Last fall should seem like a long time ago for specialty crop producers in the Southeast (SE). An extended drought lingered for multiple months throughout Florida, Georgia and Alabama during that time period. That drought is not the case anymore, however, according to latest release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Minimal drought is present across the region, which includes no …
Conference to Examine Policy Issues Facing Agribusiness Leaders
This year’s Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference will examine critical policy issues facing agribusiness leaders and provide valuable economic insights to help stakeholders make informed business and policy decisions. The conference returns to the University of Florida (UF) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center on April 17, where it was held last year. Those interested in attending can register here …
Georgia Citrus Association Outlines Industry Initiatives
The Georgia citrus industry has experienced a significant increase in production since it started more than 10 years ago. The Georgia Citrus Association (GCA) is taking steps to ensure continued expansion. During the GCA’s recent annual meeting in Tifton, association president Lindy Savelle spoke with AgNet Media and outlined her organization’s priorities on the heels of another harvest season. A …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Row-Middle Weed Control in Vegetable Plasticulture
By Ramdas Kanissery Battling weeds is a real struggle in vegetable plasticulture production — not just in the plastic mulched planting beds but also in the row-middle spaces between beds (see Figure 1). Weeds in the row middles can compete with the main crop while playing host to insect pests, nematodes and pathogens. Tackling row-middle weeds comes with its own …
Labor, Trade Highlight FFVA Letter to USDA
The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen Florida’s specialty crop industry. The FFVA submitted a letter to the USDA last week, outlining recommendations on how it could better support the state’s specialty crop industry, through the USDA’s Specialty Crop Competitiveness Initiative. The recommendations stemmed from the current challenges Florida growers …
New Agricultural Technology for the Blackberry Industry
By Maegan Beatty Last week, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted an online program to discuss new technologies in commercial crop production. Gilad Freund is an Extension faculty member located in Mop Hahar, Israel. Freund discussed new innovative technologies that are being utilized in the blackberry industry throughout Israel. These new technologies are meant …
La Niña Effect: Warmer, Drier Conditions Expected Next Winter
By Clint Thompson The cold temperatures and wetter weather conditions that were felt this winter across the Southeast are likely to be replaced with warmer temperatures and drier conditions next winter, believes Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist. It coincides with a La Niña weather pattern that is opposite the current El Niño that’s been observed the last …
Alabama Strawberries Progressing Well
By Clint Thompson Alabama strawberries are progressing well, according to one industry expert. Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, liked how his state’s strawberry crop has progressed and believes plant timing is a big reason why. “What I’ve seen, it’s pretty hopeful, pretty positive. Plants have got really good size …
Sneak Peek: March 2024 Specialty Crop Grower Magazine
The March issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine puts weed management in the spotlight. Amid concerns over a lack of a dependable workforce and need to reduce input costs, growers need to be more efficient in their production strategies like weed control. Nathan Boyd, weed scientist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), along with …
USDA NASS: Findings for Vegetable Production
Production for 26 estimated vegetable and melon crops totaled 758 million cwt in 2023, an increase of 6% from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The three largest crops were tomatoes, onions and sweet corn. They combined for 54% of all the vegetables total. The value of utilized production for vegetable crops in …



















