By Clint Thompson Last weekend’s cold temperatures may have impacted North Carolina’s grape production this season. According to Mark Hoffmann, North Carolina State small fruits Extension specialist, he should know more in the upcoming days about the severity of any frost damage that may have occurred throughout the state. “The WineGrowers Association, they have a survey out to assess how …
Wildflowers Impact Watermelon Pollinators
By Mimi Jenkins A resilient and stable pollinator community includes a diverse suite of pollinators with a range of nesting habits, foraging behaviors and activity periods. These different behaviors and traits complement each other and can buffer against any year-to-year fluctuations or environmental changes that affect species differently. BEYOND HONEY BEES In many pollinator-dependent crop systems, honey bee colonies are …
Weather Impacting Alabama Vegetable Production
By Clint Thompson Farmers in South Alabama are in desperate need of rain. Producers in North Alabama need field conditions to dry so they can plant their crop. It’s been an unpredictable winter and early part of spring for the state’s vegetable growers. “It’s been wet in the central and northern part of the state and it has been impressively …
High Rainfall Probabilities Look Promising for Florida Agriculture
By Ashley Robinson There may be light at the end of a dark and dry tunnel for Florida farmers with increased chances of rainfall over the upcoming week. According to Gary England, RSA/Director for the Hastings Ag Extension Center in Hastings, Florida, the same weather system currently ushering severe weather into the Southeast will elevate rainfall chances in the Hastings …
Vidalia Onion Crop Looks ‘Favorable’ Despite Presence of Downy Mildew Disease in Localized Areas
By Clint Thompson Vidalia onion producers have begun harvesting the early maturing varieties this year, and Chris Tyson is excited about the potential of this year’s crop. “The Vidalia onion crop definitely looks favorable this year. We are anticipating a quality harvest,” said Tyson, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension area onion agent at the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center …
In Search of the Florida Sour Orange Lineage
Take an interesting glimpse into the past of the Sunshine State’s citrus industry.
South Carolina Peaches Ripe for Productive Season
By Clint Thompson The country’s No. 2 state in peach production appears ripe for a productive season, pending how the market spirals over the next few months, according to Andy Rollins, Clemson Extension agent in Spartanburg, South Carolina. “It’s looking really good overall as far as the amount of crop and how clean the crop actually is right now,” Rollins …
New Partnerships Emerge for COVID-19 Relief
Florida Farmers Team with State Leaders to Launch Farm to Inmate Program Harvested produce crops feed Florida Department of Corrections’ (FDC) more than 87,000 inmates; action saves food costs while reducing COVID-19 related supply chain impacts. (FFA) — Florida farmers are uncovering new solutions to address supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Florida’s emergency order to shutter businesses …
COVID-19 and Food Safety: Fact and Fiction for Food Production
By: Ruth Borger, University of Florida LAKE ALFRED, Fla. — Consumers are being bombarded with tips for what to do with their groceries during the coronavirus crisis. Leave them in the garage for three days? Wash the produce with soapy water? Wipe all packaging down with disinfectant wipes? Listen to the science, say University of Florida Institute of Food and …
List of Farms Selling Produce Directly to Consumers Found on FFVA Website
The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) is trying to help consumers who are still interested in buying fresh, nutritious produce. The FFVA has compiled information about farms in Florida that have opened to selling their produce directly to consumers. A list of farms can be found on the FFVA website. Support for farmers and farming operations is essential during …