Specialty Crops Secure $650 Million in Additional Funding for USDA MASC Initiative

Clint ThompsonSpecialty Crops

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s updates to the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) initiative, which included an additional $650 million investment. “Specialty crop growers across the U.S. are facing severe and unique challenges. As we wrote in December, the USDA’s MASC program …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: New Ag Leadership Appointments

Clint ThompsonSpecialty Crop Grower Magazine

By Mike Joyner Shortly after President Barack Obama was inaugurated in 2009, he met with the Republican leadership. When Republicans began to aggressively push back on his policies, he simply stated, “Elections have consequences … and I won.” President-elect Donald Trump won the election, and we expect there will be swift and aggressive change. The newly appointed members of Trump’s …

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Three Hurricanes’ Financial Impacts on Florida Tops $400 Million

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Three hurricanes – Debby, Helene and Milton – left a devastating and expensive toll on Florida’s agricultural industry. Christa Court, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) director, confirmed that following the financial assessment of Hurricane Milton the cumulative total of all three storms topped $400 million. “The way …

Sweet Corn Conference Scheduled for Jan. 17, 2025

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Registration is ongoing for the upcoming Sweet Corn Conference, scheduled for Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade, Florida. The conference will start at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. Topics will feature research and expertise pertaining to weed management, insect management, …

$21 Billion Disaster Relief Assistance ‘Will Be Beneficial’ to Farmers

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Disaster relief assistance included in the American Relief Act, 2025, will not totally compensate for the losses specialty crop producers experienced this year related to hurricane damage. But the $21 billion set aside for farmers will help, especially those in the Southeast that suffered through Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. Bob Redding, who works for the Redding …

Worth the Investment: Paper Mulch a Huge Benefit to Florida Watermelon Growers

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Paper mulch research continues to yield results that would benefit North Florida watermelon growers, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. He spoke with AgNet Media about the ongoing research during the recent Suwanee Valley Watermelon Institute meeting. “The paper mulch project has …

A Lot to Consider for North Florida Watermelon Producers Ahead of Planting Season

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Watermelon growers in Florida’s Suwanee Valley Region are a little more than two months away from planting next season’s crop. There’s plenty to think about and consider heading into next season, says Mark Warren, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agent in Levy County. He discussed next year’s growing season during the …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Tiny Pest Becoming Big Problem in Strawberries

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Frank Giles Chilli thrips have been a thorn in blueberry growers’ side for several years, but the pest is now growing an appetite for strawberries. With a host range of more than 200 plants, chilli thrips has plenty of options to sustain populations and spread to other areas. In strawberries, the pest can strike early in the season and …

Christmas trees

Repurposing Christmas Trees Following Holiday Season

Dan CooperAgriculture, Environment

Christmas trees are synonymous with the Christmas season. But homeowners who prefer live Christmas trees must determine how to dispose of their tree once the season is over. Murilo Morato, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Agriculture (UF/IFAS) and Natural Resources Extension agent in Escambia County, advises that trees can be a given a second life …

South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline: Thrips Populations Update

Clint ThompsonFlorida

According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, thrips pressure is being observed at high populations in Homestead, Florida. Dakshina Seal, entomologist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Tropical Research and Education Center, has observed high population levels of melon thrips and Asian bean thrips on beans, cucumber and eggplant. Overall populations are …