Agritourism is one of the fastest growing segments in Florida agriculture today. Agritourism operations in The Sunshine State are about to get some serious backup from the newly-formed Florida AgriTourism Association. It likely won’t be long before other states follow suit. The benefits of the Association are sure to be felt by the state’s agritourism [...]
The start of the Atlantic hurricane season was June 1st, but data shows that less than 15 percent of the season’s hurricanes are in June and July. As August begins, hurricane season starts to heat up. Those in the ag industry need to complete their ag hurricane prep if they have not already done so. [...]
There’s no denying that Florida has seen an enormous negative impact due to citrus greening, or HLB, in its citrus industry. As annual harvests have continued to fall year after year, many have wondered how long the citrus industry can stay afloat. With harvests dwindling and maintenance costs soaring, many citrus growers have thrown in [...]
Migrant farmworkers are at the forefront of many discussions on agriculture and immigration. In ag-heavy states like Florida, the presence of farmworkers is common, as they are there nearly year-round to pick such crops as citrus and strawberries. However, NPR contributor, Dan Charles, realized that while many who are in agriculture understand that a large [...]
The USDA just released the season’s final citrus forecast for Florida. It’s one that’s been greeted with both praise and dismay, a bit like winning a skirmish but still facing a difficult war. The forecast increased slightly—as it has for the several past months, in contrast with what’s par for the course since citrus greening [...]
There are many different innovations and treatments that are being tested by the Florida citrus industry for dealing with HLB, or citrus greening. One interesting concept is about to be put to real-life testing in two different Central Florida locations: Citrus Undercover Production Systems, or CUPS. A Florida Grower article details the efforts of two [...]
Florida agriculture may be one of the strongest in the nation, but the tropical climate, abundant sunshine and plentiful rains (barring drought!) that created a land so favorable to agriculture also welcome a lion’s share of pests and pathogens to attack the fruits of The Sunshine State’s labors (and the vegetables, nuts, livestock and so [...]
“I think that I shall never see/ A poem lovely as a tree…” So goes the first two lines of poet Joyce Kilmer’s 1914 poem “Trees,” an homage that could be the official verse of Arbor Day. Originally set aside to encourage the planting of trees in the 1800s—a practice that is as old as civilization [...]
The United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, is a household name in the U.S., though this large department of the government is best known for their work in the agriculture setting, but the reality is that the USDA does so much more. In addition to agrarian efforts, overseeing nutrition in public settings and administering [...]
It’s no secret that pollinators are of vital importance to the country’s agriculture industry, and most people have heard that many pollinators—such as honeybees and Monarch butterflies—are in trouble. Similarly, those pollinators that aren’t experiencing troubles like reduced numbers or documented colony collapses are needed to take up the slack of those that are in [...]
