News
Researchers to lead $5M grant to fight major sweetpotato pest
In North Carolina’s rural communities, the color of money is changing – from green to orange. Sweetpotato acreage in America has been growing in recent years, particularly in North Carolina, which is by far America’s largest producer of swee... more
Alliance drives breeding techniques, gene editing for strawberries
The J.R. Simplot Co. announced Oct. 28 it has entered a strategic alliance with Plant Sciences Inc., a Watsonville, California-based plant breeding company, to drive new breeding techniques for strawberries, including gene editing. Simplot and Pla... more
AgSharks Pitch Competition has five startups seeking $250K
Out of more than 100 applicants, five agtech start-up companies have been selected to go head-to-head in the Western Growers/S2G Ventures 2021 AgSharks Competition to win a $250,000 minimum investment and potential access to farm acreage to pilot the... more
Sunn hemp effective for weed control in fall crops, research finds
Growers with a certified organic diversified vegetable farm in South Carolina are seeing some success with using sunn hemp as a crimped cover crop to suppress weeds in fall brassica crops. Wild Hope Farm, located in Chester, South Carolina, receiv... more
Board of directors set for new International Fresh Produce Association
PMA and United Fresh leaders provided a series of updates Oct. 28 for the new association named International Fresh Produce Association. Co-CEOs of the new association, Cathy Burns and Tom Stenzel, were joined by Executive Committee members to sha... more
NCAE Ag Labor Forum in December has ambitious agenda
The National Council of Agricultural Employers announced Oct. 27 its agenda for the Annual Ag Labor Forum which will be held Dec. 1-3, at the M Resort just outside Las Vegas, Nevada. The National Council of Agricultural Employers' (NCAE )annual ev... more
USDA plans over $243M in grants to strengthen specialty crop industry
The USDA announced Oct. 28 an investment of more than $243 million in grants to support specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and nursery crops through two USDA programs – the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Specialty ... more