UF/IFAS Hosts Orchard Field Day

Jim Rogers Fruit, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

By Maegan Beatty Last week, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted an Orchard Field Day at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, Florida. The field day served as an educational event for commercial farmers, home gardeners and industry representatives. Attendees gathered to learn more about fruit crop diversification options. Speakers covered …

epa

Minor Crop Farm Alliance: EPA’s Endangered Species Act Proposals Big Challenge for Specialty Crops

Jim Rogers Specialty Crops

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Southeast specialty crop farmers will be challenged to comply with new proposals from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overhauling how it implements the Endangered Species Act (ESA), warns the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance. “Of course, growers are in favor of protecting endangered and threatened species and their habitats. But the average specialty crop grower is going to …

Still Time to Respond to 2022 Census of Agriculture

Jim Rogers Specialty Crops

WASHINGTON – Specialty crop producers still have time to be counted in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Although the deadline for submitting the ag census has passed, NASS will continue to accept completed census questionnaires through the spring. It will ensure all farmers and ranchers take advantage …

Farm Income to Drop in 2023

Jim Rogers Specialty Crops

Farm sector income is expected to drop in 2023. Net farm income is forecast to decrease by $25.9 billion or 15.9% from 2022 to $136.9 billion in 2023. Net cash farm income is forecast to decrease to $150.6 billion in 2023, a decrease of $39.4 billion or 20.7% from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research …

The Key to Effective Decision Making

Jim Rogers Agri-business, Specialty Crops

By Tiffany Bailey How many times have you made a mistake and wished you could go back in time to make a different decision? Chances are, several of these mistakes started from decisions that were made utilizing a set of assumptions that became obviously wrong with the passage of time. The hard truth is that if more thought would have …

Late-Season Freeze Event Still Not Out of Question

Jim Rogers Specialty Crops

By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers should not be fooled into thinking freeze events are in the past. If history is any indication, another severe cold snap is likely in our future. “Remember last year, March was really warm and February was warm, and then we had frost in April in some locations. You just never know,” said Pam Knox, …

USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Applications Being Accepted

Jim Rogers Specialty Crops

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is accepting grant applications for projects that enhance the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops in foreign and domestic markets. The application deadline for these specialty crop block grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is March 17, 2023, 5 p.m. CST. Specialty crops are defined by USDA as …

USDA gives $72.9M in Specialty Crop Block Grants

Jim Rogers Specialty Crops

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the availability of $72.9 million through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to fund innovative projects designed to support the expanding specialty crop sector and explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications for the grant program until May …