Georgia Archives - Specialty Crop Industry

Farmer’s Mental Health Highlighted During Press Conference at Sunbelt Ag Expo

Clint Thompson — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 11:45:00 +0000

By Clint Thompson “It’s okay not to be okay.” That’s the mantra shared by various organizations, including the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities (DBHDD), Georgia Department of Agriculture and University of Georgia Extension. The three organizations united during a press conference on Wednesday at the Sunbelt Ag Expo to discuss mental health and encourage farmers to vocalize ...

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Survey Says: Georgia Growers Asked About Impact of Deer

Jim Rogers — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 10:30:00 +0000

Deer can be a destructive pest across all growers of the agricultural industry in Georgia. The Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Department of Agriculture and University of Georgia Cooperative Extension want to know how destructive. The three organizations are collaborating on a deer impact survey to help determine the financial losses due to deer in Georgia over the past five years. ...

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Pumpkin Popularity: North Georgia Farmer Reflects on Fall Crop

Jim Rogers — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

By Clint Thompson An increase in pumpkin acreage has netted Drew Echols income he hadn’t largely counted on prior to 2020. But as demand for the fall-based crop has increased in recent years, so has Echols’ acreage. He produced about 50 acres in 2020, 120 in ’21, 150 in ’22 and has peaked at 175 this season. “I don’t know ...

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Strawberry Shortage: UGA Extension Agent Confirms Lack of Available Plants

Jim Rogers — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

By Clint Thompson Strawberry plantings have begun across the Southeast… at least for those growers who have their plants. Some producers have already expressed to Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, that there is a plant shortage. “We’re a little early really. Some of the guys around here still ...

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GFVGA Leader: Information is Key When Managing Labor-Related Issues

Jim Rogers — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) wants to help its specialty crop farmers stay compliant with H-2A and other federal regulations. The Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum is designed to provide producers all the information they need to remain on the right side of compliance. The annual two-day event, scheduled for Nov. 14-15 at the ...

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South Georgia Whitefly Populations Currently High

Jim Rogers — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 11:30:00 +0000

By Clint Thompson Whitefly populations are not at abnormally high levels, but they are high according to one expert. Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension vegetable entomologist, talked about the insect and what it might take to decrease the current populations. “They’re pretty high. We’re hoping as it cools off, it’s going to stretch out the life cycle and ...

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Georgia Pumpkin Grower: High Quality, Low Quantity

Jim Rogers — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000

By Clint Thompson Pumpkin season is in full swing, and the quality of this year’s crop is unlike any one grower has ever had. Unfortunately, the quantity is also down this year, according to Drew Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms and president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA). “Quality is phenomenal. It’s some of the best quality ...

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Idalia Aftermath: Georgia Pecan Producer Reflects on Loss Month Later

Clint Thompson — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:15:00 +0000

By Clint Thompson A month since Hurricane Idalia ravaged South Georgia and the area’s pecan crop, one producer has a final tally on his devastation. It was way worse than he had imagined. “I just finished getting a tree loss count. It’s about 15%, farm-wise, of the trees that were lost. Initially, I was hoping it would be about 10,000 ...

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What’s Needed to Ensure a Sweet Future for Georgia Blueberries

Jim Rogers — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:00:00 +0000

By Clint Thompson One of the largest and most productive blueberry growers in Georgia is concerned about the obstacles that will challenge his ability to remain sustainable in the future. That is why Kevin Eason voices his concerns to those who will listen. He aims to educate legislative leaders about the issues that challenge his sustainability as a farmer. Eason ...

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GFVGA Concerned About DOL’s Proposed Rule Changes

Clint Thompson — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 09:35:00 +0000

Count the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) as one organization not thrilled about the new rules proposed by the Department of Labor (DOL). The GFVGA said in an email to its members that it is concerned that new rules established by the DOL exceeds its authority and places additional undue burden on users of the H-2A program. Georgia ...

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