The June issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine focuses on Bill Brim, a Georgia producer fighting for the future of U.S. farmers. The Tifton, Georgia, grower discusses his educational effort in promoting domestic grown produce while expressing concern over where future generations will receive their food. Yiannis Ampatzidis, associate professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural …
WOTUS Roundtable Hearings are Underway
By Frank Giles In early spring, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of the Army (the agencies) announced the selection of ten geographically varied roundtables with participants representing diverse perspectives. According to the agencies, these regional roundtable hearings are one important mechanism to consider the regional variation in implementation of WOTUS, given the diverse water quality …
U.S. Drought Monitor Update: Dry Conditions Persist
Much-needed rainfall this week across the Southeast has done little to alleviate the drought conditions in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. The southern region of Florida remains mostly abnormally dry, though Highlands, Okeechobee, Indian River, Saint Lucie and parts of Martin, Palm Beach and Glades counties are moderately dry. Abnormally dry conditions …
USDA Announces Food Purchase Assistance Agreement with Alabama
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today has signed a cooperative agreement with Alabama under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). “USDA is excited to partner with Alabama to promote economic opportunities for farmers and producers and to increase access to locally sourced, fresh, healthy, and nutritious food in underserved communities,” …
Professor/Farmer Named Director of SWREC
Michael Burton practices what he preaches. That quality makes him an ideal selection for the director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC), effective July 1. Burton spends the academic year teaching and conducting research in agronomy at Missouri State University. In the summer, he runs the family …
Protecting Citrus During Prolonged Dry Periods
Hot and dry conditions are being seen in citrus groves across the Southeast. Growers are reminded to keep their trees — young and old — supplied with an ample amount of water. Citrus grower Kim Jones, who owns a citrus packing facility in Monticello, Florida, and is part-owner of a similar facility in Tifton, Georgia, discusses the importance of keeping …
Hot and Dry Conditions in Alabama
By Clint Thompson Alabama specialty crops that are planted are in desperate need of water. It may be a while before that happens and it concerns Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension specialist. “The crops that are in the ground, like corn, they’re thirsty. It’s also impacting weed control,” Kesheimer said. “There’s no rain to activate the (pre-emergence …
Georgia’s Peach Harvest is Underway
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s producers have begun peach harvest of this year’s crop. However, increased volume is not expected until early-to-mid June, according to Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties. “This is about our normal start time. It wasn’t necessarily expected to be our normal start time after March …
What’s Happening? Alabama Extension Plant Pathologist Provides Disease Update
By Clint Thompson There have been no signs of downy mildew disease in Alabama vegetable crops, while tomato spotted wilt has been observed in one tomato field. Those are observations shared by Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the department of entomology and plant pathology at Auburn University. One of the main points so far this season is …
Dealing With Different Drought Types
By Pam Knox Dealing with drought is something that all growers need to face from time to time. Drought is a natural part of the climate system, but it can look very different depending on where it occurs. Drought is a lack of enough water for what farmers (and their crops) need. Climatologists define four different kinds of drought, each …