While the normal time to plant turnip and mustard greens is now, Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, advises farmers and homeowners to wait a few weeks so temperatures can cool off.
During a webinar on Aug. 19 that can be accessed on the Alabama Extension Commercial Horticulture Facebook page, Kemble said growers typically plant both greens in August through October, but high temperatures can impact stand establishment if planted too early.
“I will say with the temperatures where they are right now, I’m going to want to hold off probably until mid-September before I start actually sewing these. Unfortunately, one of the issues you run into with cole crops is there can be an inhibition of the seed to germinate well when the soil temperatures are very hot. When the soil temperatures are above 85 or so they can really affect your stand establishment,” Kemble said. “My tendency is to wait for things to cool off a little bit. It doesn’t mean you can’t do it but what normally happens is you just don’t get a very good stand compared to what you would normally get under cooler soil conditions.”
Kemble reminds growers that when they begin planting their fall crop, yields are better if planted in rows. The greens attract fewer disease issues and it produces a more uniform crop.
Top mustard green varieties include Florida Broadleaf, Green Way, Savannah, Southern Giant and Red Giant (red-leaf type). Top turnip greens include Alamo, All Top, Just Right, Purple Top White Globe, Seven Top, Shogoin, Southern Green, Top Star, Topper and Tokyo Cross.
Unfair trade practices regarding Mexican imports is a key reason for hearings the last two weeks with Florida and Georgia farmers and industry leaders.
Frustrated Florida vegetable and specialty crop farmers are calling for a 301 investigation into unfair trade practices concerning Mexican imports.
Dustin Grooms, a fourth-generation farmer in Plant City, Florida, made his case while testifying in a virtual hearing with the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office on Aug. 13.
“It goes back to what all the other growers are saying, at this time, I think we need to move forward with the 301 and start there and see where it leads to; see what happens and we can build upon that and get to a solution,” Grooms said.
What is a 301 Investigation?
Adam Rabinowitz, Auburn University as Assistant Professor and Extension Economist, explained that a 301 Investigation is part of the Trade Act of 1974 and allows the U.S. to engage in trade activity, whether it be trade agreements but also resolving trade disputes. The idea was that the U.S. could access foreign markets but also that domestic markets were not impacted.
An investigation could lead to the U.S. imposing trade sanctions such as tariffs which would increase prices of inexpensive Mexican imports, in particular the fruit and vegetable crops, that are difficult for Southeast producers to compete against and were reasons that hearings were necessary with Florida agriculture leaders and Georgia leaders on Aug. 20.
Grooms said the impact Mexico has had on his strawberry operation led to a significant drop in acreage of 125 acres, down from 235.
“Mexican imports have crippled our strawberry prices in Florida as well as other crops. This issue has continued for far too long without a solution. The seriousness of the seasonality issue has been recognized by Congress and the U.S. Government dating back to 2002 trade promotion authority legislation which instructed the U.S. Government to fix the problem,” Grooms said. “The same instruction was repeated in a 2015 TPA law and every administration over the past two decades has acknowledged the pressing need to get a solution in place. Yet, nearly 20 years later, farmers are still left defenseless against unfair Mexican trade practices.”
Grooms’ farming operation, ‘Fancy Farms,’ has had to sell off land to pay bills and have money to farm the following year. He made a passionate plea that change is needed and needed now.
“The future of Florida agriculture is at a pivotal point in time. We need change to be able to continue our legacy of farming from one generation to another,” Grooms said. “We can grow all kinds of foods here in Florida if we’re given the chance. But with the Mexican imports looming over us, I’m afraid the future of Florida’s agriculture fate might be destined for failure.”
Raises concern over Mexico’s unfair trade practices and its effect on Georgia farmers
ATLANTA, Ga. – Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) testified today on Mexico’s unfair trade practices that are severely and negatively impacting Georgia’s seasonal and perishable produce farmers during a virtual hearing hosted by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). The virtual hearing was held to allow stakeholders – including growers, producers, and farmers – an opportunity to continue conversations with USTR about how best to address unfair foreign trade practices.
Last month, Collins and Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer urging the Administration to protect Georgia farmers from Mexico’s unfair trade practices as it works to implement the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
To watch Collins’ testimony, click here or on the image below.
Remarks as prepared:
Good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to speak today about the important issues facing the seasonal and perishable produce industry in Georgia and throughout our country. Ambassador Lighthizer, Secretary Perdue, and Secretary Ross, thank you for having me today to share my views and concerns on behalf of Georgia’s agricultural industry.
Before I begin my testimony, I want to commend the efforts of this Administration in coming together to achieve a momentous trade deal in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). There is no denying that that this historic trade deal will increase our global competitiveness, strengthen our economy, and support our farmers. I am grateful for these efforts and the outcome – I know that Georgians will appreciate the effects of this agreement on our economy and I appreciate the President and his Administration’s hard work to get America a better deal.
Over the last several months, we have seen our nation’s farmers, growers, and producers struggle through the economic downturn wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. At the Federal level, it has been a priority of mine to safeguard the livelihoods of Georgia’s hardworking farmers who have never stopped working to put food on the tables of families across the country. This includes my work with this Administration to ensure the H-2A workforce many of Georgia’s growers depend on was not unnecessarily reduced. Unfortunately, the pandemic is unforgiving, but I will continue working with my colleagues in the Georgia delegation to make sure our farmers, growers, and producers are taken care of.
Unfortunately, Georgia’s growers and producers of seasonal and perishable goods continue to face a threat outside of the coronavirus, and that threat must be highlighted and addressed at the Federal level. Over the past several years, the agricultural market for seasonal and perishable goods has seen a growing saturation of Mexican products as a result of that country’s unfair trade practices. It is my hope that this hearing is the Administration’s first step in addressing this unfair trade dynamic.
As you may know, Mexico’s increased market share of produce and perishable goods at record-low prices in the United States has severely and negatively impacted the Southeast’s seasonal and perishable produce farmers. To provide an example of one commodity that has been disastrously struck by Mexico’s practices – Mexico’s share of the U.S. blueberry market has gone up by 2,111% over the last ten years. Such an increase obviously shuts out growers of one of Georgia’s top commodities, blueberries, and deprives Georgia and the country of the benefits a thriving, American-majority blueberry market could have on my state’s economy and the national economy as a whole.
Why has Mexico obtained such a massive stake in our produce market? Because the government of Mexico began to subsidize the development of Mexico’s produce industry. These subsidies have operated to distort trade and, coupled with Mexico’s unfair pricing practices, have resulted in Mexico obtaining an undeniable advantage in the U.S. market. This has continued to happen over the last decade at the expense of our growers.
While the USMCA will make great advancements in trade for many industries across the country, recent studies indicate that – even with the full implementation of USMCA – Georgia stands to lose nearly $1 billion in annual economic output in the grower industry. The same study shows that industry could lose over 8,000 jobs. It goes without saying what this could mean for many of the families that I represent who depend on the paychecks they receive from growing and producing. The outlook is grim and these consequences would be devastating.
For many growers, the consequences of continuing to allow Mexico to get away with its trade-distorting practices will be Earth-shattering. In Georgia, we are lucky to have a growing economy made of many smaller growers that produce a diverse portfolio of commodities. For these small growers, it is up to us – Federal officials in the legislative and Executive branches – to work together to make sure their voices are heard, and their needs met.
I am committed to finding a solution to this issue and I hope that the USTR, USDA, and Department of Commerce will work with my office to ensure Georgia’s farmers, growers, and producers are no longer negatively impacted by Mexico’s unfair trade practices and that we can regain control of the U.S. seasonal and perishable goods market.
I’d like to echo the testimony of Georgia’s stakeholders in requesting that a Section 301 investigation be undertaken so that the Executive Branch can wield its full power in addressing Mexico’s trade practices – including its use of subsidy programs. I stand ready to support such an investigation in any way that I can.
With the country in the early months of USMCA’s implementation, I am glad to see that USTR is continuing its conversations with Georgia farmers and I am hopeful that we can come together and find a solution before Georgia’s growers face more needless economic damage.
Thank you again for having me today and I look forward to working with each of you on this important issue.
Georgia farmers and industry leaders testified on Thursday in virtual hearings with the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office regarding unfair trade practices with Mexico. Each producer shared similar thoughts that some action must be taken, such as a 301 Investigation, because the future of the American farmer is at stake.
The hearings provided the U.S. Department of Commerce and Trump Administration an opportunity to hear from growers in Georgia about the urgent need for federal action regarding unfair trade.
Steve McMillan, with Southern Grace Farms in Berrien County, Georgia, talked about the impact Mexican imports have had on the blackberry industry.
Steve McMillan
Richard Minor with Minor Brothers Farm in Americus, Georgia, talked about the impact Mexico has had on the cucumber industry.
Richard Minor
Bill Brim, co-owner of Lewis Taylor Farms in Tifton, Georgia, talked about how government subsidies have aided Mexican farmers.
Bill Brim
Adam Rabinowitz, Auburn University as Assistant Professor and Extension Economist, explained that a 301 Investigation is part of the Trade Act of 1974 and allows the U.S. to engage in trade activity, whether it be trade agreements but also resolving trade disputes.
Georgia Ag Commissioner Gary Black testified on Thursday in a virtual hearing with the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office regarding unfair trade practices with Mexico.
Black testified about the impact of Mexican imports have had on trade health. He specifically mentioned pecans and the impact on Georgia growers.
U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) testified on Thursday during a virtual hearing with the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office regarding unfair trade practices with Mexico.
Scott focused on the importance of the country’s ability to feed itself.
Working at her lab and fields at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Natalia Peres diagnoses and helps manage diseases that might otherwise ruin strawberries, a $300 million per year crop in Florida.
In her efforts to beat back diseases, Peres helped develop the Strawberry Advisory System, which tells farmers when to spray fungicides on their crop to help them control botrytis and prevent anthracnose. Additionally, she’s participating in a collaborative effort with Cornell University – another land-grant institution — to use UV light to suppress strawberry pathogens.
Now, Peres has been named a fellow of the American Phytopathological Society (APS).
The APS grants the fellow honor in recognition of distinguished contributions to plant pathology or to the society. Fellow recognition is based on significant contributions in one or more of the following areas: original research, teaching, administration, professional and public service, and/or Extension and outreach.
“It is a tremendous honor to be among a select group of peers whom I greatly admire within the American Phytopathological Society,” said Peres, a UF/IFAS plant pathology professor. “I could not be happier with the recognition, and I am very thankful for the support I have always had from GCREC, the department of plant pathology and the strawberry growers.”
Peres always liked biology, but she wanted to apply her knowledge to food production. In fact, she didn’t gravitate toward plant pathology until she was in college in Brazil.
“During my doctoral program, I was working on a research project with a disease (post-bloom fruit drop) in citrus that was relatively new in Brazil, and there was not a lot of local information,” she said.
Pete Timmer, then a professor at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, was then the expert on post-bloom fruit drop, so Peres came to UF to do part of her Ph.D. research with Timmer.
“Working with him as a mentor completely changed my career and life path,” said Peres. “I am forever thankful for his mentorship and try to be the same model for my students as he was for me.”
David Gadoury, a senior research associate at Cornell University, nominated Peres for the honor. She’s worked with Gadoury for many years. In fact, he urged Peres to participate in the UV light research project.
“Peres is a superbly gifted and dedicated mentor of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate researchers,” Gadoury said in his nomination letter. “She has produced a generation of skilled and broadly trained researchers and crop advisors. Her commitment to mentor international students and postgraduate researchers is particularly notable.”
Peres has advised 27 undergraduate and 10 graduate and postgraduate researchers in her program since 2010. During the same period, her students received 24 awards from the APS Foundation, the University of Florida, and others, in recognition of their research and Extension achievements.
She earned all three of her degrees at Sao Paulo State University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Peres’ bachelor’s degree is in agronomy and crop sciences, her master’s in horticultural sciences and her Ph.D. in plant pathology.
Peres came to GCREC as an assistant professor in 2004. She was promoted to associate professor in 2010 and made full professor in 2016. In that time, she has published 140 peer-reviewed journal articles.
Jack Rechcigl, director of the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, and Peres’ on-site supervisor, said the center is fortunate and proud to have Peres as a faculty member.
“Her passion, energy and enthusiasm for her vocation has led her to become a world-renown pathologist who is recognized for her outstanding scientific contributions to the strawberry industry,” Rechcigl said. “Her productivity is boundless.”
Rose Loria, chair of the UF/IFAS plant pathology department and Peres’ supervisor in Gainesville, also lauded Peres.
“Natalia is dedicated to the strawberry growers she serves. Her ability to find innovative solutions to new disease problems or improve production practices to reduce inputs is outstanding – and she does this over and over,” Loria said. “I credit her collaborative style and her inherent creativity.”
U.S. Hemp growers are disappointed the recent Coronavirus Food Assistance Program commodity expansion does not include hemp. Last week, the Department of Agriculture expanded the commodities covered under the program that provides COVID-19 relief to producers. CFAP includes commodities that USDA can prove saw losses of 5% or more in the first quarter of 2020.
The U.S. Hemp Growers Association (USHGA) says, “We believe our farmers did present evidence of losses to our growers that were 5% or more in the first quarter of 2020.”
Hemp is such a newly legal crop that it does not have the advantage of data gathered by USDA agencies. Currently, the data available to understand the market is gathered privately by several data companies. USHGA believes two datasets showed a 5% pricing decrease and more in hemp and hemp products in the first quarter of 2020.
The statement says, “All hemp farmers are now wondering what kind of treatment they will receive should there be future problems.”
(From the National Association of Farm Broadcasters)
One thing is certain about this year’s pecan crop in Alabama and Georgia – it is loaded. One thing that is not certain is what kind of price those pecans command at the market once they’re harvested this fall.
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells said there are various factors that will impact prices for farmers this year, starting with China.
“We don’t know what China is going to do, with COVID-19 and with the tariff situation and all the political issues we’ve got between our two countries. There’s a lot of uncertainty there about if they’re going to buy. You hear a lot of different things and don’t know how much of it is accurate,” Wells said. “I think some of the accumulators have told me that they’re starting to get a little interest from China but not like they normally do at this time.”
Domestic Market Concerns
Wells also added that the domestic market will once again be impacted by the influx of pecans from Mexico. Unfortunately, those imports should depress the market price.
“I don’t see that changing anytime soon,” Wells said.
Wells said harvest season should begin no later than mid-September with the Pawnee varieties. Other varieties like Oconee and Caddo will be picked at the end of September and early October.
Wells hopes early pecans will attract a strong price.
“The early good stuff this year is probably going to bring, hopefully, a decent price. It may not be what we want. But that may be some of the better prices we see. Who knows?” Wells said. “But early like this when it is early, it gives an opportunity for the gift packed market to get in there and buy what they need. The prices on the gift packed market are usually decent. But they want top quality stuff. That’s one thing we’re seeing when talking with buyers is you really need to have good quality if you want to even get a halfway decent price. Quality’s going to become more and more in demand.”
Georgia producers and agricultural industry leaders will testify in a virtual hearing on Thursday with the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office (USTR). The hearings will provide the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and United States Department of Agriculture an opportunity to hear from growers in Georgia about the urgent need for federal action regarding unfair trade, specifically with Mexican imports.
This is the second of two virtual hearings to be held. The first involved Florida growers and industry leaders on Aug. 13.
USTR, USDA, and DOC announced last month they would convene two virtual hearings at which officials from the federal agencies would hear from growers and industry leaders on how the Trump Administration can support these producers and redress any unfair harm.
Thursday’s virtual hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. EDT.
The hearing is open to the public, and a link to watch the hearing will be available on USTR’s website here on August 20.
Bill Brim
The list of scheduled speakers include Congressmen Austin Scott (GA-08) and Buddy Carter (GA-01); Georgia Ag Commissioner Gary Black; Gerald Long, Georgia Farm Bureau Federation President; Charles Hall, Executive Director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association; as well as various farmers, including Russ Goodman (Cogdell Berry Farm), Sam Watson (Chill C Farms) and Bill Brim (Lewis Taylor Farms, Inc.)
A full list of scheduled speakers can be found here.
