By Clint Thompson The fallow season means an opportunity for specialty crop producers to implement cover crops. It is a management tool that helps growers remain sustainable now and into the future. It is also a practice that Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research …
Crop Insurance Deadline Nears in Georgia for Cabbage Growers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Georgia cabbage growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2023 crop year is July 1. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the July 1 sales closing date to do so. Federal crop insurance is critical to …
Nominations Open for the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame
TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame is accepting nominations for its class of 2023 inductees. The Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame honors producers, commodity leaders, educators, scientists and others who have made significant contributions to the production of food in Florida. The online nomination form is available on the Florida Ag Hall of Fame website. Visit floridaaghalloffame.org …
New UF/IFAS Blueberry Cultivar: Albus
By Clint Thompson University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry breeder Patricio Munoz is ready to release UF/IFAS’ newest cultivar this fall, Albus. Munoz described what growers can expect from Albus. “This is a high yielding, good flavored cultivar that’s going to be targeting the central part of the state where we have a lot of …
Drought Worsens in Georgia
The drought in Georgia intensified over the past week, while there are only sporadic locations of abnormally dry conditions in Alabama and Florida, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Georgia’s dry conditions encompass most of the southern region of the state and stretch as far north as Franklin and Hart counties in Northeast Georgia. Multiple areas are even observing moderately …
AFBF Applauds Final Passage of Ocean Shipping Reform Act
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall commented on Monday about the final congressional passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. “AFBF appreciates lawmakers for working together to pass the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. Record-high shipping costs and delayed access to containers have worsened supply chain issues and limited exports at a time when the world is calling on …
Bumper Pecan Crop in 2022?
By Clint Thompson Hurricane Michael’s impact on the pecan industry in the Southeast still impacts pecan crop producers almost four years later. Samantha McLeod, executive director of the Georgia Pecan Growers Association, explains how the storm disrupted the trees’ bearing process. It led to a bumper crop in 2020. Another is expected this season. “We are anticipating a bumper crop …
Lack of Rain, No Problem for Alabama Specialty Crops
By Clint Thompson It may have been a dry spring and early summer across the Southeast, but some specialty crops actually thrived under the drought-like conditions. Chip East, Alabama regional Extension agent, discussed the impact the lack of rainfall has had on his farmers’ specialty crops in East Alabama. “Strawberries were good. Blueberries and blackberries are irrigated, and they look …