By Clint Thompson Consecutive nights of sub-freezing temperatures has Southeast specialty crop producers concerned moving forward this year. Vegetable growers are worried about potential injury to their fruit that were vulnerable in the ground. Strawberry farmers are concerned about wind damage to their crop. Georgia’s Vidalia onion producers are concerned now about the long-term ramifications for their young plantings that …
Florida Sweet Corn Volume Back to Normal
By Clint Thompson Hurricane Ian did more than just flood parts of Florida and spark damage with its high winds when it moved across the state on Sept. 28. It also delayed plantings of multiple crops, including strawberries. Sweet corn was another crop impacted, according to Tori Rumenik, commodity services and supply chain manager for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable …
How Low Will We Go? Wintry Conditions Expected Over the Holidays
By Pam Knox I’m talking about temperature, folks! A lot of my social media feed for the last couple of days has been related to one or more cold outbreaks that could affect the U.S. over the next couple of weeks or even into January. On Twitter, the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center posted an infographic about bitterly cold …
Hurricane Ian Impact: Sweet Corn Production Back to Normal Volumes Following Planting Gap
By Clint Thompson Hurricane Ian did more than just flood parts of Florida and spark damage with its high winds when it moved across the state on Sept. 28. It also delayed plantings of multiple crops, including strawberries. Sweet corn was another crop impacted, according to Tori Rumenik, commodity services and supply chain manager for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable …
Neopestalotopsis Back in Florida Strawberry Fields
By Clint Thompson A familiar disease has already made its presence known in South Florida strawberries this season. Growers in Alabama and Georgia should be aware about neopesatlotiopsis being an issue. A familiar disease has made its presence known in South Florida strawberry fields this season. A rainy start to the growing season contributed to neopestalotiopsis being a problem already. …
Neopestalotiopsis Present Again in Florida Strawberry Fields
By Clint Thompson A familiar disease has already made its presence known in South Florida strawberries this season. Growers in Alabama and Georgia should be aware about neopesatlotiopsis being an issue. A familiar disease has made its presence known in South Florida strawberry fields this season. A rainy start to the growing season contributed to neopestalotiopsis being a problem already. …
Florida Strawberry Farmer: High Market Prices Needed to Keep Heads Above Water
By Clint Thompson Strawberry prices are high right now for Florida growers. But they need to be for producers to keep their collective heads above water. In an agricultural era marred by soaring input expenses, growers yearn for high market prices to offset historical highs for expenses like diesel and labor. “Market prices have been higher, but with that being …
Fumigation: Pros and Cons Discussed at Annual Watermelon Meeting
By Clint Thompson Despite stringent regulatory requirements and high costs, fumigation remains a vital tool in a specialty crop producers’ toolbox when managing certain pests. “The reality is there’s just some pests and some crops where that is our most reliable tactic,” said Josh Freeman, an agronomist and regional manager with TriEst Ag Group. “Consider peppers for example. You have …
Florida Strawberry Grower: Volume is Not Quite There Yet, But It’s Coming
By Clint Thompson Florida’s strawberry growers had a delayed start to the season; some intentionally and others by Hurricane Ian. Matt Parke, farm manager of Parkesdale Farms in Plant City, Florida, estimates that 80% of the industry decided to begin plantings later this year, a week later than normal. But then some had plants ready to go before being sidelined …
Growth of Specialty Crops Highlights Need for Expanded Risk Management Tools
Specialty crops including fruits, vegetables and nuts make up almost one-third of total crop sales in the United States. A large number of specialty crop acres remain uninsured, however. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economists examined specialty crop coverage in the latest Market Intel and found that more than 80% of the acreage of hazelnuts, kiwifruit, strawberries and lettuce remain …