CASCO, Wis. – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week that the USDA is investing in domestic fertilizer projects to strengthen competition for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. This funding advances President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle out and bottom up. It will create jobs and spur …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Protecting Our Food Security is Critical
By Rick Scott Florida growers play a critical role in providing for and contributing to the state, its families and businesses. They are job creators, innovators and hardworking Floridians that drive our state forward generation after generation and show the rewards of hard work in achieving the American dream. That’s why I am so proud to fight every day in …
What’s Happening? Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Anna Sara Hill Zack Snipes Midlands Rob Last Phillip Carnley Pee Dee Brittney King Upstate Andy Rollins Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Coordinated Control for Whitefly-Transmitted Viruses
By Maegan Beatty In the last 25 years, the number of whitefly-transmitted viruses affecting vegetable production in Florida and the southeastern United States has steadily increased. The rise in average winter temperatures, the development of widespread resistance to broad-spectrum insecticides and the absence of new varieties with resistance to the multitude of new viruses have collectively contributed to this increase. …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: More Efforts to Reform H-2A Underway
By Frank Giles There’s never a shortage of news when it comes to the H-2A visa program, which Southeastern specialty crop growers have come to rely on for labor. It is the go-to program for farmers who need larger numbers of employees to grow and harvest crops. But in an environment where inflation has pushed up the prices of just …
How’s It Looking? Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Midlands Phillip Carnley Rob Last Sarah Scott Pee Dee Christiana Huss Brittney King Upstate Andy Rollins Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and Strength to Sweet …
Sneak Peek: May 2024 Specialty Crop Grower Magazine
The cover story of the May issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine focuses on a tiny but destructive pest of blueberries and strawberries in Florida. Chilli thrips have long been problematic for Florida growers and are fast becoming a concern for producers in neighboring states, like Georgia. Chemical applications are the main way farmers control the pest, and they are …
How Much Longer Before Neutral Weather Conditions?
By Clint Thompson El Niño flexed its muscle during the winter and early spring. Cold, wet conditions have been prevalent across the Southeast. But how much longer will it last and what exactly are neutral conditions that weather experts project El Niño to transition into? Pam Knox, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agricultural climatologist, provides an answer. “Think of it …
Typical El Niño Winter Drenched Most of SE
By Clint Thompson Specialty crop growers knew heading into this season that it had the potential to be cold and wet. In certain areas across the Southeast (SE), this year’s El Niño did not disappoint. It was so wet across Alabama, Florida and Georgia that the mostly dry conditions that were present last fall quickly disappeared. In the most recent …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Emerging Pest Can Damage Wide Range of Crops
By Maegan Beatty The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has categorized Thrips parvispinus as a quarantine-significant pest. Thrips are small insects belonging to the order Thysanoptera. They are typically about 1 to 4 millimeters long and can vary in color from yellow to brown or black. Thrips are located across the world and are …



















