By Clint Thompson The November issue of VSCNews Magazine highlights the upcoming Florida Ag Expo, which will be held on Nov. 18 at the University of Florida (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida. The Expo’s return is highly anticipated following last year’s cancellation due to COVID-19. The magazine outlines …
Speeding up the Development of Novel Crops
By Bryan Leong Humans derive most of their calories from 15 crop species, including wheat, corn, rice and potatoes. These crops were derived from wild species through a process called domestication. Plants with desirable traits were propagated in preference to others for hundreds or thousands of years to give us today’s food crops. This process has allowed agriculture to feed …
CUPS Not for All Citrus Producers
By Clint Thompson One of the unique ways of managing citrus greening disease developed by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers is not for all producers. The citrus under protective systems (CUPS) is just too expensive for all growers to take advantage of, says Fred Gmitter, a University of Florida citrus breeder. “It’s an extremely expensive …
Costly Increase: Input Expenses for Watermelons Will Impact Consumer Price
By Clint Thompson South Florida watermelon producers are two months away from planting this year’s crop. Farmers are bracing themselves for the high input prices that are rampant throughout the agricultural industry. Mark Bryan, president of the Florida Watermelon Association, said the impact of the increased input costs will be felt at the grocery stores next spring and summer. “We …
Blueberry Cultivar Research: It Takes Time
By Clint Thompson Pest and disease management of blueberries is a reality all Florida producers have to cope with every year. A potential solution is cultivar resistance. But that will take time, however, says University of Florida blueberry breeder Patricio Munoz. “Pests and diseases are big problems for the state, but we are a state that’s very prone to these …
Alabama Hemp Applications for 2022 Offered for Interested Growers
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Alabama specialty crop producers interested in growing hemp in 2022 can now apply during the enrollment period. Hemp applications are available through Nov. 29 for those wishing to become a grower or a processor/handler for the 2022 growing season. Applications will be accepted online through the Kelly Registration System (KRS). The application is available through the …
Networking a Key Part of Florida Ag Expo
By Clint Thompson The Florida Ag Expo’s return means more networking opportunities for South Florida producers and industry leaders. That is one of the show’s main benefits it will provide when it returns on Nov. 18 at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Wimauma. “It’s not just …
High Pecan Prices so Far for Southeast Producers
By Clint Thompson Early returns on this year’s pecan crop show high prices for Pawnee varieties, says University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells. “I’ve been hearing anywhere from $2.50 to $2.65 in that range for Pawnee, which is good,” Wells said. Pawnee pecans are usually the first variety to be ready for harvest every season, usually about …
More Satsumas? What Georgia Producers Need to Consider Before Planting
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s citrus production could flood the market in less than three years. By 2024, there is projected to be more than 59 million pounds of citrus ready for harvest, says Jake Price, University of Georgia Lowndes County Extension coordinator. That is compared to 8.4 million pounds that is ready for harvest this year. “You can average three …
Letter to President: Action Needed Now Against ‘Unfair’ Imports
The message is clear: Action is needed immediately against “unfair” imports. Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, along with more than half of Florida’s congressional delegation, pleaded with President Joe Biden in a letter addressed on Oct. 6 that the “long-standing threats posed to our security by unfairly-priced and high-volume imports are as grave as ever and deserve your …