Labor Struggles Continue

Web AdminLabor, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

By Amy Wolfe Growers across the United States, and the Southeast in particular, are once again challenged to find stable, consistent and quality sources of labor. Long dependent upon the H-2A guest worker visa program, growers continue to rely heavily on their knowledge and effective use of the only viable, legal mechanism for securing foreign labor. Trends show, however, that …

Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Industries Collide at the General Session

Web AdminFlorida, Top Posts, VSC Expo

By Ashley Robinson AgNet Media Inc. is excited to bring the citrus, vegetable and specialty crop industries together for our second annual general session. We invite all growers to attend the general session, where we will kick off the Vegetable & Specialty Crop Expo (VSC Expo), being held in conjunction with the 28th annual Citrus Expo. Topics of broad interest, …

UF/IFAS Hosts First Muscadine Grape Field Day in Citra

Web AdminGrapes, Research, Top Posts

By Karla Arboleda On July 16, growers visited the University of Florida’s (UF) Plant Science Research and Education Unit to hear about the future of the muscadine grape industry in Florida. About 130 attendees listened to presentations on cultural practices, potential health benefits and production methods for muscadine grapes. The native Florida crop has been gaining more popularity among growers …

2019 Legislative Sessions Wrap-Up

Web AdminAlabama, Florida, Georgia, Legislative, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

The 2019 legislative sessions in Florida, Georgia and Alabama have officially ended. Each year, agriculture advocates from all three states work tirelessly to fight for their industry. This article serves as a summary of how agriculture fared in the Florida, Georgia and Alabama sessions. Florida: Some Success, but More Work to Be Done By Adam Basford Going into the 2019 …

Beneath the Earth, the ‘Black Box’ of Soil Holds a Key to Crop Growth

Web AdminFlorida, Industry News Release, Research, Soil, Vegetables

IMMOKALEE, Fla. (UF/IFAS) — Like much of what lies just beneath the earth’s surface, soil microbes present a mystery. University of Florida scientist Sarah Strauss seeks to help untangle the web of intrigue surrounding soil microbes to improve agricultural production in Florida and globally. “There are microbial activities going on that we don’t exactly understand. It’s known as the ‘black …

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Solutions Sought for Algae Woes

Web AdminFlorida, Industry News Release, Water

TALLAHASSEE (NSF) — Experts looking into toxic algae outbreaks that have exploded in state waterways want to know if anyone has a proven, innovative cleanup strategy that can be used. And they want to know quickly. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is formally accepting information through July 15 on ways to prevent, combat or clean up harmful algal blooms …

Sneak Peek: July VSCNews Magazine

Web AdminAlabama, Florida, Georgia, Sneak peek, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

The 2019 Florida, Georgia and Alabama legislative sessions have officially wrapped up, and the July issue of VSCNews magazine will tell readers how agriculture fared in each state. Adam Basford, director of state legislative affairs for Florida Farm Bureau, discusses the successes and ongoing work in Tallahassee this session. Mary Ann Hooks, director of governmental affairs with the University of …

UF Researchers Seeking Higher Quality Mangoes

Web AdminExports/Imports, Mangos, Research, Top Posts

By Karla Arboleda The National Mango Board (NMB) funded an experiment at the University of Florida (UF) to look for better mangoes. Jeff Brecht, professor of postharvest horticulture at UF, has been testing several mango varieties for their response to the exporting process, their postharvest storage potential and their sensitivity to chilling injury. The goal is to find mangoes better …

Mexican Senator Misinformed on Antidumping Investigation

Web AdminIndustry News Release, Tomatoes, Top Posts

In a recent letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways & Means Committee, Mexican Senator Gustavo Madero made some confusing and misleading statements. Senator Madero states that the termination of the Tomato Suspension Agreement was “due to the demands of some Florida farmers and their representatives in Congress.” In fact, the …