Georgia Agricultural

Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commissions Seek Nominations

Dan Agri-Business, Field Crops, Fruits, Georgia, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

(Atlanta, GA/May 8,2024) — Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper has announced that 12 of Georgia’s Agricultural Commodity Commissions are seeking nominations from producers to serve on their respective commissions. Nomination forms are available on the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s website and will be accepted until May 24, 2024. The Georgia Department of Agriculture administers these commissions, which oversee farmer-funded programs dedicated …

Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner Down Slightly from Record High in 2022

Dan American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Citrus, Commodities, Economy, Field Crops, Fruits, Herbs, Pecans, Poultry, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Tree Nuts, USDA-AMS, Vegetables

(AFBF/WASHINGTON/November 15, 2023) — Gathering around the table for a Thanksgiving dinner won’t take as much of a toll on your pocketbook this year compared to 2022, but the meal still reflects historically high costs. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 38th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic holiday feast for 10, which …

Gadsden Tomato Forum Coming December 7

Dan Agri-Business, Education, Fruits, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Tomato growers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, are invited to attend the 2023 Gadsden Tomato Forum. The workshop will be held December 7th at the University of Florida/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy, FL. Registration will start at 8:30am EST with the meeting starting at 9:00 AM. It will conclude with a sponsored lunch and a meeting of …

Battle over Tomato Suspension Agreement

Dan Agri-Business, Fruits, Regulation, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Should the U.S. terminate the Tomato Suspension Agreement with Mexico? The agreement is intended to keep Mexico from flooding the U.S. market with underpriced tomatoes by suspending duties, however, some industry leaders say it’s not working, and the agreement needs to be terminated so Mexico can be held accountable. Others worry that terminating the agreement and making Mexico pay duties …

2022 Potato Production Down 3 Percent

Dan Commodities, Economy, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economics, Statistics, and Market Information System recently released the 2022 Potato Summary. The report presents potato estimates of acreage, yield per acre, production, farm disposition, season average price, value, and utilization of sales, including processing for the 2022 season. All potato production in 2022 totaled 399 million hundred-weight, down three percent from the 2021 …

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 …

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’ …

Some Food Prices Rise in April

Dan Economy, Field Crops, Fruits, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, Vegetables

Some food prices are creeping up again. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that food prices rose in April for the first time in a year. The organization says the increases stem from higher sugar, meat, and rice prices. The Food Price Index, which tracks the international prices of commonly-traded …

Inflation Impacting Organic Fresh Produce Sales

Dan Fruits, Organic, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, Vegetables

Inflation is having an impact on another industry. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Inflation continued to impact organic fresh produce sales in the first quarter of 2023. Overall dollar sales grew by slightly less than one percent, and volume declined by 3.4 percent from the same year-over-year period. The data was released by the Organic Produce Network …

Florida Farmers Challenge Feds Over Wage Rule

Dan Citrus, Economy, Field Crops, Florida, Fruits, Labor and Immigration, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE/April 25, 2023) — Warning about a “looming disaster,” Florida farmers and agriculture groups have filed a lawsuit seeking to block a new federal rule about wages for farmworkers. The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Tampa, centers on a minimum wage related to temporary farmworkers coming into the United States under what are known as H-2A visas. The …