By Bhabesh Dutta Annually, Georgia plants over 12,000 acres of sweet Vidalia onions (National Agricultural Statistical Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture) with farmgate value of approximately $145 million dollars. Vidalia onion ranks first in terms of farmgate value among vegetables in Georgia, making it the most important vegetable crop in the state. Among the spring-grown onions in the United States, …
Vidalia Onion Committee Steps Up Marketing Efforts
The Vidalia Onion Committee (VOC), located in Vidalia, Georgia, is looking forward to new marketing initiatives it has put in place for the upcoming season. Bob Stafford, VOC manager, said “Only Vidalia” is the new phrase for the committee. He spoke with AgNet Media’s Josh McGill at the Produce Marketing Association’s 2017 Fresh Summit. The Fresh Summit was held October …
FDACS Urges USDA to Issue Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Milton Agricultural Damage
Preliminary Agricultural Damage Assessment Estimates Losses at $1.5 – $2.5 Billion (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/October 17, 2024) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson sent a letter [  1.1 MB ] to the United States Secretary of Agriculture formally requesting a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Disaster Declaration for Florida counties impacted by Hurricane Milton. Hurricane Milton caused catastrophic damage to Florida’s agricultural producers, compounding losses and …
Double Whammy: Georgia Pecan Producer Suffers Devastating Loss for Second Straight Year
By Clint Thompson For the second straight year, a major hurricane has devastated Georgia’s pecan crop. South Georgia pecan farmer Buck Paulk has felt the brunt of that devastation for the second year in a row. Paulk, one of the state’s largest pecan producers with 4,100 acres, is located in Ray City, Georgia. It was on the east side of …
Ag Commissioner Simpson Launches Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program for Farmers Impacted by Hurricane Helene
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has announced that Florida farmers and growers impacted by Hurricane Helene can now apply for interest-free loans through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Loans can be used by eligible producers to restore, repair, or replace essential physical property – including fences, equipment, greenhouses, and other buildings – …
Storm Aftermath: GFVGA Executive Director Discusses Hurricane Helene Impacts
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) does not have a full scope on the damage left by Hurricane Helene last week. But it knows it was devastating and widespread. Fall crops were in the ground. Blueberry bushes were vulnerable and so were citrus and pecan trees. Chris Butts, executive director of the GFVGA, talked about …
Hurricane Debby Assessment: Florida Ag Production Losses Top $93 Million
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) assesses between $93.7 million and $263.2 million in agricultural production losses for Florida due to Hurricane Debby on Aug. 5. The preliminary report is based on surveys with producers. The Category 1 storm made landfall on Aug. 5 near Steinhatchee, Florida and affected more …
Impact of Hurricane Debby on North Florida Citrus
By Clint Thompson High wind speeds were prevalent when Hurricane Debby passed through the North Florida region last week. Perry, Florida, received the brunt of those winds. According to Lisa Strange, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension agent in Taylor County, wind speeds were recorded at 80 miles per hour. It led to some citrus trees …
Hurricane Debby’s Impact on Georgia Pecans
By Clint Thompson Hurricane Debby’s impact on Georgia’s pecan crop was not as severe as Idalia was the prior year. But it still affected trees with its high wind speeds and excessive rainfall, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist. “That southern tier, starting around Lowndes County, Brooks, in there was hit pretty bad. Some of the …
Ag Commissioner Simpson Announces Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has announced that Florida farmers, ranchers, and growers impacted by Hurricane Debby will be able to apply for low-interest and interest-free loans beginning this week through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Loans can be used by eligible agriculture and aquaculture producers to restore, repair, or replace essential …