The Silverleaf whitefly (SLWF) is proving to be a big problem for cotton producers in Alabama. First found in Alabama in 1997, SLWF feeds on cotton plants and has been active in the Southeast the last few years. In 2016, SLWF heavily infested cotton crops in several counties surrounding Tifton, Georgia. Now, SLWF has spread over much of the 1.3 …
UGA Extension Entomologist Discusses Whiteflies in Cotton
Cotton and peanut growers were on hand Wednesday for the 2017 UGA Cotton & Peanut Research Field Day in Tifton, Georgia. The Georgia Cotton Commission was one of the sponsors for the annual event, and they are very aware of the issue of whiteflies in many cotton fields this year. So Tyron Spearman was able to talk with Phillip Roberts, …
National Acorn Squash Day
Cathy Isom tells you about a national food holiday for one hardy vegetable that will have you thinking about winter. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Winter is still several months away, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream about it a little. And, also celebrate a vegetable that is considered a winter squash. Today is …
Cotton and Orange Juice Futures See Bounce Amidst Hurricanes
Bloomberg News reports orange juice futures jumped 6.2 percent before Wednesday, the largest increase in 16 months, ahead of the feared landfall of Hurricane Irma in Florida. The scale-topping hurricane remains on track to threaten Southeast U.S. agriculture later this week. Florida is the nation’s top orange producer, and all of the state’s crop is at risk of moderate to …
KORUS Withdraw Would Harm Pork Producers
Iowa State University says pork prices could fall by nearly five dollars per-animal if the U.S. withdraws from the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, known as KORUS. President Donald Trump suggested the action over the weekend, but the administration has backed away from those claims this week. National Hog Farmer magazine reports that if KORUS is terminated, the United States likely …
Experts Predict Little Ag Damage in DACA Action
An immigration attorney told the Capital Press this week that any changes to DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, would have little impact on agriculture. Tom Roach, a Pasco, Washington immigration attorney, says ending deportation deferrals for illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children may not be a big hit to agriculture. He says most of …
White House Backs 2018 Spending Package
The Trump administration offered support this week to the 2018 spending package the U.S. House is set to consider that includes the ag spending bill. The measure includes funding for the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal agencies. In a statement, the White House says that if the bill was “presented to the president in its …
Farmer Optimism Waning
Another poll released this week shows optimism is decreasing in farm country. DTN-The Progressive Farmers released its August Agricultural Confidence Index this week. The survey finds that while farmers are more optimistic than August 2016, the strong optimism they started the year with is waning. The overall index for August fell more than 26 points, to a moderate 104.3, compared …
Agri View: Farm Trade
Everett Griner talks about Cuba needing United States farm trade in today’s Agri View. It has been 50 years since Cuba turned politically away from the United States. It made a big difference. That philosophy has not changed. But, the years have brought changes. Trade between the United States and Cuba still is a costly problem to …
Displaced Horses Continue to Find Shelter at Florida Agriculture Center & Horse Park
The Florida Agricultural Center & Horse Park (FHP) located in Ocala, Florida is currently providing shelter and boarding for 126 horses displaced due to the imminent threat of Hurricane Irma. After receiving the initial inquiry last week, FHP immediately began to accept evacuees. The facility can host up to 160 horses at capacity and encourages those seeking lodging for their …