Auburn University research has created new opportunities for growers who want to begin or increase grape production. Elina Coneva, Extension specialist for the Auburn University department of horticulture, said new research has increased interest in grape production in the Southeast. Muscadine grapes are currently the most popular type of grapes grown in Alabama. This is due to the resistance the …
Florida Growers Prepare for Freezing Temperatures
Florida is off to a cool start in 2018 as parts of the state anticipate freezing temperatures during the rest of the week. According to Lisa Lochridge, director of public affairs for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Florida growers are doing what they can to prepare for the cold. Lochridge says that Florida fruit and vegetables are well into …
Florida Tomato Conference Set for Sept. 10, 17
Florida tomato farmers and industry specialists should mark their calendars for the Florida Tomato Conference, scheduled for Sept. 10 and Sept. 17. The conference will start with the Food Safety Workshop/T-Gap Renewal on Thursday, Sept. 10, scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida.Click here to register. Registration for the Food …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Technology Conference Takes Glimpse Into the Future
By Clint Thompson Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to enhance the agricultural landscape. How specialty crop producers farm today may look different from how they farm five years from now. The potential future of specialty crop production in the Southeast was on display during the Southeastern Specialty Crop Technology Conference & Show in Tifton, Georgia, in early May. Ag companies and …
Specialty Crop Seminars Cover Wide Range of Topics
This year’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo has a lot to offer vegetable producers. A session on pest management will cover challenges growers face in fields, including whitefly, thrips, pepper weevil and more. Talks will be given on whitefly-transmitted viruses. A presentation on nematode management with reduce-risk nematicides and cover crops will be given during the pest management session. Speakers …
Ralstonia Research Focus of Florida Blueberry Summer Meetings
By Clint Thompson Ralstonia research is one of the topics highlighted at this summer’s blueberry meetings hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. While it is not as problematic as other blueberry diseases as Florida growers contend with every year, it has the potential to wreak havoc on one of the state’s major fruit crop, …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Protecting Florida Agriculture for the Next Generation
The Last Word By Wilton Simpson If you’ve spent any time in agriculture, you’ve learned a simple truth: We’re not really farming for ourselves. Every seed planted, every fence repaired, every grove, pasture and field we care for is an investment in what comes next. Agriculture has always been about leaving something better behind for the next generation than what …
SCFBA Co-Chair: Window Open to Get Farm Bill Completed
By Clint Thompson The time is now for legislative leaders to strike a deal on the next farm bill. The House has already released its version. The Senate recently released its draft. The window is open for this important piece of legislation to get passed, says Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and co-chair of the Specialty Crop …
Bamboo Field Day Features the Evolving Industry in Florida
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a bamboo field day in July at Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery in Frostproof. Scientists at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) have initiated several projects to evaluate bamboo varieties and production practices. Phillip Rucks has planted numerous bamboo varieties for evaluation and sells bamboo plants to …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Lowcountry Report Anna Sara Hill Zack Snipes Midlands Report Rob Last Daniel Lyon Upstate Report Andy Rollins Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and Strength to …