Risks come with any crop farmers attempt to produce in the Southeast. Between diseases, pests, input costs, unpredictable weather and instability in the marketplace, producing a crop and making a profit is not a guarantee.
Hemp production is no different. Producers need to do the appropriate research before planting their crop next spring. This is especially important since hemp is a newer crop that is trying to find its footing.
Adam Rabinowitz, Assistant Professor and Extension Economist at Auburn University, implores interested producers to do their homework. They need to know who they are contracting with before seeds are planted.
“It is important that if you are going to get involved in hemp production that you not just understand the production risks involved, how difficult it is to grow and the labor needed to grow in this region but make sure that you’re contracting with a reputable company for the inputs,” Rabinowitz said.
“Whether it be for your seed or your transplants but also for your finished product, most of that product in this area is going to CBD oil; for that oil production, you need to have a reputable company. We know where there have been contracts where even though a contract existed, processors have gone out of business or just didn’t honor it. That is a concern making sure you know who you’re dealing with.”
Applications for new Georgia Hemp Grower Licenses and Hemp Processor Permits will be accepted beginning in January, 2021. Hemp applications and registrations are closed for Alabama.
NOAA graphic shows rainfall for Southeast on Thursday.
Heavy rainfall is expected in the southern and eastern parts of the country on Christmas Eve. Stephanie Ho has the report with USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.
Around SW Florida, whiteflies continue to bounce up and down, as heavy rains and cool nights slowed them down a few days in most places. Population numbers and nymphs are building in a number of mature fields. Growers should increase monitoring efforts as pressure is likely to increase over the next few weeks while older fall fields are terminated. Growers are reporting some problems such as sooty mold in older fields with high whitefly numbers.
In the Manatee Ruskin area, respondents indicate that whitefly numbers have declined in the face of colder weather, and pressure is mostly light.
On the East Coast, reports indicate that whiteflies are reaching high numbers in some older eggplant. Growers and scouts report persistent pressure in tomato with growers spraying as needed.
Reports from Homestead indicate that whiteflies are increasing in a number of crops and that tomato yellow leaf curl virus is widespread in tomato.
Here is the weekly scouting report of the Asian Bean Thrip (ABT) in various counties in Florida.
According to UF/IFAS, outside of Miami-Dade County, high population densities of ABT continue to be in isolated occurrences only.
Photo graphic by UF/IFAS.
The highest instances of ABT continues to be in eastern Palm Beach County. Populations are as high as 4.0 per bloom. However, it has not been reported in western Palm Beach County.
In southeastern Hendry County, population density averaged between 0.1 and 1.6 ABT per bloom. In northeastern Hendry County, populations are reported from 0.1 to 0.6 ABT per bloom. In western Hendry County, ABT population density was reported at 0.2 ABT per bloom. In central Hendry County, ABT was identified only in a single flower.
For the first time, ABT was reported in southern Glades County at 0.1 ABT per bloom.
In northern Collier County, ABT was not identified this week. This suggest population density is near sampling threshold. In southern Martin County, ABT was not identified this week, with a previous report of only one ABT identified in a single flower.
Isolated incidences of higher populations have been discovered at various sites after harvest in an adjacent field.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) AgCensus special survey looks at local foods marketing practices.
The information generated in the survey is vitally important to priorities set by the USDA, including the enhancement of rural economies, the environment, food access and nutrition, strengthening agricultural producers and markets, according to Adam Cline with the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
It’s not too late to buy your loved one a Christmas gift this year.
Dennis Patton, Kansas State University Extension garden expert, suggests a garden tool organizer might be a good last-minute gift for the gardener on your list.
According to the Alabama Farmers Federation website, the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation (AFAF) is accepting applications through Jan. 15 from farmers who suffered losses related to Hurricane Zeta.
The Hurricane Relief Fund was established in response to calls from farmers and businesses who wanted to help their neighbors. It was utilized earlier this year for Hurricane Sally after it made landfall on Sept. 16.
Applications are now being extended to victims of a second major storm.
The relief fund is designed to help offset farmer losses not covered by a farmowner policy, crop insurance or disaster relief programs. An independent committee will evaluate the applications based on need and award grants in February.
Hurricane Zeta struck near harvest time, devastating cotton and other crops. It also uprooted trees on a swath from southwest Alabama to the northeast part of the state. Farmers are still clearing debris and rebuilding fences damaged by the storm.
The application for Hurricane Zeta assistance and a link for contributions to the fund are available at AlabamaFarmersFoundation.org.
Hurricane Zeta made landfall in Louisiana as a strong Category 2 storm on Oct. 28 and maintained tropical storm winds as it raced across Alabama.
Tallahassee, Fla. – Late last night, Congressional leaders agreed upon a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues setting new case records, the bill will provide some direct assistance to families and additional funding for food production and distribution, among other priorities.
On the bill, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement:
“For more than nine months, COVID-19 has upended the lives of Florida’s families, consumers, farmers, and ranchers. State agriculture departments like ours have worked hard to support our citizens through these difficulties, but it’s critical that Congress step up during these unprecedented challenges.
With our growers facing more than half a billion dollars in losses from the pandemic, these payments will help Florida’s agriculture industry continue producing the nation’s food – especially during the winter when our seasonal growers feed 150 million Americans. With unemployment reaching record heights and nearly 1 in 5 Floridians facing food insecurity, ensuring food distribution to those in need, helping families afford food, and supporting child nutrition in schools are essential priorities.
While Congress should pass this bill, this bipartisan legislation isn’t perfect – and it does far too little for struggling families. With Florida the second-worst state for paying unemployment benefits, our citizens need a stronger lifeline during this devastating, hundred-year pandemic. And while corporations make out like bandits with federal aid, we must ensure that our small farmers, small businesses and gig economy workers get the help they deserve.”
The legislation includes estimated funding for the following agricultural and nutrition assistance priorities:
Farmers & Rancher Payments:$5 billion for supplemental payments to row crop producers; up to $3 billion for supplemental payments to eligible cattle, livestock, poultry, and dairy producers; and $225 million for supplemental payments to eligible specialty crop producers;
Other Agriculture Assistance:$100 million for Specialty Crop Block Grants to support seasonal growers; $100 million for the Local Agriculture Market Program to help producers, farmers markets, and food businesses adapt to supply chain issues; $75 million for the Farming Opportunities Training Outreach program to assist minority, tribal, veteran, and beginning farmers; and $28 million for state block grants to support farmer and rancher mental health initiatives
Food Banks & Donations: Overall $1.5 billion for food purchases for distribution to those in need, including $400 million for food banks through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP); $400 million for a Dairy Product Donation Program; $175 million for nutrition services for seniors; and $13 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program
Help for Hungry Americans:15% increase in SNAP benefits for six months; $75 million for SNAP participant fruit and vegetable incentives; provide college students access to SNAP; funding for additional online SNAP retailers and state SNAP expenses; expanding child eligibility for Pandemic-EBT; and emergency funding for meal programs in schools and daycares impacted by COVID-19
Background: The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services oversees several nutrition programs in Florida, including the state’s $1.3 billion school lunch program, The Emergency Food Assistance Program for low-income families, and the Summer BreakSpot program that has served 74 million meals to Florida children since March. Commissioner Fried has made nutrition assistance a priority, including requesting the Governor use CARES Act money to support schools that have lost over $260 million in nutrition funding this year. With Florida farmers and ranchers suffering pandemic-related economic losses, FDACS undertook numerous efforts to support the state’s agriculture industry despite federal payments Commissioner Fried criticized as coming too slowly; these included a new online portal connecting farmers and consumers, and emergency orders to help keep eggs and other crops continue reaching consumers amid shortages. Numerous Members of Congress have been critical that that direct aid to families in the proposed relief bill is not enough given continued unemployment and economic difficulties.
The University of Georgia wants feedback from producers impacted by COVID-19. Growers have until Dec. 23 to fill out a survey that will help industry leaders gauge the impact the pandemic has had on Georgia’s agricultural sector.
The survey covers various facets of farming operations that have been altered since the pandemic began in mid-March. This includes commodity prices, disposal or loss of products on the farm, lack of markets, access to working capital, farm labor and international trade.
Another Survey Needed
McCann
Mark McCann, assistant dean for UGA Extension, said an earlier survey was conducted in May after the initial outbreak.
Another one is needed so experts can grasp the total impact the pandemic has had on the state’s No. 1 industry.
“As we’re looking to close the calendar year for 2020, thank goodness, we’d like to look at it from a longer perspective than we did the first survey. A couple of other key things that have happened since the first survey when we inquired of farmers is that the COVID Food Assistance Program (CFAP) 1 and 2 have both come out from FSA (Farm Service Agency),” McCann said. “That’s one of the questions we’ve asked producers in the survey is which federal assistance have they participated in. That was one of the things that got a lot of people’s attention in the first survey is most farmers had not really participated in many programs.
“I’m really very curious to see how many have taken advantage of the CFAP programs.”
The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Department of Agriculture and UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development are jointly sponsoring the survey. Organizers will use the data to document the needs of the agriculture industryand share the summary at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ 2021 Georgia Ag Forecast, which will be held online Friday, Jan. 29.
That is the message Jerry Frankhauser is preaching. The assistant director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station who oversees the University of Florida hemp research program stresses that like other projects at other universities, the UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project will take between 3 and 5 years before they have a handle on how hemp will grow throughout the state.
“Our UF-IFAS Pilot Project is actively working to get this information out on the street as soon as possible,” Frankhauser said.
There is a lack of scientific data to provide to farmers interested in producing hemp, since the crop is still in its infancy stage of being produced in the Southeast region.
The USDA approved Florida’s state hemp program this past year as growers started submitted applications to produce hemp on April 27. But UF advises interested producers that since hemp has not been available to grow for decades, there is a lack of research information available. Farmers need to proceed with caution.
“We like other states, whether it is the University of Georgia or University of Kentucky are actively trying to play catch up scientifically to better understand how hemp grows and develops,” Frankhauser said. “For us it’s very important because we have a sub-tropical environment with shorter day lengths. There’s some unique challenges to research and to grow hemp in the state of Florida.”
Early Observations
He has already deduced that while hemp can grow in Florida, not all hemp varieties are adaptable to Florida’s climate.
“Most hemp varieties are daylength sensitive. Our daylight here in the Sunshine State is less than in the northern states during the summertime. This was one of the reasons that our team lead, Dr. Zach Brim from our UF/IFAS Tropic and Education Center, he sought out diverse hemp genetics from all around the world. This included varieties bred for grain, fiber and of course, what people know as high cannabinoid type varieties like CBD or CBG,” Frankhauser said.
“Another challenge and objective from our initial pilot project was to better understand how to grow grain, fiber and high cannabinoid type hemp. We’re looking at the management systems for these types of hemp and the importance of the data planting or transplanting into the field; looking at fertilization, irrigation, the use of other inputs and efforts in order for our stakeholders, our growers to produce a profitable crop. That’s indeed a challenge. We’re still learning on the go. Of course, we’re still working with our growers now who can get commercial licenses to grow industrial hemp.”
