Be Prepared for Hurricane Season

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Hurricane season officially began on June 1. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is imploring producers to stay prepared for potential impacts and explore recovery resources. Be Prepared Growers should protect their families and production operations. This includes: USDA Assistance for Hurricane Recovery Source: USDA Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and …

Reliable Research: Strawberry Producers Rely on UF/IFAS Plant Pathologists for Disease Diagnoses

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Strawberry growers across the country aren’t just tending fields – they’re often running a quiet race against fast-moving plant diseases. When trouble strikes, their first call is often to the plant pathologists at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC). The latest culprit has entered the scene in the form of Fusarium wilt disease, which is popping up along …

Farmers Hoping, Waiting For Final Bill To Be Implemented Concerning AEWR

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson The federal court’s decision to deny a challenge to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) interim final rule (IFR) on how the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) is calculated was a win for agricultural employers who utilize the H-2A program. But growers want more to be done to ensure the program remains sustainable long-term. South Georgia vegetable farmer …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Making Insurance More Friendly

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Frank Giles When disasters impact specialty crop growers, challenges with federal crop insurance for fruits and vegetables are apparent. Whether it’s hurricanes or freezes, the same discussions arise about how the policies don’t fit the realities of specialty crops. Those challenges were recently addressed during a listening session hosted by Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-3). She also serves on the …

Sneak Peek: June 2026 Specialty Crop Grower Magazine

Clint ThompsonFlorida

In this month’s sneak peek, the June issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights how the Middle East conflict has impacted energy and fertilizer markets. The center of the market disruption is located on the Strait of Hormuz, a main conduit for oil and nutrient movement. Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, talked about the conflict …

USDA Announces Enrollment Period, Payment Rates for Specialty Crops Program

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Assistance for Specialty Crops Farmers (ASCF) program will account for $1.625 billion in payments to eligible producers in response to high input prices and market disruptions resulting from unfair trade practices with foreign countries. The program was announced last week and drew praise from industry leaders, including Chris Butts, executive vice …

Alabama

Minimal Citrus Production Remains in South Alabama

Dan CooperAlabama

South Alabama’s citrus production is nearly non-existent. The 2025 snow event made sure of that. One of the few remaining producers is Craig Goolsby, with Silverhill Satsumas in Baldwin County. Goolsby recently added trees to his citrus operation, but that is far from the norm for Alabama citrus growers. According to Goolsby, state plant protection inspectors were recently making the …

Congressional Leaders Send Letter to USTR Amid USMCA Review

Clint ThompsonFlorida, USMCA

By Clint Thompson Florida’s congressional delegation joined other legislative leaders in urging the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer to address challenges facing the specialty crop industry as part of this year’s review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Congressional members issued a letter to the USTR on May 12, highlighting challenges facing U.S. fruit and vegetable growers from increased imports, …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Georgia Grower Sees Strong Peach Production

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Harvest season is just around the corner for Southeast peach producers. For Lane Southern Orchards in Central Georgia, this means working round the clock this time of year. “The H-2A contracts start in February, so that’s when peach season starts,” says Tyler Wainwright, farm manager for Lane Southern Orchards. Wainwright oversees production practices in peach orchards west …

Cotton Jassid Still Absent in Georgia Fields

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson The cotton jassid’s lingering absence in fields across South Georgia is a win for vegetable producers in the middle of this year’s spring season. Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist, said the insect hasn’t been detected since about February, though researchers and Extension agents have been closely monitoring traps set up across the region. …