By Clint Thompson Christmas tree sales have spiked in recent years across Alabama. It has piqued the interest of growers hoping to start their own Christmas tree farm. Jeremy Pickens, Alabama Assistant Extension professor in horticulture at Auburn University, discussed the recent trend of producers wanting to get into the industry. “I’d say the interest from people wanting to do …
Alabama Extension Expert Encourages Vegetable Growers to Scout for Armyworms
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. – Alabama Cooperative Extension entomologists are reporting a drastic increase in armyworm moth numbers. Vegetable producers should be scouting regularly. There are four armyworm species commonly seen in Alabama: Southern armyworms, beet armyworms, fall armyworms and yellowstriped armyworms. Ayanava Majumdar, an Alabama Extension entomologist, said populations of Southern armyworms are growing, and beet armyworm infestations are likely …
Neopestalotiopsis Observed in Alabama Strawberries
The strawberry disease that has been observed in Florida and Georgia this season has now been observed in Alabama. Neopestalotiopsis leaf spot and fruit rot has been detected in two Alabama counties. The fungal disease was reported on leaves at strawberry farms in Chilton and Baldwin counties during the first couple of weeks in April. The disease is still new …
Lull in Strawberry Crop Across Central Alabama
By Clint Thompson The current lull in strawberry supply in middle Alabama is attributed to the mid-March freeze event. Plants were vulnerable to temperatures that dropped in the mid-20s, says David Lawrence, regional Extension agent in central Alabama. “Right now, we’re seeing a reduction in volume just based off of the freeze event that we had in March,” Lawrence said. …
Weather Challenges for Southeast Alabama Producers
By Clint Thompson Adverse weather conditions have been a challenge for specialty crop producers in Southeast Alabama. The combination of a freeze event in March along with steady rainfall in recent weeks has impacted production in various ways. Neil Kelly, Alabama regional Extension agent in southeast Alabama, highlighted some of the obstacles his growers have faced this spring. “We had …
Freeze Aftermath: Alabama’s Blueberry Crop Devastated by March Event
By Clint Thompson It felt like spring in February and winter in March. Unfortunately, that was a recipe for disaster for blueberries in Alabama. The sub-freezing temperatures on March 20 devastated the state’s blueberry crop, says Jacob Kelley, Alabama Regional Extension agent for Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties in Southwest Alabama. “We had that March …
Alabama Hemp Growers Concerned with Moving Industry Forward
By Clint Thompson Another hemp season is under way across Alabama. The same core group of about 75 producers are still invested in an industry that is still in its early stages of development across the Southeast region. Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension specialist, said five different meetings in January generated questions among attendees. Growers voiced their …
North Alabama Peach Producer: Worst I’ve Been Hurt
By Clint Thompson The mid-March freeze event stymied peach trees already in bloom in central and northern Alabama. It is a significant loss for producers, believes Jeremy Calvert, who operates J Calvert Farms in Cullman, Alabama, “I’ve picked 14 crops, and I think this will be my 15th. This is the worst I’ve been hurt,” Calvert said. “We still have …
Alabama Christmas Tree Grower Workshop
Alabama farmers and Christmas tree enthusiasts can learn more about Christmas tree production during a grower workshop scheduled for Saturday, April 22 at 10 a.m. EDT. Alabama Cooperative Extension is coordinating with the Southern Christmas Tree Association to host the workshop which will be held at the Wadsworth Christmas Tree Farm at 3071 Dexter Road, Wetumpka, Alabama, 36092. Attendees will …
Alabama Hemp Production: Active Group of About 75 Growers
By Clint Thompson Alabama’s hemp meetings this winter generated interest among returning growers and those hoping to produce the crop for the first time. Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension specialist, discussed the state of the industry, which attracted between 10 and 30 growers at five different meetings in January. “We definitely have a much smaller but more …