To celebrate locally grown products and Alabama farmers, Sweet Grown Alabama, the state’s non-profit agricultural branding program, hosted a legislative luncheon on May 17. Members of the Alabama Legislature attended the luncheon at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association in downtown Montgomery. Chef Preston Williams has built relationships with local farmers to highlight fresh produce and enjoys cooking with local products. “It’s …
Alabama Extension Agent: Thrips Are Out of Control
By Clint Thompson Thrips pressure is high in southern Alabama. Vegetable producers should be ready to combat the high populations with insecticide applications. Fortunately, for the region’s farmers, insecticides are available, says Jacob Kelley, Alabama regional Extension agent. “With this warm weather, thrips are out of control. The last two weeks, the calls about thrips have gone up substantially, and …
Christmas Tree Production Can Be Rewarding but Challenging
By Clint Thompson Christmas tree production is a venture growing with popularity in Alabama. It provides great potential for retirees and is sure to attract customers looking to partake in the family experience every year. But aspiring producers need to understand the time, energy and work involved in ensuring trees are ready in the fall. Jeremy Pickens, Alabama assistant Extension …
Integrated Management Approach Required for Nematode Control in Sweet Potatoes
By Clint Thompson Sometimes the management of a crop disease or insect requires an integrated approach to achieve full control. Organic sweet potato producers must implement such a strategy to achieve full control of root-knot nematodes. The southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is one of several plant-parasitic nematodes that cause damage to plant roots, according to Alabama Extension. Symptoms below …
Peaked Interest: Christmas Tree Production Increasing in Alabama
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 …