strawberry season

Strawberry Season Lasting Longer

Dan Fruits, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours

Peak strawberry season is lasting a little longer in one growing area. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. California strawberry production is expected to hit its second-highest season on record, extending peak season well into fall. As the country’s leading producer of strawberries growing 90% of all strawberries produced in the U.S., consumers can expect to see abundant …

ian

Farmers Try to Sort Out Hurricane Damage

Dan Cattle, Citrus, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, Fruits, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Organic, Pollinators, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Oct. 06, 2022) — A week after Hurricane Ian stormed across Florida, farmers and ranchers continue waiting for flood waters to recede to get a full picture of the destruction to citrus groves and cattle operations. The storm killed at least 200 cows at a dairy farm in Myakka City, while beef cattle counts remain uncertain until herds can …

disaster recovery

Florida Commissioner Nikki Fried Shares USDA Disaster Assistance Programs for Agricultural Producers, Urges Early Reporting of Losses

Dan Aquaculture, Beef, Cannabis, Cattle, Citrus, Corn, Cotton, Crop Insurance, Dairy, Economy, Eggs, Equine, FDACS, Field Crops, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Forestry, Fruits, Hemp, Herbs, Hydroponics, Industry, Livestock, Pasture, Peanuts, Pecans, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Tree Nuts, USDA, USDA-FSA, USDA-NRCS, Vegetables, Weather, Wheat

(FDACS/Tallahassee, FL/Sep 30, 2022) —  In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is sharing important resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist Florida agricultural producers who suffered losses due to the storm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by Hurricane Ian that USDA has multiple programs to provide assistance in the wake of …

Florida on Alert as Hurricane Ian Threatens

Dan Agri-Business, Cattle, Citrus, Corn, Cotton, Equine, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, Fruits, General, Hemp, Herbs, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Peanuts, Pollinators, Poultry, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables, Weather

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 26, 2022) — Gov. Ron DeSantis urged Floridians to be aware of local evacuation orders as Hurricane Ian is expected to strengthen into a “major” storm in the eastern Gulf of Mexico as early as Tuesday. DeSantis said during a media briefing just before noon Monday that Ian will bring heavy rain, strong winds, flash flooding, storm surges …

tomato

APHIS Reviews Genetically-Modified Tomato

Dan Fruits, Specialty Crops, USDA-APHIS, Vegetables

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reviewed a new tomato variety from Norfolk Plant Sciences. The tomato was modified to alter its color to purple and enhance the nutritional quality. The agency says it found the plant is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes and is not subject to regulation. …

blueberry lab

New UF/IFAS Blueberry Lab Nearing Completion

Dan Education, Florida, Fruits, Research, Specialty Crops

Research efforts continue with a variety of crops at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), and that includes blueberries. And those researchers are looking forward to the completion of the new blueberry lab. UF-IFAS Senior Vice President, Dr. Scott Angle, noted to Southeast AgNet that their top-notch blueberry breeding program will get a boost from this new …

tomato

New Tomato Variety Approved by APHIS

Dan Fruits, Research, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, USDA-APHIS, Vegetables

There may someday be a new tomato in the produce department. That’s coming up on this land of ours. Norfolk Plant Sciences requested approval from U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for a new tomato. The tomato was modified to alter its color and increase its nutritional quality. APHIS found that from a plant pest risk …

flavor

UF/IFAS Researcher Developing a “Flavor Tool”

Dan Citrus, Florida, Fruits, Herbs, Research, Specialty Crops

Research efforts continue at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) in the area of food chemistry and quality, with an emphasis on the flavor (aroma and taste) of fruits, herbs and other agricultural commodities. UF-IFAS Senior Vice President Dr. Scott Angle explained to Southeast AgNet that Dr. Yu Wang is developing a “flavor tool” that relies on artificial intelligence to …

fruits

Fruits, Vegetables, Top Local Foods Purchased by Schools

Dan Education, Field Crops, Fruits, Vegetables

Many U.S. school food authorities purchase local foods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, and proteins for their district’s cafeterias. In addition to buying locally produced foods, many school districts participate in other farm to school activities, such as product-specific promotions, taste tests of local foods, onsite edible gardens, and field trips to farms. Approximately two-thirds of U.S. school districts participated …

livestock

USDA Announces New Opportunities to Improve Nutrient Management

Dan Beef, Citrus, Corn, Dairy, Eggs, Field Crops, Fruits, Herbs, Livestock, Organic, Peanuts, Pecans, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, USDA-NRCS, Vegetables, Wheat

Now that both the U.S. Senate and House have passed the Inflation Reduction Act, it only awaits the signature of President Biden. And the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) welcomed the passage of the Act, which they note will deliver $19.5 billion in new conservation funding to support climate-smart agriculture. Funding from the Act is designed to will bolster new steps …