By Clint Thompson Harvests for this year’s pecan crop is just a couple of months away. This year’s crop has exciting potential. But success will once again depend on the market prices that growers are able to receive, says farmer Randy Hudson. “We’ve got a pretty good looking crop. We’ve got some holes, though. Some older trees that had a …
Bumper Pecan Crop in 2022?
By Clint Thompson Hurricane Michael’s impact on the pecan industry in the Southeast still impacts pecan crop producers almost four years later. Samantha McLeod, executive director of the Georgia Pecan Growers Association, explains how the storm disrupted the trees’ bearing process. It led to a bumper crop in 2020. Another is expected this season. “We are anticipating a bumper crop …
Budgeting for Success: Economist Outlines Importance
By Clint Thompson Budgeting has emerged as a significant management tool for specialty crop producers. If growers hadn’t implemented the practice before COVID-19, most certainly are now during an era of unpredictable input expenses and price fluctuations from one month to the next. Wendiam Sawadgo, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension economist, outlines the importance of farmers utilizing this important …
Florida Tomato Season Update
By Clint Thompson Florida tomato season has all but finished for the year, while South Georgia’s season is beginning to ramp up. Michael Schadler, manager of the Florida Tomato Committee and executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, discusses the current Florida tomato season production and market facing Southeast producers. “The South and Central Florida season is effectively over. North Florida and …
Tomato Season Update
By Clint Thompson Tomato season has all but finished for the year in Florida, while South Georgia’s season is beginning to ramp up. Michael Schadler, manager of the Florida Tomato Committee and executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, discusses the current production and market facing Southeast producers. “The South and Central Florida season is effectively over. North Florida and …
Surging Input Costs Impact Florida’s Specialty Crop Season
By Clint Thompson Strong market prices for some specialty crops have been tempered by input costs that have spiked to levels many growers had not experienced before the COVID-19 pandemic. No Florida specialty crop producer was immune from feeling the financial pinch this year from rising expenses associated with fertilizer, chemicals, diesel and freight. “Our input costs are so much …
Fried Speaks About Farmer Stress Awareness Initiative
By Clint Thompson Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Nikki Fried formerly launched the FDACS Farmer Stress Awareness Initiative on Thursday in Plant City, Florida. Fried hopes to create awareness about a concern not easily talked about in the agricultural sector – stress and its impact on mental health. “We know the suicide rate for farmers is double …
Fried Speaks About Farmer Stress Awareness Initiative
By Clint Thompson Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Nikki Fried formally launched the FDACS Farmer Stress Awareness Initiative on Thursday in Plant City, Florida. Fried hopes to create awareness about a concern not easily talked about in the agricultural sector – stress and its impact on mental health. “We know the suicide rate for farmers is double …
Bill Brim: Fighting for the Future of U.S. Farmers
By Clint Thompson Georgia farmer Bill Brim faces his share of challenges producing spring and fall crops in Tifton. But one worry haunts him daily: Where his grandchildren and future generations will get their food. “It’s going to come from the south of us (Mexico imports), and it’s going to be controlled by other people that you don’t want to …
Florida Tomato Leader: Not a Formula for Success
By Clint Thompson South Florida tomatoes appear destined for an earlier finish to the harvest season this year. Bob Spencer, president of West Coast Tomato in Palmetto, Florida, discusses how much longer consumers can expect to see Florida-grown tomatoes fresh from the field. “I would say the Manatee Ruskin area, which normally goes until the 5th of June will probably …