The Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie Georgia was originally scheduled to be held this week, but as we all know that changed due to COVID-19. While the event itself has been cancelled, hay on the Expo grounds still has to be harvested. Producers are invited to take part in the Hay Field Day on Wednesday, Oct. 21 to learn more …
Cotton, Peanut Harvests Update
We saw good conditions for harvest last week, and across Southeast it helped in getting both the cotton and peanut crops out. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey has the latest look at cotton harvest progress. But Rippey says the peanut harvest has been delayed by the recent tropical weather. In Alabama, 92% of the cotton bolls are open, which compares to …
Sunbelt Executive Director Reflects on Expo’s Cancellation
By Clint Thompson The third week in October is normally reserved for “North America’s Premier Farm Show.” But not this year in the era of COVID-19. The Sunbelt Ag Expo suspend plans for the 43rd annual show this year on July 24. Chip Blalock, Executive Director of the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia, reflected on the event’s cancellation and …
Georgia Cotton Commission Encourages Enrollment in U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Program
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission encourages producers to join the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol movement. They’ll have until the end of January to enroll in the program for the 2020 growing season. Ken Burton, Executive Director for U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, said enrollment for the 2021 year will start around March or April. “It will enable producers to …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 10-16-2020
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended October 16, 2020, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ending October 16, 2020, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 14,800 head compared to 14,102 last week and …
UGA Closes Tifton Dairy Research Center
From the Georgia Milk Producers According to the Georgia Farm Bureau, after several years of battling low milk prices, changes in administrators and recent state budget cuts from COVID-19, the vacuum pumps at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Dairy Research Center were permanently turned off on Sept. 4, Georgia Milk Producers reported in its September Georgia Milk Review. Since …
UGA’s Kemerait to Receive Prestigious Award
A well-respected and world-renowned plant pathologist at the University of Georgia Tifton campus will be recognized at this year’s D.W. Brooks Lecture on Nov. 10. Bob Kemerait will receive the D.W. Brooks Faculty Award for Excellence in Global Programs as part of the event, which will start at 3:30 p.m. The event is part of the UGA Signature Lecture Series. …
GDA Produce Safety Alliance Holding Virtual Grower Training (GDA)
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) wants to remind producers it will be holding a remote 2-day Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training via Zoom next week, Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 from 8 a.m.-noon. Any producer who grows, packs, harvests, and/or holds covered produce, makes over $25,000 in annual produce sales, and does not qualify for a Produce Safety Rule …
Promoting Georgia Beef Through Burger Week Events
It has been a busy time for the Georgia Beef Board (GBB) with various promotions being conducted despite this time of COVID-19. One of those was Atlanta Burger Week, which GBB Director of Public Relations Taylor Evans says went very well. And she has additional information about another Burger Week event coming up next month. For more information about Beef …
USDA Crop Report Forecasts Are Within Industry Expectations
USDA released their October crop forecasts last Friday, and according to a story from Stephanie Ho, the corn and soybean numbers are within industry expectations. Here are key findings for the Southern Region from the October Crop Production report: Alabama: Corn area planted for all purposes is estimated at 340,000 acres, down 30,000 acres from the previous estimate. Production is forecast …