AgNet DEMO

Category: Georgia

  • Pecan Crop Could Be One of Best in Recent Seasons

    georgia pecans
    File photo of Georgia pecans.

    Georgia’s pecan industry is shaping up to have one of its most productive crops in recent years. But what that means for the industry come harvest time and how that will impact prices remains to be seen, according to South Georgia farmer Randy Hudson.

    “We do feel like we have a really good crop. Now, what that actually means, I don’t know. In years past we’ve said a really good crop in Georgia was 100 million pounds. Last year, we thought we had a really good crop and we harvested significantly less than 100 million pounds, simply because of the amount of damage that Hurricane Michael had done (the year before) in regards to taking off fruiting limbs and trees,” said Hudson, who works with the American Pecan Council, serves on the Pecan Export Trade Committee and member of the Georgia Pecan Growers Association.

    “When we harvested, we didn’t have quite the yield we thought we would make. We know we’ve got pecans on the trees but we really don’t know what the impact of all of the limbs that still have not grown back in trees that were lost from Hurricane Michael, what that impact’s going to be for the overall yield for the state as a whole.”

    Scab Disease

    Hudson said scab disease pressure is starting to become problematic in areas inundated with excess rainfall, like around Albany, Georgia in the southwestern part of the state and over in east Georgia around Blackshear, Georgia and Waycross, Georgia.

    He added that areas of the mid-South are experiencing significant disease as well, particularly in Texas and Louisiana.

    “I think in regard to where we stand as a nation, Georgia’s got a good crop. We don’t know exactly what that might mean. The nation as a whole has got a pretty good crop, but it does have some holes in some areas. I think it’s safe to say we probably have a really good, average crop,” Hudson said.

    Prices?

    So, the big question is what does an improved pecan crop this year mean for the financial market?

    “I think the answer is not so much what goes on in the United States but what’s happening particularly in Mexico and in South Africa. Right now, there’s still inventory in Mexico. Mexico can produce pecans a lot cheaper than we can produce them in the United States. As a result, the growers are more willing to take a lower price,” Hudson said. “The currency values, which also enters in the pecan markets, particularly between the Mexican peso and the Chinese yuan, have also entered into a depression in our market. The value of the yuan has weakened somewhat and has made the U.S. pecans a little more attractive, I think in the neighborhood of 5% or 10% cheaper than they were six months ago when the yuan was very strong.

    “With the Mexico supply, with the South African supply, with what pecans are being sold out of South Africa for right now into the China market, which is a very important player for the U.S. market, I think we’re going to see prices somewhere in the same range that we saw last year,” Hudson added.

    He said stuart blends sold into China last year between $2 and $2.25 per pound and that desirable blends were sold into China for $2.25 and $2.50 per pound.

  • GFGVA Conducting COVID-19 Expense Survey

    The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFGVA) is conducting a survey with growers to gather data on expenses incurred in response to COVID-19 from Jan. 1 through June 30. The anonymous survey is designed for GFVGA to gather information to share with officials who will propose legislation aimed at protecting the growers who produce the crops that feed our nation.

    town hall

    “Our aim is to ensure growers receive adequate financial support for COVID-19-related expenses. Your responses at this time need only be good faith estimates of costs related to COVID-19 and your information will only be used to gauge the financial impact of COVID-19 to southeastern fruit and vegetable growers in 2020,” executive director Charles Hall said.

    The survey includes generic questions like what state the farmer operates in, how many workers they employ, financial expenses incurred for items like masks, gloves, handwash stations, employee screening, testing kits, disinfecting equipment and chemicals, etc.

    Growers who have any questions are asked to contact the GFGVA staff at 706-845-8200.

  • FMC Launches Avaunt eVo Insect Control Formulation to Tackle Key Pests Affecting Fruit, Vegetable Growers

    Advanced formulation of the only Group 22 insecticide for agricultural use delivers improved control and performance consistency. 

    Squash is one of the crops that respond well to Avaunt eVo insect control.

    PHILADELPHIA, July 14, 2020 – FMC has just released and made available for immediate use a new insecticide formulation, Avaunt eVo insect control, in a range of crops including brassicas, pome and stone fruits, cucurbits, leafy vegetables, low-growing berries and dried and succulent beans.

    Avaunt eVo insect control is an advanced formulation of Avaunt insecticide that provides improved mixability and rainfastness, an expanded label and an updated package size for easier handling.

    “This is the next evolution of our indoxacarb-based insecticides for specialty crop growers. Avaunt insecticide has been a proven tool, and now we’ve evolved the formulation to enhance its capabilities,” says John McCool, FMC insecticide product manager. “Strengthening existing technology is another way FMC is continuing to bring innovation to the market and advance agriculture.”

    Avaunt eVo insect control delivers effective control of labeled Lepidopteran pests, including several species of weevils, beetles and other chewing and sucking pests. Its expanded label also allows for higher application rates in certain crops, as well as new crop additions including dried and succulent beans, low-growing berries and small fruit vine climbing subgroups.

    The new formulation delivers significantly improved residual control, mixability and rainfastness. Avaunt eVo insect control is completely rainfast once it has dried on vegetation.

    “Enhancing these three attributes directly translates to better overall performance in the field,” explains Hector Portillo, insecticide product development manager for FMC. “For example, when we look at Avaunt eVo insect control trials nine days after the initial application, we’re still getting 80-90% control; a 10-20% improvement in control over the original Avaunt insecticide during the same post-application window.”   

    In addition to better performance, the improved mixability of Avaunt eVo insect control equates to less downtime and greater flexibility for growers. The product dissolves faster in the tank than the original Avaunt insecticide and other wettable granular insecticides. It also has a reduced mixing process, which alleviates the requirement for a set mixing cadence. 

    Strong, Resilient Rotational Tool

    Indoxacarb, the active ingredient in Avaunt eVo insect control, belongs to the unique and proven oxadiazine class of chemistry in IRAC Group 22. Indoxacarb is the only Group 22 insecticide labeled for this crop and pest spectrum, making Avaunt eVo insect control an ideal rotational partner for growers.

    “Being this is the only mode of action registered for use in this segment, it’s a strong fit in crops where growers make multiple insecticide applications per season. It provides rotational flexibility to help growers manage resistance and protect existing chemistries from resistance development,” Portillo states.

    Avaunt eVo insect control is a resilient option for growers operating under hot, intense environmental conditions since it is unaffected by pH, UV, high sunlight and temperature, which are the primary factors for insecticide breakdown and failure.

    For more information about Avaunt eVo insect control, visit your FMC Star Retailer or ag.fmc.com to learn more. 

  • Mental Health in Agriculture Industries

    Agriculture industries have had to adapt to a lot of change in recent months. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has created a series of professional development webinars to help these industries navigate the global pandemic.

    Mental health in rural communities was the focus of a webinar series put on by UF/IFAS.

    The most recent session of the six-part webinar series featured a panel focused on mental health in rural communities. The panelists discussed strategies to recognize a person in crisis and resources to address mental health concerns. According to Megan Stein, the host of the series, rural mental health was the most requested topic in the data that was collected to create this webinar series.

    Limited Health Care Access

    Oftentimes, when a grower’s livelihood is at stake, he or she may face the same mental health setbacks as those living in urban areas. However, many individuals work in agriculture live in rural areas where there is limited access to health care.

    “Actual incidents of mental health problems in rural areas are really not so different. You don’t necessarily see significant differences. It’s not like in rural areas things are way worse or anything like that. I think some of the stressors are different, but more importantly I think it’s just a lot harder to access help when you live in rural areas,” says Heidi Radunovich, associate professor in the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences.

    Even though advancements have been made in remote health care, there are still setbacks in rural areas with limited cell service and Wi-Fi, which can make it difficult to receive remote care.

    Marshal Sewell, territory sales manager for Bayer and webinar panelist, believes that it’s important to create the right messaging connecting mental health and growers. According to Sewell, many farmers or individuals in rural communities find it difficult to open up to someone who doesn’t share a similar background or circumstances. He says finding that commonality or appropriate messaging could make a world of difference.

    Available Resources

    Let’s face it, farming is a stressful job — even in good times. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic turmoil compounds the daily stressors. Farmers, ranchers and rural community members need appropriate resources to help manage their own stress and support their friends and neighbors.

    Luckily, resources are available. The American Farm Bureau Federation has launched the Farm State of Mind campaign, reducing the stigma surrounding the topic of mental health in rural communities. The campaign also provides helpful resources regarding mental health for farm families.

    In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Alliance on Mental Illness are proactively working to provide relevant resources to rural communities.

    The panel participants also stressed the importance of managing day-to-day stress by taking time for yourself. This includes exercising, reading a book, meditating or any activity that allows you to take a step back from daily stressors.

    Isolation on the farm is real. We need to be aware of our neighbors. Practicing active listening and having a conversation with each other may be the only way to reach someone who is dealing with mental health issues. By listening and understanding, we can create change.

    Ashley Robinson, AgNet Media communications intern, wrote this article.

  • 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.

  • GFVGA Executive Director: Grateful For CFAP Revisions

    By Clint Thompson

    The first round of revisions made by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the commodities covered under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) benefited Georgia’s vegetable producers.

    Kale was one of the commodities added to CFAP.

    Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) Executive Director Charles Hall was appreciative of the consideration given to the crops his organization petitioned for.

    “Some of our January to April crops, GFGVA petitioned for the mustard, kale, collards and turnip greens to be added to that. We provided the documentation,” Hall said. “We’re very grateful that along with several other states that were in the same situation as we were to be able to show that there was a 5% drop in the pricing during that time. We’re glad of that.”

    In a press release, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced an initial list of additional commodities that were added to CFAP on Thursday, and that the USDA made other adjustments to the program based on comments received from agricultural producers and organizations and review of market data. Producers can submit applications that include these commodities today, 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.

    “There’s still a problem with watermelons, primarily the Florida watermelons. Florida Fruit and Vegetable and the National Watermelon Association filed comments on the watermelon. Georgia Fruit and Vegetable didn’t because we did not have crop there at that time,” Hall said.

    One crop that benefited from last week’s decision was blueberries. Based on the USDA’s original assessment of the impact of coronavirus on the industry, blueberries were eligible for Categories 2 and 3 for CFAP relief payments. The crop was one of seven currently eligible commodities to be added to Category 1 of CFAP.

    Hall said since Georgia blueberry farmers did not start harvesting until April 12, the impact will be felt more with Florida growers.

    “There was really only about three days that our blueberries were on the market before we got past the deadline of April 15. Florida had blueberries in that timeframe and did file the NOFA comments and definitely added to the benefit of blueberries,” Hall 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.

  • 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.