USDA AFRI Grant to Allow Researchers to Help Southern Blueberry Growers in States Like Alabama

Web AdminAlabama, Blueberries

A nearly half-a-million-dollar grant will allow Auburn University professors and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station researchers to help blueberry growers in states like Alabama where growing the fruit has its challenges. Funded by a $497,827 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), the project is titled, “Expanding Southern highbush blueberries to underserved regions of the …

Drought Monitor: Extreme Drought Conditions Prevalent Across Southeast

Web AdminDrought, Weather

Extreme drought is spreading across areas of the Southeast, specifically in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Extreme drought conditions are being observed in North Alabama and South Alabama. Conditions are seen in Southwest Alabama in Washington and Mobile counties and spreading eastward to parts of Covington and Geneva counties along the Alabama-Florida state line. Conditions …

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Reinstates Use of Chlorpyrifos

Web AdminPest Management

There has been much concern in recent years on regulatory restrictions that are or could potentially limit crop protection tools growers have available to manage key pests. One such example was the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ban on the use of chlorpyrifos. The EPA revoked the tolerances for all uses of chlorpyrifos in 2021. The product had been an …

Nutsedge Management in Vegetable Plasticulture Production

Web AdminAgriculture Research, Research, Weed Management

By Ruby Tiwari and Ramdas Kanissery Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) are perennial weeds that resemble grass. They commonly appear in raised bed vegetable plasticulture systems every year. These weeds spread and reproduce through rhizomes, bulbs and small tubers called nutlets. Just one tuber can generate hundreds of shoots, forming a dense patch that can span …

Minor Crop Farmer Alliance Issues Letter to EPA

Web AdminHerbicides

The Minor Crop Farmer Alliance (MCFA), an alliance of national and regional organizations, is concerned about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) draft Herbicide Strategy Framework (HSF). The alliance recently expressed its concerns in a letter to the EPA. “If finalized as proposed, the approach reflected in the draft HSF will likely result in significant burdens for growers throughout the …

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USDA to Provide More Than $3 Billion to Commodity and Specialty Crop Producers Impacted by 2022 Natural Disasters   

Web AdminAgri-business, Specialty Crops, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide more than $3 billion to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2022. Eligible impacted producers can apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022. The program will help offset the financial impacts of crop yield and value losses from qualifying disasters occurring in 2022. “2022 was …

AFBF Congratulates Rep. Johnson on Speaker Election

Clint ThompsonLegislative

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall recently commented on the election of Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) to be Speaker of the House. “AFBF congratulates Rep. Mike Johnson on his election to Speaker of the House. Speaker Johnson has a strong history of supporting America’s farmers and ranchers, which has earned him the ‘Friend of Farm Bureau’ award multiple …

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USDA ERS Study: Blueberry Second Most Popular U.S. Produced Berry

Web AdminBlueberries, USDA

A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) study concludes that blueberries are the second most popular berry in terms of value and volume of U.S. production. Highbush and lowbush varieties are the two main types, with highbush blueberries being used for the fresh market and lowbush used in the processed market. Approximately 90% of the total domestic …

Let the Plantings Begin: Vidalia Onion Growers Benefit from Lack of Tropical System

Web AdminGeorgia, Onion, Vidalia Onions

By Clint Thompson Georgia Vidalia onion producers dodged Hurricane Idalia went it passed through the Southeast on Aug. 30. That, so far, has turned out to be the area’s only threat of a tropical system this fall. It has been a positive development for growers who are on the verge of transplanting this year’s crop, says Chris Tyson, University of …