With about 11,000 acres — mostly in west-central Florida — strawberries are worth $399 million annually in Florida. That represents 10% of the national strawberry value and most of the domestically produced winter crop in the United States. Those economic figures make it vital for the state’s strawberry growers to manage pests and diseases effectively. While producers began planting for …
Georgia Strawberry Production: What Producers Should Plan For
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s strawberry crop emerged unscathed last week amid low temperatures, according to Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties. “Everything looks fine. Nothing really got burnt. It doesn’t even look like anything happened,” Cook said. He discussed what growers should be mindful of right now at this …
Strawberry Research Essential to N.C. Production
By Clint Thompson The future of strawberry production in North Carolina lies in Gina Fernandez’s research lab at North Carolina (N.C.) State University. The strawberry breeder is responsible for developing the newest strawberry variety adaptable to the state’s environment. “California has beautiful climate, nice day length and temperatures, cool temperatures that strawberries like to grow in. Florida has a breeding …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Updates on Crops
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 Rob Last reports, “A little welcome rainfall over the weekend along with some warmth and sunshine has improved the growth of strawberries. I believe it will be worthwhile for growers to utilize row covers for …
New USDA Aid Packages Announced
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Nov. 15 announced plans for additional emergency relief and pandemic assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is preparing to roll out the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two as well as the new Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP). The two programs help offset crop and revenue losses for growers. USDA is sharing early information to help …
Thinking Outside the Box: Citrus Growers Need to Diversify to Remain Sustainable
If cold-hardy citrus growers diversified their crops and not put all of their eggs in the satsuma basket, it would provide them a better chance at long-term sustainability. It would allow producers an opportunity to combat the negative national stigma concerning citrus juices, says Jude Grosser, a professor of plant cell genetics at the University of Florida Institute of Food …
It Costs How Much? Thanksgiving Dinner Expenses Up 20%
Thanksgiving remains an important time for many Americans. The cost of the meal this year is also top of mind. American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 37th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this season’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10, which is $64.05 or less than $6.50 per person. This is a $10.74 or 20% increase from …
Florida Blueberry Growers ‘Back on Their Feet’ Following Two Fall Hurricanes
By Clint Thompson Florida’s blueberry crop is in good shape heading into the upcoming production season, all things considering. “I would say in general, folks are back on their feet,” says Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. Phillips’ optimistic outlook comes on the heels of two named storms; Hurricane Ian in …
Lots of Leftovers: Food Safety Important This Thanksgiving Season
By Clint Thompson Thanksgiving is the annual gathering of family, food and fellowship. But it can also be a time of spoilage and germs if food is not properly stored following a meal. Keith Schneider, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor of food science and human nutrition, said in UF/IFAS article that foods that …
Farmworker Groups Lobby for Immigration Bill
More than 60 farmworker groups from across America traveled to Washington last week to urge the Senate to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The United Farmworkers (UFW), the UFW Foundation and other groups made the trip to Washington, D.C. to lobby for the bill, which is a compromise between farm and labor leaders and supported by most farm groups. …