Black farmers

Two Florida Black Farmers Get Marijuana Licenses

Dan Florida, Specialty Crops

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL) — Two Florida Black farmers have received licenses to grow, process and sell medical marijuana, after a new state law helped clear the way for the long-awaited licenses. The Florida Department of Health issued the licenses July 11 to Suwannee County farmer Terry Donnell Gwinn and Bascom-based Shedrick McGriff. The farmers each met a Friday deadline to submit …

citrus

Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo Seminar Program Released

Dan Citrus, Citrus Expo News, Specialty Crops

The 2023 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is just four weeks away, and the seminar program is now available. Seminar sessions are a huge part of what makes the Expo a success. The two-day event will include a general session and concurrent citrus and vegetable/specialty crop sessions. The general session will kick off the seminars at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 16th. Following …

production

High Production Costs Won’t Ease Next Year

Dan Corn, Cotton, Economy, Field Crops, Peanuts, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Wheat

USDA’s first cost of production forecast for major field crops like corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice, and others shows that input costs are expected to remain elevated into the next growing season. The costs will likely be at the third-highest level of all time and only slightly lower than the record high in 2022. While some input costs like fertilizer …

sugar

Sugar Policy and International Trade Topics of Discussion

Dan Agri-Business, Exports/Imports, Legislative, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Trade

The House Ways and Means Committee this week held a field hearing on trade with a focus on agriculture and critical supply chains. The hearing took place in Kimball, Minnesota on the farm of NCBA president Don Schiefelbein of Schiefelbein Farms. U.S. sugar policy and international sugar trade were among the topics of discussion, with Congressman Dan Kildee of Michigan …

State

Around the State with Commissioner Pate

Dan Alabama, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI), Industry, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

In our weekly “Around the State with Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate”, Commissioner, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) recently hosted the 20th annual Tomato Sandwich Lunch at the Ed Teague Arena in Montgomery. Were you pleased with this year’s event? Again, to find a local farmers market near you, check out the Sweet Grown Alabama website, which includes a searchable …

gene editing

New EPA Regulations on Gene Editing in Specialty Crops

Dan Agri-Business, Specialty Crops, USDA-EPA

by Sabrina Halvorson Fruit and vegetable plant breeders who use gene editing are now facing more regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA recently increased oversight of some gene-edited crops and added to the workload and waiting time for those in the produce industry. Dr. Margaret Worthington is an Associate Professor of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas …

Georgia Department of Agriculture

Georgia Counties As Primary Natural Disaster Areas Following March Freezes

Dan Field Crops, Fruits, Georgia, Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), Specialty Crops, Vegetables, Weather

(GDA/Atlanta, GA/June 27, 2023) — Yesterday, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a natural disaster declaration for numerous Georgia counties following the untimely March freezes that caused significant damage to Georgia’s peach crop as well as other commodities. This declaration allows USDA’s Farm Service Agency to extend essential emergency credit to Georgia farmers and follows a months’ …

peaches

Peaches “Harder to Come By” in 2023

Dan Fruits, Specialty Crops

By Will Jordan The 2023 peach harvest will look different than usual with an estimated 90% crop loss this spring due two adverse weather factors. The lack of adequate winter chill and the spring freeze growers experienced in mid-March combined to decimate this year’s fruit production. Matthew Price, Director of the Chilton Research and Extension Center, explained why peaches will …

mckalip

McKalip Discusses Specialty Crops, GMO Corn, Dairy Trade at Summit

Dan Agri-Business, Corn, Dairy, Genetically Modified, Specialty Crops, Trade

by Sabrina Halvorson The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is keeping specialty crops in focus for trade deals and working on disputes under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA). Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip touched on those and several other topics while speaking at the Agri-Pulse Food and Ag Summit West, held in Sacramento, California. As for specialty crops, he said the importance …