By Clint Thompson Fruit and vegetable producers in the Southeast will be disappointed to learn that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) revised Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 trade forecast projects lower exports and a record imports, according to Seth Meyer, chief economist with the USDA. He provided the update during the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum held last week. Exports are …
USDA Projections: Exports Decreasing, Imports Increasing in 2023
By Clint Thompson Fruit and vegetable producers in the Southeast will be disappointed to learn that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) revised Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 trade forecast projects lower exports and a record imports, according to Seth Meyer, chief economist with the USDA. He provided the update during the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum held last week. Exports are …
Sneak Peek: March 2023 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
The March issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights Georgia specialty crop producer Drew Echols. Diversification is the key to his success. He produces peaches, strawberries, apples, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn, tomatoes and other vegetables on more than 600 acres. He discusses how Jaemor Farms has increased in size and stature in North Georgia. Fruit and vegetable farmers face a …
USDA NASS Updates Vegetable Production for 2022
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducted a 2022 vegetable grower inquiry. It found that the nation’s production for 26 estimated vegetable and melon crops totaled 658 million cwt, down 2% from 2021. The three largest crops were tomatoes, onions and sweet corn, which combined for 53% of all vegetables produced. The value of utilized …
Florida Agricultural Policy Conference to Focus on Farm Bill, Crops
This year’s Farm Bill, commodity outlooks and environmental management issues will headline topics for the eighth annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference, scheduled for Thursday, March 2, at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center or via Zoom. Click here to register. The conference engages stakeholders around the state about …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Tom Bilbo reports, “When scouting strawberry fields for spider mites, also keep an eye out for naturally occurring predatory mites, such as the [potentially] highly effective specialist predator Phytoseilus persimilis. Sampling conducted in …
Whitefly Pressure Building in Southwest Florida
Producers in southwest Florida should be wary that whitefly pressure is moderate to high depending on the location and wind direction, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. They have been observed swarming at high numbers, with more than 10 adults per leaf in multiple crops. These include eggplant, pepper, potato and watermelon. In other fields, whitefly adults …
Grower Associations Gearing Up for Farm Bill
By Clint Thompson What the future of agriculture looks like could be shaped by how discussions materialize this year in preparation for the 2023 farm bill. The farm bill’s passage will have lasting ramifications for Southeast specialty crop producers who hope to remain sustainable for the foreseeable future. For one specialty crop organization, the bill’s inclusion or exclusion of language …
USDA Provides More Than $4.7 Million to Projects That Protect Florida Agriculture and Natural Resources
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating more than $4.7 million to Florida as part of a nationwide effort to strengthen the country’s infrastructure for pest detection, surveillance, and mitigation, as well as protecting the U.S. nursery system. “Florida’s 47,500 farms and ranches span 9.7 million acres. It’s a major producer of oranges, strawberries, tomatoes and melons,” …
High Whitefly Levels in South Florida
Whitefly levels are high in many crops across southwest Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Those crops include tomato, eggplant, watermelon and squash. Adults are infesting new plantings of tomatoes and melons quickly. Populations continue to be moderate to high in multiple crops along the east coast. Whitefly infestations are high in various crops in Homestead, …