(USTR) — Consistent with recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the field hearings scheduled in Florida and Georgia on April 7 and April 9 by the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Commerce will be postponed and rescheduled at a later date. Interested parties are still encouraged to submit written comments and information …
Rising to the Challenges of Florida Farming
Problem-solving skills and a thirst for knowledge allow Chuck Obern to run a thriving vegetable farm. By Kendal Norris To be successful in farming requires a good deal of stamina, flexibility and determination, along with a love of the art of growing things. Charles “Chuck” Obern, owner of C&B Farms, Inc., embodies all these qualities. He is also curious, with …
Handling Stress in Farm Communities
By Ashley Robinson American farmers have demanding jobs that are often compounded by economic uncertainty, vulnerability to weather events and feelings of isolation. While they are notorious for tackling challenges, the rising suicide rate of farmers indicates they need support in addressing stress and depression. Results from an American Farm Bureau Federation poll in 2019 show that 91 percent of …
Agriculture Advancements Get Boost from Technology Advocate
By Karla Arboleda Nikolas Badminton says he has spent his career helping the world move forward by adopting technology. As CEO of Exponential Minds, a company that helps people invest in advanced technologies, Badminton sees plenty of opportunity to work with growers. “We’ve got more data than we’ve ever had before,” he says. Badminton summarizes information he presented at the …
Georgia Crop Insurance Program Expands; Deadlines Approaching
By Karla Arboleda Growers in Georgia will soon be facing deadlines to secure their crop insurance. The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) office in Valdosta, Georgia, is reminding growers of deadlines related to their crop insurance and new counties that have been added to the program. Davina Lee, USDA RMA regional office director, highlights important dates …
Georgia-Grown Campaign Kicks Off
By Karla Arboleda As Georgia growers export peaches and squash, they hope more in-state consumers pay attention to the food they buy. Heavy season is underway in Georgia, and the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) wants to make sure no fruit gets left behind. Its new campaign encourages consumers to take a picture of their Georgia- or USA-grown …
Buying Food Online: A Growing Trend
Technology continues to increasingly impact consumers’ lives, and online shopping is on the rise. Don Goodwin, president of Golden Sun Marketing, says that trend has now reached food. According to Goodwin, it is difficult to say how this growing trend is going to impact the seed and produce industry. However, he recognizes some areas of concern. For example, he is …
ASTA’s Annual Conference Gathers Global Industry
The American Seed Trade Association’s (ASTA) 58th annual Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference wrapped up this week. According to Andy LaVigne, president and CEO of ASTA, this year’s event provided the perfect spot for this global industry to gather. Over 900 attendees from more than 30 countries filled the Hyatt Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida. The event included subcommittee meetings, …
Watermelon Marketing Trends
By Breanna Kendrick Melon 1 — a grower, packer and shipper of watermelons — has been shipping Florida watermelons all along the east coast to its customers for over 25 years. Rachel Syngo, director of new business development for Melon1, recently attended the New York Produce Show in New York City. “We came to the show because … this is …
Student Learning Opportunities at UGA
By Breanna Kendrick UGArden is a program at the University of Georgia that began in 2011. The purpose of the program is to grow medicinal herbs for use in products. Noelle Fuller, UGArden manager, began her involvement with the program as an undergraduate student and then as an intern. After her internship, she did her master’s degree research on medicinal …