers Reliant on Program Now More Than Ever
By Clint Thompson With the domestic workforce almost non-existent, Southeast vegetable and specialty crop producers rely on the H-2A program now more than ever. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service outlines the growth the program has made over the past decade. Certified H-2A positions increased substantially from 2010 to 2019. The number more than tripled from …
Chlopyrifos Ban to Impact Onion, Sweet Potato Farmers
By Clint Thompson The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent decision to ban the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all food means onion and sweet potato producers will need to find alternatives in six months. While those options exist, they are not nearly as effective. “There’s a reason all the growers use chlorpyrifos,” said Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Cooperative …