Multiple Blueberry Varieties Being Produced Throughout Florida

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry farmers are not placing all of their eggs in one basket when it comes to planting certain varieties. That’s encouraging news for University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry breeder Patricio Munoz. He reported at last week’s Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference that the Farthing variety comprised the most blueberry …

Registration Open for Upcoming Florida Citrus Show Event

Clint ThompsonFlorida

The Florida Citrus Show is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2025. The event will be held at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce. The Florida Citrus Show combines educational seminars for both …

Early Watermelon Plantings a Concern?

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Watermelon plantings are starting earlier and earlier in the Suwanee Valley Region of North Florida. That’s concerning to Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, though he understands why producers are putting plants in the ground at the end of February. “These watermelon farmers, …

Drought Update in Southeast

Clint ThompsonDrought

Drought continues to linger across certain regions of the Southeast, but it is dissipating in some areas. This is according to the most recent release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Florida is suffering through mostly dry conditions with moderate drought remaining in the northern part of the state. An area in the Florida Panhandle, including Holmes, Washington, Bay, Gulf, Franklin, …

Fusarium Wilt a Lingering Concern for North Florida Watermelon Producers

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon producers are on the brink of planting this year’s crop. One lingering problem that still concerns growers is fusarium wilt, says Mark Warren, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agent in Levy County. “I think one of the things that scares our guys the most is this topic of …

Tri-State Fruit and Vegetable Conference Scheduled for Jan. 28

Clint ThompsonFlorida

The Tri-State Fruit and Vegetable Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 28 at the Jackson County Extension Peanut Hall Auditorium in Marianna, Florida. That means fruit and vegetable producers from the Florida Panhandle, South Alabama and South Georgia are invited to attend. The meeting will begin with registration at 7:15 a.m. (CST), with the conference slated to begin at 8 …

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, …