USDA Announces March 24 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for March 2024, which became effective March 1, 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.     “I encourage our lenders and borrowers alike to work with …

Planting Season for North Florida Watermelons

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Watermelon

By Clint Thompson The calendar may say Feb. 20 but for some watermelon growers in North Florida, it says it is planting time. “I believe that there are some that intend on starting around (Feb. 20) if the weather looks good during that period of time,” said Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional …

Georgia Vegetable Producer: We Can’t Give Up

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Sam Watson wears multiple hats in his role as a Georgia vegetable producer. Not only does Watson farm in Colquitt County, he also serves as president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association along with being a state senator. Watson is in position to implore legislative leaders to provide assistance against the numerous obstacles challenging the …

Georgia’s Pecan Bearing Acres at 146,000

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s bearing pecan acres in 2023 was 146,000 acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. The number might continue to rise as more young orchards come online with a crop. “According to the satellite survey that the American Pecan Council did, and this has probably been four or five years ago, we …

USDA Announces February 2024 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

Clint ThompsonUSDA

 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for February 2024, which became effective Feb. 1, 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.   “I encourage our lenders and borrowers alike to work with our local offices …

Pecan Production Meetings to Be Offered Across Georgia

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Georgia pecan producers should make plans to attend one of the production meetings held over the next couple of months across pecan-producing counties. The meetings are hosted by University of Georgia Extension, including pecan specialist Lenny Wells. “Like all of the commodity meetings that the university does every year, we just go from county to county to …

Melon Producers Beware: El Niño, Early Plantings Could Lead to Increased Fusarium Wilt Disease

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Georgia, Watermelon

By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon producers should be wary of increased potential for fusarium wilt disease with planting season looming. The current El Niño weather pattern is offering cooler temperatures and wetter conditions, says Nick Dufalt, a plant pathologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “I think being cooler always promotes fusarium wilt. Having …

Best Practices for Corn Silk Fly Management

Clint ThompsonSpecialty Crop Grower Magazine

By Julien Beuzelin and Anna Mészáros Maggots feeding on silks, kernels and sometimes the cob of sweet corn ears harvested in Florida represent the greatest insect pest threat to the state’s fresh market sweet corn industry. These maggots are the larvae of three fly species known as corn silk flies. What to Look For Although the maggots of the three …

USDA Announces January 2024 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for January 2024, which became effective Tuesday, Jan. 2. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help farmers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs. “I encourage our lenders and borrowers alike to work with our local offices …

USDA Announces December 2023 Lending Rates for Producers

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced loan interest rates for December 2023, which became effective Dec. 1, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help farmers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.     “I encourage our lenders and borrowers alike to work with …