By Clint Thompson Recent warm weather and prolonged dry conditions were much needed for Southeast specialty crop producers. Not only did it allow growers to get in the field and conduct much needed work in preparation for the spring crop, it also allowed the winter vegetables to continuing growing. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia (UGA) College …
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Issues Recommendations for 2023 Farm Bill
By Clint Thompson The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), which comprises more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, have released its recommendations for the 2023 Farm Bill. In a letter to Agriculture Committee leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, the SCFBA …
Sneak Peek: November 2022 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
The November issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine provides a look at Hurricane Ian and its impact on Florida’s blueberry and strawberry crops. The storm passed through Florida in late September. It brought rains and heavy winds that flooded blueberry bushes and delayed strawberry plantings. Denise Attaway, a writer/editor for the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences at Clemson …
Legislative Visits Valuable for GFVGA
By Clint Thompson Legislative visits can serve as a valuable message from agricultural organizations to their representatives in Washington D.C. For the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), its message to Senator Jon Ossoff earlier this month emphasized the need for legislative help pertaining to various challenges that farmers like Aries Haygood and Bill Brim face in Georgia. “In …
USDA Announces Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Funding Awarded to South Carolina
WASHINGTON —The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awarded more than $591,000 in Fiscal Year 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding to South Carolina. This USDA grant will help the South Carolina Department of Agriculture fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the state and support growers through marketing, education, and research. …
Georgia Department of Agriculture Announces 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Recipients
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA/AMS) Specialty Crop Block Grant. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds projects that “enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.” Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, turfgrass/sod, nursery, and greenhouse crops. “USDA …
Wetter Weather in Central Alabama
By Clint Thompson Rainy weather in recent weeks has impacted specialty crop production in central Alabama. David Lawrence, regional Extension agent in central Alabama, discussed the state of certain crops amid wetter weather. “Peaches are winding up. There’s a couple of varieties that are still hanging on. We’ve still got a few growers that are bringing some out of the …
Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo Starts Wednesday
By Clint Thompson One of AgNet Media’s signature events kicks off on Wednesday in Fort Myers, Florida. The two-day Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo, now in its 30th year, is one of the largest gatherings of industry leaders in South Florida. It attracts almost 1,000 attendees every year and will be held at the Lee Civic Center. The event educates …
Georgia Pecan Farmer: Pretty Good Looking Crop
By Clint Thompson Harvests for this year’s pecan crop is just a couple of months away. This year’s crop has exciting potential. But success will once again depend on the market prices that growers are able to receive, says farmer Randy Hudson. “We’ve got a pretty good looking crop. We’ve got some holes, though. Some older trees that had a …
Don’t Miss the Buzz About Pollinator Week
By Frank Giles This week is National Pollinator Week. Pollinator species, such as bees, other insects, birds, and bats play a critical role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States. Honeybee pollination alone adds more than $18 billion in value to agricultural crops annually. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) used the week as an occasion …
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