Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Fixing the Fertilizer Crisis

Clint ThompsonFertilizer, Florida

By Mary Hartney In testimony delivered to the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee during the “Perspectives on the Fertilizer Industry: Ensuring a Stable and Affordable Supply for American Producers” hearing, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) offered some recommendations. TFI President and Chief Executive Officer Corey Rosenbusch prefaced his remarks by explaining how the fertilizer industry is caught up in the current geopolitical …

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 …

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: The Last Word

Clint ThompsonAlabama

Rethinking Success in Specialty Crops Winter meeting season has wrapped up in Alabama. Fruit and vegetable growers now turn their attention to strawberries, spring vegetables and — if the good Lord allows — a strong outlook for 2026 crops. Earlier this month, the Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) gathered in Gulf Shores for its annual conference. It was …

Know Where Crops Will Be Sold Before Planting

Clint ThompsonAlabama

By Clint Thompson Alabama growers need to know where their fruits and vegetables will be sold before the plants are put in the ground. That’s a message that was emphasized during the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) Conference on Feb. 5. AFVGA President Taylor Hatchett talked about her own farming operation’s experience when speaking at the conference. She …

USMCA

Joyner Testifies on the Impact of USMCA on Florida’s Specialty Crops

Dan CooperFruits, Vegetables

Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association President Mike Joyner expressed concerns about the impact of produce imports from Mexico under the current U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) during a public hearing held on Dec. 3. He reported significant losses in sales, market share and jobs within Florida’s produce industry due to unfairly priced imports from Mexico. The testimony was delivered as part of …

GFVGA Issues Letter to USTR

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) submitted a letter to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) amid the USMCA review. It highlighted the continued surge of imported fruits and vegetables into the U.S. “We encourage you to consider any trade policies that will protect U.S. fruit and vegetable growers from unfair foreign competitors, …

Dry Weather’s Impact on Fall Vegetables

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson A prolonged dry spell in South Georgia is impacting the region’s fall vegetable producers. Sam Watson, located in Colquitt County Georgia, discussed the impacts that growers like himself are seeing amid hot and dry weather conditions. “It’s getting pretty tough. No. 1, we’re running low on water in some places. No. 2, the whitefly pressure has just …

USDA Issues Second Economic Assistance Payment to Agricultural Producers

Clint ThompsonFlorida

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing a second Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) payment to eligible producers for the 2024 crop year. Of the authorized $10 billion in ECAP assistance, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already provided more than $8 billion in payments to eligible producers to mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and …