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From the Field: That’s a Wrap! 2024 in Review
December 13, 2024
Well, it’s December already! Like many of you, I’m marveling at how quickly the year has flown by. It feels like we just sent out our last newsletter, and here we are closing out another year. Speaking of our last newsletter, I had mentioned that we had recorded the disease management sessions from Jim Faust and Francesca Hand at the ASCFG Regional Conference in Boulder, CO. We posted the recording, and you can view it here!
As I look back at 2024, some things were fairly typical—consistent challenges, rhythms, and successes that come with growing—but there were also moments that stood out as unique.
We’ll start with one that hit home personally for me as someone who lives in the mountains of North Carolina. Yep, Hurricane Helene. The flooding we experienced up here was completely unprecedented and something no one could prepare for. The devastation I saw in my county was unimaginable. ASCFG recently did a nice piece on how smaller cut flower growers in NC are recovering. You can read it here. While I’m talking about NC growers here, I recognize that many, many others in other locations were impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton. Please feel free to reach out if there is any way that AFE can support you. Here are some resources that are available, although this list is by no means exhaustive:
- Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
- Mountain BizWorks (NC only)
- Florida EQIP (due December 20)
- USDA recovery assistance
Be sure to check with your local extension agent as well since they may have leads on local grants and recovery programs.
On the pest management front, it seems I couldn’t go to any conference or tour this year without hearing about Lewis mites. Lewis mites come in cycles, which is why I haven’t heard about them every year. JC Chong from SePro shared some excellent Lewis mite info in his recent PestTalks columns, which you can find here and here. They’re definitely worth a read. He also links to some additional hurricane resources.
And then there’s the economic landscape. While I won’t wade into politics, this year’s election was certainly unprecedented for several reasons. There are also growing concerns about tariffs and how they’ll impact growers. If you’re interested in how the results might impact our industry in 2025, don’t miss our recent Grow Pro Webinar, Trends to Watch in 2025, with Melinda Knuth and Charlie Hall, who shared some insightful information.
While we’re on the subject of Grow Pro Webinars, we’ve had record-breaking registration and attendance this year, so thank you for attending and giving us your feedback! I’m excited to share our Grow Pro lineup for 2025 with you in this newsletter, including 2 bonus sessions.
And I couldn’t write about 2024 without talking about sustainability. This was a big year for Sustainabloom, with new industry guides, roundtable discussions at industry events, and the launching of a $2.5 million fundraising campaign. Reaching this goal will enable Sustainabloom to remain a lasting resource for the industry, ensuring it continues to evolve alongside sustainability trends and challenges.
On a personal note, 2024 has been one of the most fulfilling years of my career, and that’s largely thanks to you. Compiling this newsletter is a privilege, but what really stands out to me are the connections I’ve made with so many of you at events throughout the year. I truly believe this is one of the best industries to work in because of the people, not just the pretty plants.
Lastly, as you’re planning your year-end gifts, I invite you to consider supporting the work we do here at AFE. Every contribution helps us fund critical research, provide educational opportunities, and create resources that empower growers. Your support truly makes a difference.
As we wind down the year, I want to say thank you for the hard work, dedication, and innovation that you bring to our field. From all of us here at AFE, we wish you a joyous holiday season and a successful start to 2025.
Keep growing,
Laura
