Yay for Rain: Drought Conditions Improving Across Southeast

Clint ThompsonDrought

Much-needed rainfall continues to help alleviate a lot of the drought conditions present in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Southeast Alabama is drought-free, as well as most of central and southern Georgia and nearly all of Florida. Alabama’s worst drought conditions are mostly concentrated to the central and northern areas of the state. Extreme drought …

UF/IFAS Research: Is Calabaza the Next Great Gourd for Southeast Growers?

Clint ThompsonFlorida

If you have eaten at various Caribbean, Central or South American restaurants, you might be familiar with a specialty pumpkin called the calabaza. It is the center of the plate for a team of University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers hoping the gourd is ripe for a new industry in the Southeast. With two years …

Adverse Weather Conditions Challenging Florida Strawberry Producers

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Strawberry

By Clint Thompson Wet weather in recent weeks has challenged strawberry production in South Florida. One grower is forced to throw away a substantial amount of one variety because of rain damage. “We’re picking (Monday). We’re definitely a little bit wetter,” said Dustin Grooms with Fancy Farms in Plant City, Florida. “We took a lot of rain damage. Going around …

Drought Monitor: Dry Conditions Reduced Across Southeast

Clint ThompsonWeather

Drought conditions are lessening across the Southeast, due to recent rain events. In the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor, extreme drought has been reduced across areas of North Alabama and North Georgia. Most of South Georgia is drought free, while only a couple of counties in the Florida Panhandle are abnormally dry. Alabama remains the driest among the three states. …

Florida Watermelon Association Highlights Research Initiatives

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Research is at the heart of crop sustainability in Florida’s watermelon industry. If producers are to continue thrive with production, they require research assistance with focuses on pest and disease management. The Florida Watermelon Association (FWA) highlighted some of those key points during the Suwanee Valley Watermelon Institute meeting on Nov. 30 in Fanning Springs, Florida. Laura …

California’s H-2A Ranking a Plus for Southeast?

Clint ThompsonLabor

By Clint Thompson California’s surge up the states leaderboard pertaining to H-2A workers is a plus for Southeast specialty crop producers, according to one industry leader. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), believes it will help enlighten legislative leaders about the challenges associated with navigating through a complicated and expensive program. “I …

Drought Monitor: Rain Alleviates Some Dry Conditions Across Southeast Region

Clint ThompsonWeather

Increased rainfall last week has alleviated some of the drought conditions being experienced throughout the Southeast. Extreme conditions are beginning to dwindle across North Alabama and Northwest Georgia, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. There are still areas across both regions that are in extreme drought, including in Pickens and Greene counties in west Alabama, stretching northeast to Jackson, Dekalb …

Cucurbit Downy Mildew on Rise in Florida

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Cucurbit downy mildew is on the rise in parts of Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Gary Vallad, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center plant pathologist, and Lisa Hickey, UF/IFAS Extension agent, are reporting increased infestations in cucumber and squash fields in central Florida. They have gone …

Drought Still Widespread Across Southeast

Clint ThompsonWeather

Drought still persists across the Southeast region. But exceptional drought no longer exists in North Alabama and North Georgia, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The northern regions of both states are still classified in an extreme drought. Alabama’s driest areas start as far south as Bibb and Hale counties in the central part of the state and stretch northward …

New Genetic Finding Could Pave Way for Fall Blueberries in Florida

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Fall is not normally when you would find Florida-grown blueberries at the grocery store. But that may change, thanks to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers. This comes as good news for consumers and growers, who could expand their market window by several months. The fruit normally grows and is harvested from February through May …