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Vidalia Onion Harvests Underway
Photo by Clint Thompson Vidalia onion harvests are underway in Georgia. It has been great harvest conditions for producers in the Southeast Georgia region. G&R Farms in Glennville, Georgia is one of the biggest Vidalia onion producers in the area. Pictured are photos from Thursday’s harvest.
Photo by Aubrey Shirley/UGA G&R Farms will continue harvesting through mid-May.
April 19 was the pack date this year for Georgia Vidalia onions. An advisory panel comprised of industry leaders determined that April 19 be the first day of the year consumers could buy Vidalia onions.
Growers first dig onions and let them field cure. Then they’ll clip the onions and send to the grading house to be packaged and boxed up.
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Key Investment: USDA Invest in Specialty Crops Grants, Incentives to Purchase Fruits and Vegetables
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to help agricultural producers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Tuesday the availability of more than $330 million to help farmers and organizations in the food supply chain recover from the financial impacts of the pandemic. The funding is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative launched in March.
It includes $169.9 million for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and the availability of $75 million for Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program [GusNIP; formerly known as Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI)] grantees. This funding will aid in developing new markets for U.S. agricultural products and expand the specialty crop food sector.
“We launched USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers to respond in a broader, fairer way to the pandemic’s impact across food and agriculture, and we are following through on our promise,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in wide-ranging impacts that were felt throughout the agricultural sector. The Biden-Harris Administration is focused on ensuring that the entire agricultural sector successfully rebuilds following the pandemic, and the funding we’re announcing today will reach a broader set of producers and businesses than previous COVID-19 aid programs.”
Specialty Crops
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced $169.9 million for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to fund innovative projects designed to support the expanding specialty crop food sector and explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products. The total includes:
- $72.9 million available as part of the annual Farm Bill funding for the program; and
- An additional $97 million available as emergency funding for applications under this solicitation. Congress provided this funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, due to COVID-19 impacts to the food system.
Grant project funding awarded as part of pandemic assistance can also go to organizations to assist farmworkers (e.g., for PPE and vaccination costs), projects to fund farmers, food businesses and other relevant entities to respond to risks and supply chain disruption.
The SCBGP funds are allocated to U.S. states and territories based on a formula that considers both specialty crop acreage and production value. Interested applicants should apply directly through their state departments of agriculture. A listing of state contacts is available on the USDA website.
Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 11, 2021. Any grant application submitted after the due date will not be considered unless the applicant provides documentation of an extenuating circumstance that prevented their timely submission of the grant application. For more information about grant eligibility, visit the SCBGP website.
Fruits and Vegetables
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture will invest $75 million as directed by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Active Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) and Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grantees may request funding to allow them to address critical food and nutrition security needs of low-income communities, enhance the resilience of food and healthcare systems impacted by the pandemic and maximize funds reaching participants in communities in need. The GusNIP COVID Relief and Response grants program (GusCRR) helps low-income communities improve the affordability and consumption of fruits and vegetables by vulnerable participants in communities in need. GusCRR grants will support expanded scope of work started under previous awards to address pandemic relief and respond to community needs in an impactful, timely, and authentic way. NIFA will reach out directly to GusCRR eligible applicants with additional details and a copy of the Request for Applications (RFA).
Eligibility to receive a GusCRR grant is limited to organizations with a current active GusNIP nutrition incentive grant, GusNIP produce prescription grant, or FINI grant that began prior to Dec. 27, 2020. An eligible organization may submit only one GusCRR nutrition incentive grant application and one produce prescription application.
USDA encourages applications that benefit smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged producers, veteran producers, and/or underserved communities. For grants intending to serve these audiences, applicants should engage and involve those beneficiaries when developing projects and applications.
USDA is also updating the currently open FY21 GusNIP RFA to more closely align with the law and extend that opportunity by two weeks to provide potential applicants additional time to consider the full range of available funding.
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Thrips, Thrips, Thrips! Populations Oscillate in South Florida Fields
According to UF/IFAS, Asian bean thrips (ABT) populations continue to swing back and forth across the South Florida region. While flower thrips are the predominant species north of Miami-Dade, a few locations still are reporting ABT at the dominant species.
ABT populations ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 per bloom in southeastern Hendry County. Populations were reduced where records of 10 ABT per bloom were previously located to 0.1 to 1.1 per bloom. A change in the user’s pesticide program to include 5 modes of action multiple sprays per week is likely the reason for the population drop.
ABT populations ranged from 0.0 to 2.0 ABT per bloom at bloom and early pod development stages in northeastern Hendry County. Hotspots were reported in central Hendry County, where populations ranged from 0.1 to 1.6 ABT per bud or bloom.
Populations increased to 1.0 to 2.0 ABT per bloom or 1.0 to 5.0 ABT per plant in eastern Palm Beach County. A few hotspots remain in western and northwestern Palm Beach County, with reports of 1.0 to 2.0 ABT per bloom.
Snap bean plantings are still young in southern Martin County, so ABT was not reported. Beans were harvested, and young peas were not yet scouted in northern Collier County.
Some damage information has now been collected and is reported here: Preliminary Scouting and Damage Data.
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Extending Enzymes: UF Hopes to Get More Mileage out of Essential Component
Andrew Hanson Enzymes are an essential element in the cells of all living plants. University of Florida research is tailored towards getting more mileage out of this essential component. Longer lasting enzymes could lead to increased yields in plants that are produced for food, fuel and fiber.
That’s the thought process of Andrew Hanson, and eminent scholar and professor in the UF/IFAS horticultural sciences department.
“Replacing enzymes is a huge energy cost to organisms, but no one had ever really asked, ‘How long do enzymes last and what determines that?’ If you want to improve enzymes’ lifespans, you need to know which enzymes to target,” said Hanson to UF/IFAS. He is the lead author of a new study in which researchers present a new benchmark for evaluating the durability of any enzyme.
CCR
Catalytic Cycles until Replacement, or CCR, is the first step toward improving enzyme longevity and maybe one day, producing more food, fuel and fiber for the world. The study is published in the journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” and supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Hanson compares the parts in a car and the enzymes in a cell to better explain CCR.
“If you’re bringing your car into the shop all the time to replace parts, that’s a big investment and it’s not very efficient. But plants we grow as crops, they spend a lot of energy on enzyme maintenance, which leaves less energy for growing the grain or other parts we harvest,” Hanson said. “Many enzymes in plants could be improved, and with the CCR, we know where to start.”
Click here for full story from UF/IFAS.
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Avoid Planting Fall Potatoes in Alabama
Avoid planting potatoes in the fall in Alabama, says Alabama Extension vegetable specialist Joe Kemble. Alabama farmers and gardeners have planted or are currently planting their fall vegetable crops. One crop that Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, says producers need to avoid are fall potatoes. They simply don’t do well in any part of the state, due to the high soil temperatures.
“Fall potatoes in Alabama do not do well at all. The reason is potatoes are really sensitive to temperatures again,” Kemble said. “They get a condition called heat necrosis where the vascular tissue in the tubers will get an off color. They’ll actually almost look like they’ve been cooked inside. Usually the stands are pretty bad. You will get some production. But they are cool season plants, they do not like hot weather.
“We only grow varieties that mature by early seasons. They all tend to be early season varieties like Atlantic or Potomac or any of the red potatoes or Yukon Golds. They all tend to be early maturing varieties. Varieties like the Fingerling varieties, those tend to be mid-season to late-season varieties; those tend to be a little bit hit and miss because they may take too long to mature and then you end up with all kinds of weird problems on the tubers because the soil temperatures got too warm. Fall potatoes don’t work well in Alabama.”
Kemble said producers grow a lot of Irish potatoes in Alabama. But normally in the southern part of the state, the growers will sew them around Christmas time. Farmers in northern Alabama will plant them a little bit later. A little light frost does not hurt.
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Georgia Farmers Testify About Mexico’s Unfair Trade Practices
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.
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Collins, Scott Urge Trump Administration to Protect American Farmers From Mexico’s Unfair Trade Practices
Doug Collins ATLANTA, Ga. – Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Austin Scott (R-Ga.) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer urging the Administration to protect American farmers from Mexico’s unfair trade practices as it works to implement the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“As you may know, Mexico’s increased market share of produce and perishable goods at record-low prices in the United States negatively impacts Georgia’s seasonal and perishable produce farmers, as well as those throughout the Southeast,” they wrote. “Over the past several months, we have witnessed the damaging economic and production consequences the coronavirus pandemic has had on crops across the nation. In Georgia, blueberry and vegetable producers are facing not only a decreased market for their goods, but in recent years a market saturated with Mexican products as a result of that country’s unfair trade practices.”
As they point out, the administration has committed to addressing concerns regarding Mexico’s practices within 60 days from the agreement’s implementation on July 1, 2020.
“As the Administration works to implement the USMCA, we stand ready to partner with you to ensure trade officials, farmers, and producers find a solution that works for the Southeast’s agriculture industry,” they continued.
Below is the full letter:
Austin Scott July 14, 2020
The Honorable Robert Lighthizer
U.S. Trade Representative
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
600 17th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20508Ambassador Lighthizer,
First and foremost, we want to express our appreciation to President Donald J. Trump, you and your office, and many others in the Administration for your hard work on behalf of our nation’s farmers in implementing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This historic trade deal will increase our global competitiveness, strengthen our economy, and most importantly, support our farmers.
While we are encouraged by the progress that has been made through the USMCA, we are writing today to urge the Administration to address the lack of protections for American farmers against Mexico’s unfair trade practices. As you may know, Mexico’s increased market share of produce and perishable goods at record-low prices in the United States negatively impacts Georgia’s seasonal and perishable produce farmers, as well as those throughout the Southeast. Over the past several months, we have witnessed the damaging economic and production consequences the coronavirus pandemic has had on crops across the nation. In Georgia, blueberry and vegetable producers are facing not only a decreased market for their goods, but in recent years a market saturated with Mexican products as a result of that country’s unfair trade practices.
We understand the Administration is committed to implementing a timely remedy to address this serious trade issue within 60 days from the agreement’s implementation on July 1, 2020, and we look forward to the Administration’s hearings in Georgia to hear testimony from growers and farmers in our districts. As the Administration works to implement the USMCA, we stand ready to partner with you to ensure trade officials, farmers, and producers find a solution that works for the Southeast’s agriculture industry.
Again, thank you for your work in creating and implementing an America-focused trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. We are hopeful that your office will work with us to ensure Mexico’s unfair trade practices do not go unaddressed. Please reach out to our offices if we can help facilitate future meetings or hearings with farmers in Georgia.
Sincerely,
Doug Collins
Member of Congress
Austin Scott
Member of Congress -
Strategies for Sourcing Approved Inputs
Products approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute will have an OMRI seal on the packaging. By Sarah Bostick
Access to approved inputs is a challenge in states with few certified organic farms. Agricultural supply stores in these states often don’t have enough demand to keep approved products in stock. But with a little creativity, you can get your hands on all the inputs you need.
WHERE TO LOOK
Two independent groups determine if an input is approved for use on certified organic farms: The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) and Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). OMRI maintains the largest list, with over 7,500 approved inputs. These inputs include fertilizers, sprays, inoculants, sanitizers, compost, potting mix and more.
On OMRI’s website (omri.org), you can download and print the annual “OMRI Products List” (currently, 375 pages) for free or purchase a copy.
OMRI-approved products will have an OMRI seal on the packaging. A product labeled “organic” or “natural” that does not have an OMRI or WSDA seal is not an approved input. Using these products can result in losing your organic certification.
MANURE AND MANURE-BASED COMPOST
Manure and compost are common inputs on organic farms but can be complicated to navigate. Before making or purchasing compost or using manure, read these two publications:
- Tip Sheet: Compost (www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Compost_FINAL.pdf)
- Tip Sheet: Manure in Organic Production Systems (www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Manure%20in%20Organic%20Production%20Systems_FINAL.pdf)
Manure used on organic farms does not have to come from certified organic livestock. However, if you use manure or compost containing manure from a conventional operation, it is a good idea to send a sample to a laboratory for herbicide testing. Certain persistent pesticides used on pastures and hay fields do not break down in the digestive system of livestock or in well-managed composting systems.
SEEDS AND PLASTIC MULCH
Two categories of inputs not found in the “OMRI Products List”are seeds and plastic mulch. Single-use plastic mulch is a synthetic material that is allowed on certified organic farms. Biodegradable plastic mulch, however, is currently not allowed because it does not meet the criteria for use on organic farms. For now, stick to the fully synthetic plastic mulches.
Certified organic seed is widely available. Here are three seed companies that carry a broad selection: High Mowing Seed, Johnny’s Selected Seeds and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. For a much longer list, visit ATTRA’s online Directory of Organic Seed Suppliers (attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/organic_seed).
Certified organic, hybrid seed varieties are widely used by organic farmers. GMO seed, however, is never allowed. Some seed varieties are available with an approved pelleting material. This is typically described in seed catalogs as “available with NOP-compliant pelleting.”
CONCLUSION
The first step in sourcing approved inputs is knowing what is approved. If you are unsure, contact your certifier before using a product. Plan ahead and be creative about how you access the inputs you need to successfully manage your certified organic farm.
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Rapid and Sensitive Method for Detection of Phytophthora Capsici in Irrigation Water Sources
Emran Ali, Owen Hudson, Justin Hand, and Sumyya Waliullah
Georgia ranks among the top three states in the nation in vegetable production. One of the most serious diseases in vegetable production in Georgia is Phytophthora blight, caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora capsici. It is a water mold that attacks the roots, foliage, and fruit, causing root rot, crown rot, leaf lesions, fruit rot, and plant wilt (Fig.1). The disease affects peppers, squash, watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe, and other vegetable crops.
Fig. 1 Example of watermelon fruit rot caused by Phytophthora capsici (Photo credit: Dr. Pingsheng Ji)
The continuous rainfall in Georgia makes Phytophthora blight a widespread problem on vegetables. Because this pathogen produces spores (sporangia and zoospores) on the surface of diseased plant tissues, the spores can be easily washed out by splashing rain and can contaminate nearby irrigation sources like irrigation ponds or lakes.
Previous studies indicated that this pathogen can survive in irrigation water that may serve as an inoculum source. Due to a lack of efficient diagnosis systems, the production of vegetables is severely impacted by contaminated irrigation water.
Detection of P. capsici in irrigation water is difficult using traditional culture-based methods because of other microorganisms present in the environment, such as Pythium spp., which usually overgrow on culture media making P. capsici undetectable. To detect the presence of P. capsici spores in water sources (irrigation ponds, runoff, etc.), we developed a hand pump-based filter paper (8-10 µm) method that captured zoospores and was used to amplify DNA of the pathogen through a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay designed for specific amplification of P. capsici (Fig. 2).
This method amplified and detected DNA from a concentration as low as 1.2 x zoospores/ml, which was 40 times more sensitive than conventional PCR. No cross-amplification was obtained when closely related species were tested.
Fig. 2: Pictures showing the sampling and processing of recycled water for the detection of Phytophthora capsici in the field.
To validate our detection protocol, water samples from the field where P. capsici was suspected to be present was taken to test the designed method with a practical scenario. Out of the seven farms tested, three were positive for the presence of P. capsici using our hand pump filter paper-based LAMP assay. Only one farm was positive when using the conventional PCR assay (Table 1), showing LAMP to be a more sensitive assay for this method of testing irrigation water.
Table 1. Detection of irrigation water from Southern GA
Pond name County, State Target crops Filter paper-based LAMP detection PCR Detection History of Disease (Y/N) P1 Tift, GA Vegetables + - N P2 Tift, GA Vegetables – – N P3 Tift, GA Vegetables – – N P4 Tift, GA Vegetables + + N P5 Tift, GA Vegetables – – N P6 Tift, GA Vegetables + – N P7 Tift, GA Vegetables – – N This improved detection method will enable researchers and extension agents to directly utilize the protocol described here to detect P. capsici. spores from a water source in less than two hours. We hope that this will lead to an increase in awareness of using pond water as an irrigation source which will eventually improve disease management of P. capsici, reduce production cost and increase crop yield. This protocol could be adapted to other pathogens that reside, accumulate, or are dispersed in contaminated irrigation systems.
Moving forward, growers should have their irrigation sources like ponds tested for the presence of P. capsici. The Plant Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, a lab service of the University of Georgia Department of Plant Pathology, is now providing P. capsici testing support for vegetable growers in Georgia. The clinic can accept water samples (generally 2 L water samples per site) to test for the presence of P. capsici. The tests currently available, their pricing, a submission form, and submission information are available at the MDL web page at https://site.caes.uga.edu/alimdl/
https://site.caes.uga.edu/alimdl/files/2018/08/Submission-form-MDL-latest-7-5-18.pdf
Samples can be shipped to the following address.
Plant Molecular Diagnostic Lab
Department of Plant Pathology
Tifton, CAES Campus
Plant Science Building
115 Coastal Way
Tifton, GA 31794
The contact information for questions, etc. from Dr. Ali are as follows:
229-386-7230
229-386-7285
Again, we would highly encourage you to take advantage of this service. If you have questions or need help, please contact your local county extension agent for additional information. It would be good to communicate with the lab so that they can expect the samples on the day of arrival.