By Clint Thompson It is never too early to start thinking about and planning for next year’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, especially after the success of this year’s event. Southeast farmers and industry leaders can go ahead and mark their calendars for next year’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, scheduled for Aug. 4-5, 2027. Citrus and specialty crop growers, …
Why Be Optimistic About Ag Labor Reform?
By Clint Thompson Ag labor reform is currently a dream that industry experts hope will soon become a reality. Hopefully, it will occur by the end of the year. U.S. Representative GT Thompson (PA-15) has already introduced Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026,legislation that would improve accessibility and labor costs with the H-2A program. H-2A reform was a focus of …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Weekly Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Tom Bilbo, Extension Entomologist Vegetable growers — be aware that the EPA is seeking public comments on an issue regarding the use of neonicotinoid insecticides (e.g., Admire, Assail, Belay, Actor, Venom) on food crops. Clemson/University of …
Expo Presentation: Cover Crops Important Management Tactic
By Clint Thompson Cover crops remain an integral part of nematode management in Florida. But they should be part of specialty crop growers’ management strategies every year, according to Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. Desaeger provided an update about …
SCFBA: Farm Bill Goal By End of Year
By Clint Thompson A lack of farm bill progression in the Senate Agriculture Committee has not derailed the optimism industry leaders feel that one will eventually get passed this year. That’s the mindset shared by Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA). “You’ve got to be optimistic that folks …
New Nematicides Safer to Use, Stay Longer in Soil
By Clint Thompson Effective nematicides were a focal point of a presentation on nematodes at the recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo event in Fort Myers, Florida. Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, updated growers and industry leaders about what chemical …
AFVGA Conference, Trade Show Scheduled for Feb. 3-5, 2027 in Gulf Shores, Alabama
By Clint Thompson Alabama fruit and vegetable farmers and industry leaders can mark their calendars for next year’s Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) annual conference and trade show, scheduled for Feb. 3-5, 2027, in Gulf Shores, Alabama. AFVGA Executive Director Blake Thaxton discussed the event, slated for The Lodge at Gulf State Park. “It’s become the home for …
Coping With Stress: How Producers Can Manage Everyday Worries on Farm
By Clint Thompson Stress can be synonymous with life on the farm. No matter the size of the farming operation, producers can feel the worries every day. It is magnified in the current agricultural era where inputs have skyrocketed and crop prices are not where farmers need them to be. So how should producers counter the stress that’s bound to …
Expo Presentation: Fungicide Rotation Key In Mitigating Powdery Mildew Disease
By Clint Thompson Powdery mildew is one of the most problematic diseases that Florida cucurbit farmers must overcome every season. However, fungicides are available that help mitigate the disease’s impact. Amanda McVay, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) graduate student, discussed those fungicide options at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo on Aug. 13 in …
Citrus Red Mite Threatens Cold-Hardy Production
The threat of Asian citrus psyllids to cold-hardy citrus does not mean growers should ignore other insects and their potential impacts in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. The citrus red mite should be a concern for growers, especially in the spring and if certain weather conditions persist, explains Apurba Barman, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor of entomology …



















