By Clint Thompson Chlorpyrifos can legally be used to manage peachtree borers in late variety orchards that are not being harvested or were harvested early. Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, confirmed the news in the UGA Extension Peach Blog. “As long as they don’t expect to harvest fruits within …
Peach Tree Management: Growers Should Manage Borer Insects
By Clint Thompson Peach tree growers suffered through a disastrous season due to unforeseen weather conditions in February and March. Despite those various challenges, producers need to continue maintaining their orchards for future yields. This is especially true for insects like peachtree and lesser peachtree borer, says Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural …
Alabama Growers Moving Forward from Disappointing Peach Crop
By Will Jordan Peach losses were unfortunately common for growers in the Southeast. Due to an unseasonably warm February and a freeze in March, much of the crop was devastated, especially in Alabama. Producers can take action to mitigate future crop damage in the future. Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn …
North Carolina State Farmers Market to Host Peach Day July 13
RALEIGH – The popular Peach Dessert Contest is making its return to the lineup of the North Carolina (N.C.) State Farmers Market Peach Day festivities Thursday, July 13. With N.C. peaches in season, it’s a great time for home cooks to feature the juicy fruit in sweet and savory dishes any time of day. All ages and skill levels are …
GFVGA Executive Vice President: Peach Producers Remain Optimistic Despite Year
By Clint Thompson Farmers are a resilient group of individuals. They have to be to get back up off the mat following one challenging blow after another. For Georgia’s peach growers, they will need to be if they hope to survive a devastating ’23 season. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), discussed …
Disaster Declaration Key for Georgia Peach Producers
By Clint Thompson A natural disaster declaration for 18 Georgia counties by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is vital assistance for peach producers impacted by the mid-March freeze. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, discussed how important this declaration is for his growers who suffered near 100% loss. “What the declaration does …
UGA Specialist: Peach Producers to Try to Minimize Costs Ahead of Next Season
By Clint Thompson Peach producers struggling to produce a crop this year are likely already starting to think about next season. It is all about reducing input costs at this point, believes Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties. “Going forward, they’re probably going to do as little as possible …
Don’t Miss the Deadline: Peach Commodity Commission Nominations Due by May 26
Any peach producer interested or knows someone that is interested in serving on the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Peaches need to remember that nominations are due by Friday, May 26. Nomination forms can be found at – agr.georgia.gov/cpf, under the nomination form tab or by emailing andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov. Nominations will be accepted through email or by mail at Andy Harrison, …
Middle Georgia Peach Crop: About 5% Remain Following March Freeze Events
By Clint Thompson Peach lovers already know there will be slim pickings with this year’s crop. Unfortunately, that equates to about 5% in middle Georgia, estimates Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties. “We really don’t have anything to harvest. If we have peaches, they’re going to be mid-June to …
Adaptability Vital for Peach Producer
Risk mitigation through variety diversity helps Titan Farms succeed. By Clint Thompson Adaptability fuels Titan Farms’ success as a national leader in peach production. It will be the key for Chalmers Carr as his South Carolina-based farming operation navigates the current challenges facing peach producers. “There are generational farms where people may not want to have the same risk profile. …