South Georgia farmers have been on edge as weather and impacts from the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) have taken a toll on their crops.
“2020 has been a tough year overall for our growers,” says Andre da Silva, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable specialist.
COVID-19 Impacts
South Georgia farmers have had their fair share of difficulties over the last few years. Hurricane Michael hit Georgia in 2018 causing $2.5 billion in crop damage, and 2019 brought Chinese tariffs that damaged trade and prices. Now, farmers are facing even more devastating impacts with COVID-19.
According to da Silva, some growers have had to leave their ready-to-harvest produce sitting in the field.
“Farmers weren’t able to get enough labor to harvest their crop or they weren’t able to sell their produce because there wasn’t a market to sell to. A lot of our farmers sell to restaurants and schools, so they saw the greatest impact once everything shut down. Our sweet corn growers’ biggest markets were schools, so when schools completely shut down due to COVID-19, they were greatly affected,” da Silva says.
Watermelons have been a crop impacted by the cooler temperatures in May.
Unusual Weather Impacting Crops
In addition to seeing impacts from COVID-19, Georgia has endured unusual weather this Spring.
“We had very warm conditions in March, but the past three or four weeks we have had some impacts from the cold front. We’ve had nighttime temperatures of 47 to 49 degrees F, which isn’t good, especially for our watermelon growers,” da Silva says.
According to da Silva, watermelon growers planted their crop at the end of March or early April, thinking the crop would do fine because of the higher temperatures. However, when the cold front arrived, the cool nighttime temperatures didn’t allow plants to bloom. While plants should be blooming and fruit should be setting right now to target the 4th of July market, this isn’t the case.
“Watermelons are tough plants though. With warmer temperatures ahead, they will make a comeback. But I do predict that watermelon harvest will be delayed about a week or two this year because of the cold temperatures we received,” da Silva says.
In addition to uncommon temperatures, South Georgia has experienced other unfavorable weather events.
South Georgia has endured two tornadoes this spring. One of which crossed through the middle of a UGA Extension trial evaluating cabbage varieties. It caused significant damage. Additionally, they’ve also experienced a lot of rain accompanied by wind that has damaged crops.
“We’ve also seen a lot of damage from sand blasting, cracking the plant’s leaf, leaving openings for diseases to enter. Also, the rainfall accumulation induced nutrient leaching, so growers have had to bump up their fertility program to reduce the impact on yield,” says da Silva.
The United States Department of Agriculture released details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) on Tuesday. It will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to provide relief for farmers and ranchers impacted by COVID-19. It includes relief for livestock, dairy and specialty crops.
Cabbage producers will be covered under the CFAP program.
But according to Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association, the bulk of Georgia and Alabama growers will not be eligible just due to the timing restrictions detailed in the program.
“This particular package, the problem is the dates of the loss. This package puts January 1 to April 15, which excludes 90% of Georgia’s specialty crop growers. At that point, as of April 14, we’ve had little product on the market at that point. When you’re looking at peaches, blueberries, vegetables, we’re not covered in that,” Hall said. “From January to April, we had broccoli on the market. We had greens, turnip greens, cabbage; some of those cole crops were on the market then and would be eligible to be covered under that. It’s going to help some growers.
“Georgia blueberries may have been on the market a week or two at that point.”
CFAP will benefit mostly Florida farmers who have had to overcome produce loss and low market prices as a result of the pandemic striking the U.S. in mid-March.
CFAP Background
According to the USDA press release, CFAP provides financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a 5%-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of a drop in demand, excess production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities.
CFAP also includes the USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program. It is partnering with regional and local distributors, whose workforces have been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat and deliver boxes to Americans in need.
Beginning May 26, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), will be accepting applications from agricultural producers who have suffered losses.
For eligible specialty crops, the total payment will be based on the volume of production sold between January 15 and April 15, 2020; the volume of production shipped, but unpaid; and the number of acres for which harvested production did not leave the farm or mature product destroyed or not harvested during that same time period, and which have not and will not be sold. Specialty crops include, but are not limited to, almonds, beans, broccoli, sweet corn, lemons, iceberg lettuce, spinach, squash, strawberries and tomatoes. A full list of eligible crops can be found on farmers.gov/cfap. Additional crops may be deemed eligible at a later date.
Another Stimulus Package?
Hall is hopeful that if Congress passes another stimulus package, his growers would be sufficiently covered. It would provide a boost to farmers as the economy tries to recover from the current recession.
“The bill that passed the House last week would cover Georgia specialty crop growers because it covered the first two quarters of the year. Most of our growers’ harvest will be through the end of June. That will be helpful from that standpoint,” Hall said.
Broccoli is one of the specialty crops covered under CFAP.
Details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) were announced this week. It’s a program that will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this direct support, USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program is partnering with regional and local distributors to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat and deliver boxes to Americans in need.
According to Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach, CFAP does include specialty crops.
For eligible specialty crops, the total payment will be based on the volume of production sold between January 15 and April 15, 2020; the volume of production shipped, but unpaid; and the number of acres for which harvested production did not leave the farm or mature product destroyed or not harvested during that same time period, and which have not and will not be sold. Specialty crops include, but are not limited to, almonds, beans, broccoli, sweet corn, lemons, iceberg lettuce, spinach, squash, strawberries and tomatoes. A full list of eligible crops can be found on farmers.gov/cfap.
Beginning Tuesday, May 26, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), will be accepting applications from agricultural producers who have suffered losses.
(Washington, D.C., May 19, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this direct support to farmers and ranchers, USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program is partnering with regional and local distributors, whose workforces have been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat and deliver boxes to Americans in need.
“America’s farming community is facing an unprecedented situation as our nation tackles the coronavirus. President Trump has authorized USDA to ensure our patriotic farmers, ranchers, and producers are supported and we are moving quickly to open applications to get payments out the door and into the pockets of farmers,” said Secretary Perdue. “These payments will help keep farmers afloat while market demand returns as our nation reopens and recovers. America’s farmers are resilient and will get through this challenge just like they always do with faith, hard work, and determination.”
Beginning May 26, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), will be accepting applications from agricultural producers who have suffered losses.
Background:
CFAP provides vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities.
Farmers and ranchers will receive direct support, drawn from two possible funding sources. The first source of funding is $9.5 billion in appropriated funding provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act to compensate farmers for losses due to price declines that occurred between mid-January 2020, and mid-April 2020 and provides support for specialty crops for product that had been shipped from the farm between the same time period but subsequently spoiled due to loss of marketing channels. The second funding source uses the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to compensate producers for $6.5 billion in losses due to on-going market disruptions.
Non-Specialty Crops and Wool
Non-specialty crops eligible for CFAP payments include malting barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, millet, oats, soybeans, sorghum, sunflowers, durum wheat, and hard red spring wheat. Wool is also eligible. Producers will be paid based on inventory subject to price risk held as of January 15, 2020. A payment will be made based 50 percent of a producer’s 2019 total production or the 2019 inventory as of January 15, 2020, whichever is smaller, multiplied by the commodity’s applicable payment rates.
Livestock
Livestock eligible for CFAP include cattle, lambs, yearlings and hogs. The total payment will be calculated using the sum of the producer’s number of livestock sold between January 15 and April 15, 2020, multiplied by the payment rates per head, and the highest inventory number of livestock between April 16 and May 14, 2020, multiplied by the payment rate per head.
Dairy
For dairy, the total payment will be calculated based on a producer’s certification of milk production for the first quarter of calendar year 2020 multiplied by a national price decline during the same quarter. The second part of the payment is based a national adjustment to each producer’s production in the first quarter.
Specialty Crops
For eligible specialty crops, the total payment will be based on the volume of production sold between January 15 and April 15, 2020; the volume of production shipped, but unpaid; and the number of acres for which harvested production did not leave the farm or mature product destroyed or not harvested during that same time period, and which have not and will not be sold. Specialty crops include, but are not limited to, almonds, beans, broccoli, sweet corn, lemons, iceberg lettuce, spinach, squash, strawberries and tomatoes. A full list of eligible crops can be found on farmers.gov/cfap. Additional crops may be deemed eligible at a later date.
Eligibility
There is a payment limitation of $250,000 per person or entity for all commodities combined. Applicants who are corporations, limited liability companies or limited partnerships may qualify for additional payment limits where members actively provide personal labor or personal management for the farming operation. Producers will also have to certify they meet the Adjusted Gross Income limitation of $900,000 unless at least 75 percent or more of their income is derived from farming, ranching or forestry-related activities. Producers must also be in compliance with Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation provisions.
Applying for Assistance
Producers can apply for assistance beginning on May 26, 2020. Additional information and application forms can be found at farmers.gov/cfap. Producers of all eligible commodities will apply through their local FSA office. Documentation to support the producer’s application and certification may be requested. FSA has streamlined the signup process to not require an acreage report at the time of application and a USDA farm number may not be immediately needed. Applications will be accepted through August 28, 2020.
Payment Structure
To ensure the availability of funding throughout the application period, producers will receive 80 percent of their maximum total payment upon approval of the application. The remaining portion of the payment, not to exceed the payment limit, will be paid at a later date as funds remain available.
USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only, and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
Pecans appear to be in good shape right now, thanks to light scab disease pressure.
By Clint Thompson
It is only May, but University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells is optimistic about this year’s crop.
“It looks great right now as far as crop load and the light disease pressure. Everything’s pretty clean. Everything looks great so far,” Wells said. “I just hope we can get them to harvest. We’ve got a long way to go. Hope we have a decent market when we get there.”
The relatively dry weather throughout for most of the Southeast has also led to low scab disease pressure in pecan trees.
“It’s been pretty light, been really light here since we got started spraying back in April,” Wells said. “So far, pressure has been very light, and I haven’t seen much problem at all with scab.
“Early in the spring, it stayed cool a good while and that probably helped some too. But yeah dry weather more than anything. And when we have had rains, they were quick rains. It may have rained one day and then it cleared out and we’d have sunshine and wind several days to a week and then get another rain.”
What is Scab?
Scab is a fungal disease that infects the leaves or nuts of pecan trees. If it hits the nut early enough, scab can cause the pecan to blacken and fall from the tree. Some growers spray between 10 and 12 times during an average year to fight scab, Wells said. Scab thrives on trees that have received moisture. That is why a quick rain event is important and not prolonged rainy weather of several days in a row.
“If we have rain events that kind of move in and out, those don’t cause us much problems. But it’s where we have these long sustained several days in a row of rain, that’s really when scab will get going,” Wells said.
As part of the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s (GDA) “Buy Georgia Grown, Now More Than Ever” campaign, Georgia Grown is partnering with local governments to connect produce farmers directly to consumers in highly populated areas. Georgia Grown To-Go is a series of pop-up markets, primarily in metro Atlanta, that will give customers an opportunity to purchase fresh produce directly from farmers with limited contact, drive-through service.
Black
“We are excited to offer this great opportunity to help bridge the gap between consumers in metro areas and our farmers in South Georgia,” says Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black. “With foodservice channels limited, Georgia Grown To-Go pop-up markets are a great and innovative way to make sure our consumers have access to the Georgia Grown products they crave. We have enjoyed joining forces with our local government and non-profit partners in an effort to best serve our communities during this unprecedented time.”
After testing the markets in Northwest Georgia and Dekalb County, Georgia Grown To-Go is continuing in different communities statewide. The next pop-up style market is in partnership with the City of Marietta, Cobb County Government, Cobb Chamber of Commerce and Cobb Community Foundation. The event is Saturday, May 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Al Bishop Park, 1082 Al Bishop Dr. SW Marietta, Georgia 30008.
“Cobb County is pleased to welcome the opportunity to buy Georgia Grown and giving our residents easy, direct access to the best of fresh farm vegetables, Georgia grown,” says Marietta Mayor Steve Tumlin. “We are bringing the best in farm harvest direct from the farm to our front porch with Marietta’s own Tip Top Poultry as a participant in this pop-up market. Additionally, our charities will be well supported thanks to Cobb neighbors who have the opportunity to make Georgia Grown available to our local food banks during these challenging times.”
While supplies last, customers can drive through and have produces boxes placed directly in their trunks. For payment, cash, credit and debit cards will be accepted. Customers can also pre-order boxes for a reduced rate until Thursday, May 21 at noon.
In addition to purchasing personal boxes, customers can support their local community by donating boxes to a neighbor or local charity. Several nonprofits will receive produce boxes through the Cobb Community Foundation, including MUST Ministries, Sweetwater Mission, Family Life Restoration Center, Reflections of Trinity, Storehouse Ministries, and Noonday.
Following the Cobb County event, more Georgia Grown To-Go events will be announced.
For more information on produce offerings, pricing and upcoming events, please visit www.GeorgiaGrownTo-Go.com.
A tour of the research vineyard at the Clanton Research and Extension Center in Chilton County at the Alabama WIneries and Grape Growers Association meeting in September 2019. Grapes are grown by Elina Coneva and the staff at the CREC. Grape varieties are developed by Dr. Andy Walker, a grape breeder at UC Davis.
By Clint Thompson
The time is now for grape producers to tissue sample their crop, says Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist. In doing so, growers can make any modifications to impact this year’s crop.
“If you go ahead and get the sample now, you can do something about it. You can actually impact this year’s crop,” Brannen said. “If you wait until the (veraison) which is when the grapes start turning color, which is the other time you can sample, that is much less meaningful for this year. It may indicate more with what you need to think about with fertilization for the following year. For right now, you can get information on what you put out in the way of micronutrients or macronutrients to impact this year’s crop.
“(Tissue sampling) gives you a really good idea about what’s going on, specifically in the tissues of the plant. It’s a better indicator than even a soil sample would be, of what you actually need. You still need to get soil samples. I’m not saying don’t get them. But the tissue samples are much more valuable to you.”
How To Sample
Brannen said the tissue samples can be taken from the petioles or the leaf itself. For wine grapes, vinefera grapes and hybrid grapes, take petiole samples. For muscadine producers, you need to sample from the leaves.
“Generally, you don’t want to take more than two per plant. You want to do it randomly throughout a vineyard. You’re really talking about a single block, so it would be one variety that you would sample,” Brannen said. “You can’t really go across different varieties and get a good understanding. Each sample has to be a variety within a specific area. That could be up to about 10 acres for a sample.”
Brannen estimates that a total of 50 to 75 petiole samples is needed.
Grapes will be harvested in early August through September.
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) has brought more questions than answers with respect to financial aid for growers in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The $19 billion program includes $16 billion in direct payments for farmers and ranchers. CFAP has payment restrictions of $125,000 per commodity and a total of $250,000 per applicant for all commodities. Growers and industry leaders hope that cap on payment restrictions gets removed.
“For specialty crop growers, $125,000 is a drop in the bucket for most of their losses,” said Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.
“The biggest thing right now is the government allocated per crop a cap of $125,000, which is nothing. We’re really working trying to get the USDA to see and understand the massive hit that Florida is taking and raise the direct payment caps,” Allen said. “What is fair is not always equal.
“It costs 10 times to grow vegetable crops what it does regular commodity crops.”
Pandemic Punishes Producers
In a previous interview in early April, Allen said he left about 2 million pounds of green beans in the field and about 5 million pounds of cabbage. All due to the coronavirus pandemic that shut restaurants down and closed off a major supply chain to foodservice industries.
Perdue
According to an AgNet West story, a group of lawmakers, which included 28 members of the U.S. Senate and 126 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, issued a letter to President Donald Trump and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue. They asked for the removal of payment caps from CFAP before the final program details are announced. The letter points out that the payment restrictions would limit the effectiveness of the program. This is especially true for livestock, dairy and specialty crop producers.
Another concern is how payments will be divided between losses sustained before and April 15. An 85% payout will be issued for losses sustained from January 1 to April 15 but only 30% after April 15.
“Our concern was what’s the difference in a loss after April 15 and before April 15. After April 15, that grower has got the same loss as before April 15. Most of our growers’ losses will come after April 15,” Hall said. “We’ve been told that’s going to be fixed, too. I haven’t seen anything firm from the USDA on that.”
Cabbage is a strong commodity right now, selling for $20 per box, says farmer Bill Brim.
By Clint Thompson
The produce market is ripening with success for some commodities. Prices are incredibly high for some vegetables, while others are still struggling to compete with imports from Mexico, says Tift County farmer Bill Brim. The co-owner of Lewis Taylor Farms said watermelons, round tomatoes and cabbage are three commodities really doing well for farmers right now.
“I think watermelon prices are pretty good. We don’t have any ready yet. It’ll be two or three weeks before we’ll be ready,” Brim said. ““Tomatoes were $33 per box (Wednesday), I think for rounds. Romas are really bad. They’re terrible price because Mexico is pouring them in here. Grapes are bad too. Rounds, they must not have many because they’re like $33 per box. Of course, they won’t last that long or stay there. But if we could stay in the high 18s to the 20s, we’d be tickled to death.”
Brim expects to start picking his tomato crop in two weeks. Cabbage is also selling well at $20 per box.
Watermelon Shortage?
Watermelons are a hot commodity right now. Carr Hussey, a watermelon farmer in Alabama and Florida and chairman of the board of the Florida Watermelon Association, said the crop is already in short supply and that a watermelon shortage is likely by Memorial Day weekend next week.
Brim said he’s heard that the crop in Georgia is going to be way down compared to last season.
“I think it was such a bad deal last year, everybody lost their heinies,” Brim said. “They couldn’t even hardly give a watermelon last year. I got like 7 and 8 cents per pound. You can’t even grow them for that; 12 cents per pound is probably break even. It’s just so bad people said, I can’t lose any more money or I’m going to be out of business. If I do, I’m just going to go with my row crops and forget the watermelons.
“North Carolina’s going to be late too, because a lot of them got killed out in that last freeze. It might be pretty fair for us, hopefully, anyway.”
The watermelon market is ripening with success for farmers who have the crop to sell. Hussey said prices are around 20 cents per pound right now but could improve to 22 or 24 cents around Memorial Day weekend.
Brim also believes watermelon farmers in north Florida are going to be done harvesting earlier than they believed they would.
“They started pretty early down there; a bunch of them,” Brim said. “In the next two weeks, they should be done at about the time we’ll start.”
Photo courtesy of UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. Shows UGA pecan breeder Patrick Conner holding pecans.
By Clint Thompson
Georgia pecan growers are voting this month to renew a one-cent per pound assessment on pecans for the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Pecans.
According to Andy Harrison, commodity commissions manager for the Georgia Department of Agriculture, ballots have been sent to Georgia growers of 30 acres or more. They will vote on the assessment, which is required under Georgia law. Producers are required to vote every three years to renew the assessment.
“Of the balance that comes in, we need 2/3 voting affirmative on it. We’ve sent out about 700 or 800 ballots to pecan growers,” Harrison said. “It’s one cent per pound on pecans marketed. That money can be used for research, education, promotion for Georgia pecans.”
All returning ballots must be postmarked by May 30. The back of the return envelope must be completed for the ballot to be valid. The commodity commission utilizes assessment funds for research, education, and promotion of Georgia pecans.
Harrison emphasized that the Georgia Department of Ag administers the funds. But it is the Georgia Pecan Commission who decides how the money is spent.
“Members of the commission decide where the money’s going. They vote on behalf of what they feel like is best for the growers’ interest. A lot of it goes to research for the University of Georgia and USDA,” Harrison said.
Growers of 30 or more acres who have not received a ballot should contact Andy Harrison, at andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov.
