Specialty Crops Archives - Specialty Crop Industry

Always Seeking Alternatives

Jim Rogers — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 11:00:00 +0000

By Frank Giles Farmers, by nature, are industrious and curious about finding new ways to become more efficient and profitable. That includes finding the next big crop that could diversify the farm and spread risk. In Florida, the desire to find alternative crops has intensified as citrus acreage has declined in recent years. Often, these crops face obstacles like lack ...

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U.S. Specialty Crop Coalition Endorses Legislation Addressing Research, Nutrition and Trade

Clint Thompson — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:01:03 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, endorsed legislation last week that would address major priorities tied to research, nutrition and trade laid out in the group’s 2023 Farm Bill recommendations: “The Specialty ...

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How to Build a Strong Brand

Jim Rogers — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

By Tiffany Bailey Building a strong brand is essential for any business, including smaller organic farms that grow specialty and/or alternative crops. Here are some ways growers of specialty or alternative crops, often categorized as niche farming, can help their farms build a strong brand. UNIQUE IDENTITY AND STORYTELLINGNiche farming often involves cultivating unique crops that are not as common ...

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U.S. Congressman Scott Addresses China Concerns During Conference

Jim Rogers — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 14:30:00 +0000

By Clint Thompson U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA-08) believes China to be an adversary, no longer an aggressive competitor. So, naturally when China controls certain agricultural inputs, most notably seed, it concerns the legislator. “I don’t blame the Chinese for being smart, I blame us for being naïve about what they were doing and not paying enough attention to it ...

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AgNet Media Announces Launch of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine

Jim Rogers — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 20:30:19 +0000

AgNet Media has announced the merger of two of its print brands to create a new magazine — Specialty Crop Grower. The magazine will serve growers of fruit and vegetable crops in the Southeast. Last year, AgNet Media purchased Florida Grower, a 116-year-old magazine with a loyal following among the state’s specialty crop producers. Florida Grower joined AgNet Media’s other ...

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What’s Happening? Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates

Jim Rogers — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 11:45:00 +0000

Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Tom Bilbo – Vegetable Entomologist Midlands Phillip Carnley Rob Last Pee Dee Bruce McLean Upstate Andy Rollins

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Elderberry Grows in Popularity Due to Health Benefits

Jim Rogers — Mon, 22 May 2023 11:00:00 +0000

By Maegan Beatty Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) is a fruit crop that is suitable for both commercial and home growing. In April, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted an orchard field day, where Dave Jarnagin of Hyldemoer and Company gave an educational presentation on the elderberry and elderflower. Elderberries are native to North America but ...

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Powdery Mildew Confirmed in North Florida Melons

Jim Rogers — Thu, 11 May 2023 10:45:00 +0000

By Clint Thompson Another week of watermelon production in Florida’s Suwannee Valley region, another confirmation of a potentially devastating disease. Fortunately, it appears that producers were ready for powdery mildew disease, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) regional specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “It is confirmation, sort of like the downy ...

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UF/IFAS Hosts Orchard Field Day

Jim Rogers — Tue, 02 May 2023 15:50:04 +0000

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 ...

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

Jim Rogers — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 10:30:00 +0000

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 ...

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