By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission and University of Georgia (UGA) Extension Cotton Team are comforting growers concerned about a buildup of disease pressure amid the rainy conditions this week. Bob Kemerait, UGA Extension plant pathologist, talks about why diseases like target spot are not yet concerning for producers in South Georgia. “Most of our cotton is still relatively …
Dry Conditions Continue in Many Areas
Starting a brand new month, many areas around the country continue to see dry conditions as crops try to grow. Mark Oppold looks at where some of the worst areas are in major growing regions.
Hurricane Ian Leaves Behind Lessons Learned for Florida
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/May 30, 2023) — As the 2023 hurricane season starts, memories are still fresh of Hurricane Ian causing billions of dollars in damage and pushing water across Southwest Florida barrier islands. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting a “near-normal” 2023 hurricane season, which will begin Thursday. One positive sign is that forecasters say odds are improving that …
Current Weather Affecting Cotton Crops and Stocks
How is weather affecting crops and stocks? Here’s Mark Oppold looks into it.
How Dry is it? Drought Monitor Shows Lack of Rainfall in Parts of Southeast
Florida’s dry conditions continue to persist throughout most of the state, according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. An extreme drought remains along the west coast of the state, starting as far north as Levy County and stretching as far south as Hillsborough and Manatee counties. A severe drought persists along the west coast as well, starting in …
Farm Bureau Analysis: 2022 Crop Losses Top $21 Billion
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) estimates 2022 crop losses due to weather and climate change at more than $21.4 billion. The AFBF Market Intel analysis shows in 2022, 18 weather and climate disasters, each with damages exceeding $1 billion struck the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that 2022 surpassed 2021 as the third-costliest disaster …
USDA Designates Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
(ADAI/MONTGOMERY, AL/Feb. 15,2023) — Last week USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced a Secretarial natural disaster designation for 27 counties in Tennessee that also included four counties in Alabama that are contiguous to some of the Tennessee counties. This designation will extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from drought through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various …
USDA Expands Hurricane Insurance Protection
Farmers may now be eligible for further protection against damaging tropical storms. After hearing directly from agricultural producers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) Endorsement with a Tropical Storm Option. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) will offer this option for the 2023 crop year. RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger says during the past …
Markets Watching Weather Reports
Weather conditions are an important factor for traders. And according to Mark Oppold, they are watching the latest reports concerning drought, especially here in the Southeast.
La Niña Predicted to Continue Through February
The Climate Prediction Center, along with some climatologists in the area are predicting La Niña to continue through February. Tyron Spearman checks out what this means for producers ion the Southeast.