AgNet DEMO

Category: Alabama

  • Potato Farmers Benefit From Latest CFAP Revisions

    File photo of potatoes.

    By Clint Thompson

    Florida potato farmers are one commodity group that benefited from last week’s USDA’s revision to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

    Potatoes were one of seven eligible commodities added to Category 1. The USDA found these commodities had a 5% or greater price decline between mid-January and mid-April because of the coronavirus pandemic. Originally, these commodities were only eligible for marketing adjustments.

    Kam Quarles, National Potato Council

    “We were cautiously optimistic that they were going to get to this point. Clearly (last week’s) announcement, they’re moving in the right direction. They made potatoes eligible for all of the categories under the relief program. Now, what we want to do is work with them to get the payment levels up across the board to a level that’s meaningful to any farmer who has suffered an injury due to the crisis,” said Kam Quarles, Chief Executive Officer of the National Potato Council. “Some of them are a little low. Others are where they need to be. We want to work with them going forward to see if we can’t get them all up to the right spot.

    “We basically canvased the whole industry and the conclusion that everyone came to was if a producer can get four cents a pound for whatever type of injury they suffered; the three categories spell out the types of injures; price loss, did you lose your customers after you shipped your product, did you lose your customers and your potatoes stayed on your farm; each one of those has a payment associated with it. If we can get each one of those to a minimum of four cents a pound, that will keep producers able to be solvent until next year. Hopefully, we’ll be out of this in another year from now.”

    Quarles expressed concern that funding may not be available to cover the expenses that accompany the additional commodities. “The money that they have is going to run out for this current CFAP. Congress is going to have to get involved, at a minimum to provide them with more money and then also extend the timeframes out at least through the end of this year. When they do that, we want to talk, both with USDA and with Congress about getting those payment levels up where they need to be,” Quarles said.

  • SWD Management Key for Grape Producers

    By Clint Thompson

    In his UGA Extension blog, Brett Blaauw, Assistant Professor in the University of Georgia Department of Entomology, alerted grape farmers that management for spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is approaching soon.

    Brett Blaauw

    SWD flies are active year-round but near veraison, as the brix levels in wine grapes reach 15 degrees Brix, the grapes become attractive and susceptible to SWD. SWD and other drosophila flies can spread and exacerbate sour rot.

    Management is key. Proper sanitation of the vineyard can reduce populations. If farmers harvest grapes frequently and remove fallen or unmarketable fruit, it will prevent the buildup of ripe or rotting fruit. This reduces sour rot inoculum and potential breeding areas for the flies.

    Insecticides are effective at killing adult flies and are recommended if you have a history of SWD in your vineyard or have prior issues with sour rot. Insecticide treatments should begin when grapes are near 15 degrees brix. Treatments should be applied at least every seven to 10 days. Rotating insecticides with different modes of action is very important.

    Make sure to read the label and check the pre-harvest intervals before applying any chemical.

    Note that the combination of an insecticide and Oxidate 2.0 significantly reduced SWD and sour rot prevalence in treated plots.

    If you are unsure whether SWD is a problem at your vineyard, it is easy to monitor for the flies. Traps can be made from plastic cups with lids.

    As always, management recommendations can be found at: https://smallfruits.org/files/2019/06/BunchGrapeSprayGuide.pdf.

  • Additional Fruits, Vegetables Eligible for CFAP

    Washington, D.C., July 9, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced an initial list of additional commodities that have been added to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) on Thursday, and that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made other adjustments to the program based on comments received from agricultural producers and organizations and review of market data. Producers will be able to submit applications that include these commodities on Monday, July 13, 2020. 

    USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting through Aug. 28, 2020, applications for CFAP, which helps offset price declines and additional marketing costs because of the coronavirus pandemic. USDA expects additional eligible commodities to be announced in the coming weeks.

    “During this time of national crisis, President Trump and USDA have stood with our farmers, ranchers, and all citizens to make sure they are taken care of,” said Secretary Perdue. “When we announced this program earlier this year, we asked for public input and received a good response. After reviewing the comments received and analyzing our USDA Market News data, we are adding new commodities, as well as making updates to the program for existing eligible commodities. This is an example of government working for the people – we asked for input and we updated the program based on the comments we received.”

    Changes to CFAP include:

    Adding the following commodities: alfalfa sprouts, anise, arugula, basil, bean sprouts, beets, blackberries, Brussels sprouts, celeriac (celery root), chives, cilantro, coconuts, collard greens, dandelion greens, greens (others not listed separately), guava, kale greens, lettuce – including Boston, green leaf, Lolla Rossa, oak leaf green, oak leaf red and red leaf – marjoram, mint, mustard, okra, oregano, parsnips, passion fruit, peas (green), pineapple, pistachios, radicchio, rosemary, sage, savory, sorrel, fresh sugarcane, Swiss chard, thyme and turnip top greens.

    Kale is one of the commodities included in the CFAP revision.

    Expanding for seven currently eligible commodities – apples, blueberries, garlic, potatoes, raspberries, tangerines and taro – CARES Act funding for sales losses because USDA found these commodities had a 5% or greater price decline between mid-January and mid-April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, these commodities were only eligible for marketing adjustments.

    Determining that peaches and rhubarb no longer qualify for payment under the CARES Act sales loss category.

    Correcting payment rates for apples, artichokes, asparagus, blueberries, cantaloupes, cucumbers, garlic, kiwifruit, mushrooms, papaya, peaches, potatoes, raspberries, rhubarb, tangerines and taro.

  • USDA CFAP Revision “Big Deal” For Blueberry Growers

    Pictured are highbush blueberries.

    By Clint Thompson

    Thursday was a win for blueberry farmers, especially in Georgia. The crop was one of seven currently eligible commodities to be added to Category 1 of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program by the United States Department of Agriculture.

    According to the USDA press release, the USDA found these commodities had a 5% or greater price decline between mid-January and mid-April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, these commodities were only eligible for marketing adjustments, which Florida blueberry farmer Ryan Atwood believes would not have helped growers like himself at all.

    “Not many individuals qualified for 2 or 3. But everyone in Florida is going to qualify, just about for Category 1. That’s why it is a big deal,” Atwood said.

    According to https://www.farmers.gov/cfap/specialty, eligible specialty crops in CFAP are broken down into three categories:

    1. Had crops that suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline between mid-January and mid-April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,
    2. Had produce shipped but subsequently spoiled due to loss of marketing channel, and
    3. Had shipments that did not leave the farm or mature crops that remained unharvested.

    Atwood, who lives in Mount Dora, Florida is one of the state’s blueberry leaders. He farms 56 acres of blueberries, manages another 350 acres and is part-owner of the largest packing house in the Southeast United States.

    Early Crop This Year

    Atwood’s and other farmers’ blueberry crops were early this year due to a mild winter, and high temperatures in January and February accelerated growth. However, when he started picking high volumes of blueberries, which was around March 18, that is when the pandemic shut down the country.

    Market prices reflected the pandemic’s impact. Atwood said in late April that the market was 50% of the historical average price, so half of the money of what you would typically get because of the coronavirus.

    That is why the USDA’s revision to include blueberries in Category 1 was a major win for the industry.

    “There’s a lot of people that are going to need that. It’s going to help them make it to next season. I know people that are getting loans and doing what they can and getting by, but every little bit helps get you there,” Atwood said.

    USDA is accepting CFAP applications through August 28, 2020. Learn more at farmers.gov/cfap.

  • Blueberry Growers Qualify for CFAP Category 1 Payments

    The USDA announced today that blueberry growers are now eligible for Category 1 Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments. 

    Based on the USDA’s original assessment of the impact of coronavirus on the industry, blueberries were eligible only for Categories  2 and 3 for CFAP relief payments. USDA’s original market analysis had determined that blueberries did not demonstrate a 5% decline in price between January 15 and April 15. However, in response, the North American Blueberry Council (NABC) worked collaboratively with industry leadership to advocate for inclusion and provided the USDA with the data and analysis necessary to reverse the original eligibility assessment. 

    As a result, blueberry growers that qualify are now eligible for Category 1 CFAP payments.

    Take Action

    Growers that believe they qualify for Category 1 are encouraged to contact their local FSA office immediately to begin the application process. 

    The program is based on self-certification; growers should retain documentation for future claim substantiation.

    To learn more about the CFAP program and Category 1 eligibility requirements, visit farmers.gov/cfap/specialty.

  • Pierce’s Disease Training

    UGA photo/Jordan Burbage, of the UGA Soil, Plant and Water Analysis Laboratory in Athens, Georgia, harvests grapes at Trillium Vineyards, part of the collaborative research project being conducted by UGA Extension and Westover Vineyard Consulting.

    By Clint Thompson

    In his latest UGA Extension Viticulture blog, University of Georgia Extension Fruit Disease Specialist Phil Brannen says grape producers will soon be seeing symptoms of Pierce’s disease in susceptible varieties; typically Vitis vinifera and some hybrids.

    Mild winter temperatures have contributed to an increase in Pierce’s disease at higher elevations in Georgia and throughout the Southeast. Symptoms normally start to appear in late July or August. Since symptoms are similar to drought or nutrient stress, it’s essential not to remove plants if they’re not suffering from Pierce’s Disease.

    N.C. State hosted an effective workshop about Pierce’s Disease that will be helpful for all farmers.   

    Brannen stresses it is particularly important that you identify and destroy infected vines to prevent further spread of this disease.

    The disease is caused by a bacterium that is transmitted by numerous sharpshooter insects, such as the glassy-winged sharpshooter. It clogs the grape xylem, cutting off nutrient and water flow. Once infected with Pierce’s disease, vines die within one to two years.

  • Watermelon Shortage? One Farmer Thinks So

    Watermelons on sale at the farmers market in Cordele, Georgia.

    By Clint Thompson

    Watermelon producers continue to enjoy high prices, though, there may soon be a shortage. Carr Hussey, a watermelon farmer in Florida and Alabama and chairman of the board of the Florida Watermelon Association, said there may soon be a shortage as producers in the Southeast region finish harvesting their crop, while the northern states are still not close to begin picking their crop.

    “Georgia is finishing up. I’m here in Alabama and we’re finishing up. North of us, North Carolina and Delaware and Indiana where we normally go, won’t be ready until the end of the month,” Hussey said. “There’s not going to be a lot of fruit available for the next two weeks.”

    It is a shame, too for farmers. Hussey estimates prices are averaging 22 cents per pound, a huge improvement from the 14 cents average growers normally get this time in previous years.

    Hussey believes the cool, wet spring impacted the crop’s production and why there is less watermelons than normal.

    “The crop never set the way it should have. What you should have harvested in four weeks took six weeks to harvest,” Hussey said. “The fruit movements in Georgia are usually around 700 to 800 trailers a day. They’ve been 400, 450, once in a while maybe at 500. There just hasn’t been the fruit.”

    While producers have benefited this year, the strong prices could encourage more farmers to grow watermelons next year. At least, that is what Hussey is expecting.

    “Everybody’s looking back to see how much everybody made last year so they want to cash in on it so they’ll plant, plus the fact, Georgia in particular, cotton and peanuts haven’t been worth much, isn’t worth much. So, they’re looking for something that is worth something. For those two reasons, they’ll really bunch up on watermelons next year,” Hussey said.

  • Georgia Hemp Up and Growing

    florida industrial hemp
    File photo shows hemp.

    By Clint Thompson

    Georgia’s hemp crop is still being planted across the state. According to Tim Coolong, associate professor in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the recent rainfall could impact the crop both positively and negatively.

    “Hemp doesn’t like it overly wet. In parts of the state, if there’s standing water in fields or if it’s saturated, that could lead to some problems,” Coolong said. “But if it’s a grower that just happened to plant, a little bit of rain could help those plants acclimate to going in the ground versus being dry and 100 degrees.”

    Hemp is expected to be planted during the next several weeks, though Coolong said the Georgia Department Agriculture would issue permits throughout the summer.

    “With that said, if you plant much later than that, your chances of success decrease. If you were to plant in, let’s say September, your plants are going to flower immediately and you’re going to have problems. Even if a grower were able to get a license very late in the year, planting in the field in the traditional manner wouldn’t work very well for them,” Coolong said.

    Tim Coolong comments on importance of planting hemp during the summer.

    Early Assessment of Crop

    He added that fields he is visited so far this summer have looked pretty good and credits the cooler temperatures.

    “Up until recently, it’s been a little cooler than typical; at least it seems that way, particularly in the produce world, it was a little cooler this spring. It allowed the hemp plants that were put in to adapt to the transplant shock a little bit better,” Coolong said.

    Hemp interest in Georgia was expected to be high this year since it marked the first time growers could produce the crop commercially. But that interest waned some amid the current coronavirus pandemic.

    “During the winter we had a lot of people express interest. I think as we got closer to the production season, a lot of those individuals may have been holding off or cut back on the acreage they were going to put in. It certainly seemed throughout the winter, there’s a lot of interest. But as people started looking into it I think, especially with the pandemic and things being uncertain right now, I think a lot of them held off,” Coolong said. “With that said, there’s still a fair number of growers approved out there.”

  • Thinning Pecan Trees Better Equips Producers For Future

    By Clint Thompson

    University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is encouraging pecan growers to thin their bumper crop this summer to avoid having a down year next season.

    Southeast Georgia Area Pecan Agent Andrew Sawyer said this year’s pecan crop exceeds the 70% fruit-bearing terminals they recommend pecan trees to have at this stage in the growing season, along with having an excess cluster of nuts.

    Pecan trees need to be thinned to avoid having a really down year next season.

    “There’s 90% to 100% of terminals with nuts in pretty much every situation I’m seeing. Then you’re having three, four or even five nuts in a cluster on many cultivars. That’s high as well,” said Sawyer, who said Georgia was bound to have a surplus of pecans this year following Hurricane Michael in 2018.

    “In Georgia this year, we’re probably having the biggest crops in a long time. It was actually kind of thought of it was going to be that way. Generally, after a really bad hurricane or weather event, the following year is pretty low just from the loss of limbs and fruiting branches. But then the year after that, which is 2020 for us, it ends up being almost overload. We’re seeing that.”

    Sawyer said farmers thin their trees normally around the last week in July or first week in August. But this year’s crop is about two weeks early. He projects the third week in July to be when most producers need to act.

    “If there’s any time to do it, it may be 2020. The whole reason for fruit thinning is to minimize alternation,” Sawyer said. “Alternating happens at least a couple of different ways. One of them is carbohydrate storage. That means when you have a large crop and it’s putting everything into that fruit, it doesn’t have a lot of storage for this upcoming year. That can affect next year’s crop. It can actually put those trees into alternation.

    “We’ve got a large crop in 2020. All of these 90% terminals and large cluster of nuts, the tree really can’t even fill that much.”

    The most common way for farmers to thin their crop is to shake the tree, much like they do when the pecans are ready to be harvested. Sawyer said to shake the trees for 1 to 2 seconds.

    “Most people, they’ll never do it. It’s so hard if you’re a grower to let these nuts fall off the tree. You’re having to just let them go,” Sawyer said. “You’re doing it for the overall future, long-term production of the tree, not this year’s production.”

    He cautions producers to shake a few days after a rain or turn irrigation off a few days before shaking to avoid damaging the tree. If there is abundant rainfall or high soil moisture, the cambium layer under the bark will slip more readily, making it easier to damage the tree.

    Growers also need to grease between the rubber flap or pad. This will allow movement between the flap and the pad, reducing movement between the shaker head and tree bark. This further reduces the risk of damaging the tree.

  • UGA Entomologist: Whiteflies Not as Bad as 2017 But Still Bad

    File photo shows whiteflies infesting fall cucurbits.

    By Clint Thompson

    University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist Stormy Sparks confirmed this week that whiteflies are back with a vengeance on susceptible vegetable crops and Georgia’s cotton, which is still just a few weeks old.

    “I’ve been holding off a long time on saying it looks bad. But about a week ago, it’s just hard to say it doesn’t look bad,” Sparks said. “There’s still some things that could happen, but I saw some populations in some cantaloupe that you don’t usually see for another month or two. They’re already treating some cotton, apparently.

    “We’re probably a month behind 2017, but we’re at least a month ahead of our normal year.”

    Sparks said in May that whiteflies were already present in Georgia vegetables.

    Why So Early?

    While colder temperatures do not eliminate whiteflies, they do kill many of their wild hosts. They also slow population development in cultivated hosts. Warmer temperatures this winter allowed for larger whitefly populations to overwinter and become mobile earlier.

    “We already had the populations, there’s no doubt about that, earlier than normal in some areas, particularly coming out of kale. There’s a lot of things that can happen as far as weather and everything else that can impact it. There’s still some things that could happen to keep it from getting as bad as it did in 2017,” Sparks said. “If they get to a certain level, those rain events don’t have the same impact than they would at lower populations. I think we’re probably far enough long now that they’ll rebound fairly rapidly. That’s what I’m afraid of.”

    Rain is expected all week in South Georgia, but Sparks believes a tropical storm-type system is what is needed to suppress whitefly populations.

    UGA cotton entomologist Phillip Roberts said farmers are already treating for whiteflies in cotton which is month to a month and a half earlier than normal.

    What Can Be Done?

    Sparks, Roberts and other specialists continue to preach sanitation with whitefly management. Farmers have done better in recent years in getting rid of their vegetables once they are done harvesting. That needs to continue this summer.

    “If the vegetable growers get rid of those crops that are infested, if you’re done with them; if you get done with watermelon fields and cantaloupe fields … get rid of them. Don’t let them keep reproducing. The cotton guys just need to be keeping an eye on infestations and don’t let them build up there,” Sparks said.

    Whiteflies migrate from winter vegetables to spring vegetables to agronomic crops, like cotton, to fall vegetables and back to winter vegetables. Whiteflies cause feeding injury issues in vegetables and transmit two new viruses: cucurbit leaf crumple virus and cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus. Vegetables like squash, zucchini, cucumber, cantaloupe and snap beans are highly susceptible to these viruses.