Georgia pecan growers are looking at what could be major losses from Irma. Gary Crawford has more on the story. Len Wells, University of Georgia Extension Pecan Specialist, says Irma took down quite a few pecan trees. The storm not only created losses for this year’s harvest, but for many years to come. Len Wells, University of Georgia Extension Pecan …
U.S. Sugar Statement Regarding the Impact of Hurricane Irma
Statement by Judy Sanchez, U.S. Sugar Senior Director for Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Regarding the Impact of Hurricane Irma “First and foremost, our employees and their families are safe. As for our sugarcane and citrus crops, we are conducting field by field and grove by grove assessments that will take days, possibly weeks, before we understand the actual impact. What …
Putnam Says Agriculture Industry Hammered by Irma
Parts of Florida’s agriculture industry are in “tatters” as rural communities throughout the state continue to face severe conditions after Hurricane Irma, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said Thursday. Putnam said the storm hammered citrus, vegetable and sugarcane growers, though he didn’t put a cost estimate on the damage. And as many farmers and residents of Florida’s rural counties wait for …
NAFTA Renegotiation Could Send Avocado Prices Soaring
Avocado prices have reached a record high and a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) could have U.S. consumers paying even more for the fruit. A group of avocado companies recently wrote the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office predicting prices could rise, depending on whether the Trump administration, in renegotiating NAFTA, changes rules on anti-dumping and countervailing duties. The letter …
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 …
Dangerous Avocado Pathogen Grows Faster in Cooler Temperatures
A University of Florida scientist has some new data that avocado growers might consider: The disease grows faster in the fall or winter than in the summer, so growers may want to look for Laurel Wilt more closely during the winter. Laurel wilt has been ravaging Florida’s avocados, which have a UF/IFAS-estimated $100 million-a-year economic impact on the state. UF/IFAS …
Specialty Crop Growers Want Changes to NAFTA
Specialty crop growers are more than ready to see changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). While certain agriculture industries have fared well from the agreement, such as potatoes, apples and cherries, specialty crops have not. Established in 1994, NAFTA created free trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico. However, the United States specialty crop industry is …
Autumn Vegetable Planting
Cathy Isom checks out some plants to start thinking about for Autumn gardening. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Fall is right around the corner, so it’s time to start thinking about what to plant on the farm or in that garden. When we think of Autumn, pumpkin, and squash might come to mind. Some popular squash …
Exotic Fruits to Try and Why
Cathy Isom fills us in about some exotic fruits to try and why. That’s coming up on this Land of Ours. It’s unsure of the exact number of edible fruit species available for human consumption, but it is estimated that there are more than 20,000 species of edible plants. It is also highly probable that even if you were …
NIFA Invests $35 Million in Specialty Crop Research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced 12 new grants totaling $35 million for science-based solutions and new technology for the specialty crop industry. Funding is made through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “Specialty crops generally fetch high value for the farmers, but require more intensive …