Organic Archives - Specialty Crop Industry https://specialtycropindustry.com/category/organic/ Vegetable and Specialty Crop News Mon, 14 Aug 2023 16:38:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 116110416 S.C. Farmers, Food Processors Seeking Organic Certification May Qualify for Grant Funding https://specialtycropindustry.com/s-c-farmers-food-processors-seeking-organic-certification-may-qualify-for-grant-funding/ Tue, 15 Aug 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=22732 COLUMBIA – South Carolina farmers and food processors who want to pursue organic certification may qualify for reimbursement through a grant administered by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency. For some producers, organic certification can help reach new customers and align with existing ones. “This funding enabled ...

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]]> 22732 USDA Publishes Strengthening Organic Enforcement Final Rule https://specialtycropindustry.com/usda-publishes-strengthening-organic-enforcement-final-rule/ Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=20916 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) previewed the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule. This update to the USDA organic regulations strengthens oversight and enforcement of the production, handling, and sale of organic products. This final rule implements 2018 Farm Bill mandates, responds to industry requests for updates to the USDA organic regulations, and ...

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]]> 20916 USDA NASS Highlights Organic Production with Recent Survey https://specialtycropindustry.com/usda-nass-highlights-organic-production-with-recent-survey/ Fri, 30 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=20752 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the results of the 2021 Organic Survey, which show total sales of $11.2 billion in organic products, an increase of $1.28 billion, or 13%, from 2019. There were also 17,445 certified organic farms, a 5% increase from 2019. “The continual rise in interest for updated organics data ...

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]]> 20752 UGA Study Aims to Help Farmers Transitioning to Organic Production https://specialtycropindustry.com/uga-study-aims-to-help-farmers-transitioning-to-organic-production/ Thu, 08 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=20539 By Maria M. Lameiras Organic agriculture has attracted both longtime producers and new farmers into the industry, as demand for organic food continues to increase. University of Georgia (UGA) scientists are coordinating new research designed to develop best practices for transitioning farmers starting out with land that has been used for grazing or has lain fallow. “Breaking new ground is ...

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]]> 20539 Transitioning Tips for Summer to Fall Vegetable Crops https://specialtycropindustry.com/transitioning-tips-for-summer-to-fall-vegetable-crops/ Tue, 04 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=19952 By Ayanava Majumdar, Chip East and Eric Schavey The southeastern United States is the hotbed of insect and disease issues in vegetable crops. Growers constantly have to deal with not only established pest and weed issues, but also the invasive ones. Organic farming of vegetables is a challenge for producers everywhere in the United States, and the battle against insect ...

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]]> 19952 UGA Research: Weed Control in Organics https://specialtycropindustry.com/uga-research-weed-control-organics/ Wed, 07 Sep 2022 11:45:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=19644 By Clint Thompson University of Georgia research may have yielded a new way for growers to manage weeds in organic production. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is researching the effect of irrigation combined with different cultivation tactics to control weeds. He is studying shallow sub-surface drip tape placement for ...

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]]> 19644 USDA to Invest up to $300 million in New Organic Transition Initiative https://specialtycropindustry.com/usda-to-invest-up-to-300-million-in-new-organic-transition-initiative/ Wed, 24 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=19520 WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced details this week of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $300 million investment, including with American Rescue Plan funds, in a new Organic Transition Initiative that will help build new and better markets and streams of income for farmers and producers. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the number of non-certified ...

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]]> 19520 Florida Organic Blueberry Production a Challenge https://specialtycropindustry.com/florida-organic-blueberry-production-a-challenge/ Wed, 17 Aug 2022 12:30:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=19474 By Cint Thompson Interest in organic blueberry production in Florida has waned in recent years. The late freeze event in January was not helpful in convincing growers to convert production. Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida, discusses the state of the industry in Florida. “Growers have converted a few acres in some cases to ...

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]]> 19474 Alabama Extension Commercial Horticulture Teams to Host Vegetable Field Day https://specialtycropindustry.com/alabama-extension-commercial-horticulture-teams-to-host-vegetable-field-day/ Wed, 25 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=18600 AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala.— Join the Alabama Cooperative Extension commercial horticulture team for a conventional and organic vegetable crop field day on May 31. The field day will be held at the E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter, Alabama from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Tours will begin at the plant breeding unit at the railroad track ...

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]]> 18600 Neglecting Weeds Can Lead to Late-Season Disease in Organic Onions https://specialtycropindustry.com/neglecting-weeds-can-lead-to-late-season-disease-in-organic-onions/ Tue, 15 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=17803 By Bhabesh Dutta, Timothy Grey and Jason Schmidt Georgia is known for many crops, and onion is one of the major vegetables produced. Organic onions are a developing commodity in the Vidalia region, but growers experience multiple pest and pathogen challenges. A multidisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Georgia (UGA) is working to improve sustainable, high-quality organic Vidalia ...

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