By Clint Thompson The intense summer heat is taking a toll on South Georgia watermelons; so much so that the crop appears to be in its final days of harvest this year, believes Greg Leger, owner of Leger & Son, Inc. “There’s a couple of late fields around that we’ve just been into one time and starting a second time, …
Speeding Up the Screening Process for HLB Therapies
By Frank Giles While it remains to be seen if trunk injection of oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC-HCl) is a game changer in the fight against HLB, it certainly has intensified the conversation about the potential for antimicrobial treatments. There are literally hundreds of materials that might be effective at reducing the HLB bacteria in trees, but it has been a slow …
U.S. Drought Monitor: North Alabama, Northwest Georgia Abnormally Dry
The latest release of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows diminishing dry conditions across most of the Southeast, though northern Alabama and Northwest Georgia remain abnormally dry. The dry areas in North Alabama start in Lamar, Fayette and Walker counties and stretch to the northernmost counties in the state. Moderate dry conditions are observed in Franklin, Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Morgan and …
Embracing Change Spells Sustainability
By Clint Thompson A family business born in 1925 is still thriving nearly 100 years later. When Walter and Ernestine Rawl planted their first cabbage on their wedding day, little did they realize it was the start of a successful business venture. What started as a small planting in South Carolina has transformed into a major operation. WP Rawl, based …
Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo Registration Open
By Clint Thompson Registration is ongoing for the upcoming Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo, scheduled for Aug. 16-17. This year’s two-day event will be held in a new location, at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. Josh McGill, show director for AgNet Media, discussed the excitement surrounding this year’s Expo, which starts with its new location. “We’re super excited …
Registration Ongoing for Upcoming Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo
By Clint Thompson Registration is ongoing for the upcoming Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo, scheduled for Aug. 16-17. This year’s two-day event will be held in a new location, at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. Josh McGill, show director for AgNet Media, discussed the excitement surrounding this year’s Expo, which starts with its new location. “We’re super excited …
UF/IFAS Scientist to Train for National Leadership
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Lorenzo Rossi’s role with the American Society for Horticultural Science will begin to increase. Recently selected for the organization’s Leadership Academy, Rossi will commence training to support agricultural production on a global scale. Rossi, an assistant professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River and Research and Education Center …
U.S. Drought Monitor: Dry Conditions in North Alabama, Georgia
Rainfall in early-to-mid June has helped alleviate much of the dry conditions experienced across the Southeast, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Only a small portion of the west coast of Florida is abnormally dry. Those counties include Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and a small part of Collier in southern Florida. Alabama’s northern counties are in need of …
Sneak Peek: July 2023 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
The July issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights WP Rawl, a leading vegetable business in South Carolina that has thrived for nearly 100 years. Ashley Rawl, a third-generation family member and vice president of sales, marketing and product development, talks about the secret to his company’s success. It has had a willingness to adapt to the changing economic climate. …
Protect Your Production
By Clint Thompson Florida’s climate allows growers to produce more than 300 different specialty crops. Unfortunately, that same environment can lead to various factors which can negatively impact production every year. Producers should prepare for the possibility every season that their crop could be impacted by weather events like hurricanes or tornadoes, as well as invasive species, plant diseases and …