Farmers Market Season Underway

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops, Vegetables

The summer farmers market season is officially underway nationwide. Deputy agriculture secretary Chuck Conner kicked off the season last week at USDA and noted that the number of farmers markets nationwide has nearly doubled since 1996. Report (1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundAugust 29, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024

Latest on Salmonella Tomato Issue

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Florida tomato growers are happy to be back in business again now that the Food and Drug administration has cleared the state of implication in the salmonella problem that has affected 17 states. Report(1:00 mp3) Meanwhile, the commissioners of agriculture from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia are concerned about the information provided to the public about the issue and the potential …

FLORIDA TOMATOES DEEMED SAFE BY FDA

Gary Cooper Alabama, FL Commissioner Report, Florida, General, Georgia, Vegetables

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson has announced that Florida-grown tomatoes have been deemed safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has been added to the agency’s list of states with “safe to eat” tomatoes. FDA’s website is updated in the evening and will reflect the change. “I was confident Florida was …

Dealing with Tomato Crisis

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Federal officials continue to hunt for the source of a 17-state salmonella outbreak linked to three types of raw tomatoes, while the list of supermarkets and restaurants pulling those varieties from shelves and menus is growing. Several states have been put on the safe list, including Florida, Georgia and Alabama, according to Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association executive director Charles …

Rotten Tomatoes

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops, Vegetables

The outbreak of salmonella in tomatoes is shaping up to be the industry’s worst nightmare. Although the Florida Tomato Exchange did not return calls from SE Agnet yesterday, Reggie Brown did talk to Reuters, which quotes him as saying the industry in Florida is in “complete collapse.” “We probably have $40 million worth of product we can’t sell. We’ve had …

Specialty Crops and Conservation in the Farm Bill

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops, USDA-NRCS, Vegetables

Consumers will benefit from unprecedented specialty crop provisions in the new farm bill. Report(1:00 mp3) The conservation title in the new farm bill offers some new and expanded programs for producers and landowners. Report(1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundAugust 29, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024

Farm Bill II – The Sequel

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops

Congress is back inWashington following a week-long recess for Memorial Day and the first item on the Senate’s agenda is fixing the Farm Bill. Title Three of the bill, which covers trade, was inadvertently left out of the bill vetoed by President Bush. The veto of the incomplete bill was overridden, making 14 of 15 farm bill titles law. However …

Hairy Vetch Benefits Tomatoes

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Hairy vetch mulch activates, in regular tomatoes, some of the same metabolic pathways and genes that are activated in biotech tomatoes and USDA Agricultural Research Service plant physiologist Autar Mattoo says it has other benefits as well. Read more here. Report 1(1:00 mp3) Report 2(1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundAugust 29, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst Ag …

Lee V. McCoy 1947-2008: “RealMcCoy” Will Be Sorely Missed

Gary Cooper Agri View, Alabama, Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Citrus Expo News, Corn, Cotton, Crop Forecasts, Dairy, Energy, Field Crops, FL Commissioner Report, Florida, Forestry, General, Georgia, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Peanuts, Podcast, Pork, Poultry, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, USDA-NRCS, Vegetables, Weather

It is with great sadness and tremendously heavy hearts we report of the passing of Lee V. McCoy, known to many of his legions of friends and colleagues as the “RealMcCoy”. Lee lost his battle with cancer early morning Thursday May 22 in a Georgia hospital, admitted the Monday before in a bout with pneumonia. Please find details regarding Lee’s …

Methyl Bromide Alternative Meetings

Randall Weiseman Florida, Specialty Crops

Several meetings on methyl bromide alternatives are being held around the state this week and next. Wednesday, May 21, at Popi’s restaurant in Ellenton from noon until 2. Wednesday, May 28, there will be an extended fumigation workshop in Immokalee at the SW Florida research and education center from 3 pm until 8:30 pm, including dinner. Thursday, May 29 in …