Drought Still Widespread Across Southeast

Clint ThompsonWeather

Drought still persists across the Southeast region. But exceptional drought no longer exists in North Alabama and North Georgia, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The northern regions of both states are still classified in an extreme drought. Alabama’s driest areas start as far south as Bibb and Hale counties in the central part of the state and stretch northward …

Biden-Harris Administration Partners with Producers to Strength Ag Supply Chains

Clint ThompsonLegislative

WASHINGTON – As part of the inaugural meeting of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience, President Biden and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week that the USDA is making investments that will strengthen American food and agriculture supply chains, expand markets for producers and lower food costs. “The Biden-Harris Administration is championing America’s …

Believe it or Not: Specialty Crop Producers Would Like to Avoid H-2A Program

Clint ThompsonLabor

By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers would like nothing more than to hire domestic labor and scrap the expensive and cumbersome H-2A program altogether. But growers are not afforded that option. American workers are dodging work in agriculture, leaving fruit and vegetable work to a seasonal workforce that largely only exists overseas. Certain factions of the nation’s leadership are oblivious …

Hemp Outlook in Alabama

Clint ThompsonAlabama

By Clint Thompson Hemp applications are currently being accepted for Alabama producers, with the final day to apply set for Jan. 15, 2024, at 5 p.m. (CST). Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension specialist, discussed what can be expected from hemp production in the state next year. “We’re probably going to see the same consistent growers we’ve seen …

Adapting to Change is Name of the Game in Ag

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Specialty Crop Industry Magazine

By Clint Thompson Adaptation equals survival in the specialty crop sector. If producers are not willing to adapt to the changing agricultural times, their livelihoods will be significantly impacted to the point of extinction. That mindset has elevated one Alabama grower’s business over the last 30 years. “If you cannot adapt in this business, you will not survive,” said John …

Grower Testimonial: Christmas Trees Selling Earlier

Clint ThompsonChristmas trees

By Clint Thompson Consumers are purchasing live Christmas trees earlier than ever before. It started the weekend before Thanksgiving this year. That’s good news for producers who are able to capitalize on an early market, said Steve Mannard, with Fish River Farms in Baldwin County, Alabama. “Most of the farmers now open the weekend before Thanksgiving and we resisted that …

El Niño Winter Usually Equals Minimal Chance for Drought Following Season

Clint ThompsonWeather

By Clint Thompson A wet winter is expected across the Southeast with the current El Niño weather pattern. This usually leads to a minimal chance of a drought occurring next spring as a result … usually, believes Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist. “Typically, in a year following an El Niño winter, we do not have drought. Every …

Celebrating 50 Years of Growth

Web AdminSponsored Content

Chemical Dynamics is a leading provider of crop nutrition solutions, focused on helping farmers grow specialty crops in Florida, the Southeast and across the US. Our company was founded in 1973 by W.B. “Hap” Carson in Plant City, FL and has been a family-owned and operated business for three generations. For the past 50 years, we have developed a diverse …

harden

Greg Harden Keynote Slated for 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention

Dan CooperEvents, Industry News Release

Best-selling author and former associate athletic director of student counseling at the University of Michigan, Greg Harden, will address attendees as closing general session keynote speaker during the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention on Monday, Jan. 22.  Harden counseled more than 400 student athletes who would go on to careers in the four major professional sports – football, baseball, basketball …

Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates

Clint ThompsonSouth Carolina

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. Coastal Region Zack Snipes Midlands Sarah Scott Upstate Briana Naumuk