Alabama Extension is set to host a couple of upcoming field days that will appeal to the state’s specialty crop producers. A specialty crop field day will be held on Friday, Oct. 7 at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center at 167 State Highway 134 East in Headland, Ala. The event will start at 10:30 a.m. (EST). Those interested in …
Alabama Extension to Host Strawberry Production Meeting
Alabama Extension will hold a strawberry production meeting on Nov. 10 in Jemison, Alabama, beginning at 11 a.m. EST. The meeting will highlight various issues pertinent to strawberry production. Topics include weed management, soil fumigation, disease management, variety selection and budget development. It is a free event and is tailored towards experienced growers as well as beginning farmers. A catered …
IPM Tips for Transitioning from Summer to Fall Vegetable Crops
Alabama Extension is providing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tips for specialty crop producers transitioning from summer to fall vegetable crops. Sanitation Sanitation is an IPM level one pest prevention tactic. It includes the removal of plant or crop debris immediately after production is over. Growers should not let the vines or plant debris rot at a location while doing other …
Smartphone App Links Alabama Extension to Growers
By Clint Thompson Alabama Extension has a new and improved way of communicating with its growers. The Farming Basics Phone App allows producers to access timely information in an easy and convenient format. The main page consists of various topics growers can click through, including Crops, Diseases, Insects and Weeds. The Contact function at the bottom of the App allows …
Pivotal Year for Alabama Pecans
By Clint Thompson A pivotal year awaits Alabama’s pecan industry. Two years after Hurricane Sally devastated the state’s production, there is renewed optimism about this year’s crop, especially in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Bryan Wilkins, Alabama Extension research associate, said growers should have a better idea of where their production stands following the hurricane’s impact in 2020. “This will be …
Insects in Alabama: What to Watch for
By Clint Thompson Hot summertime weather conditions can fuel insect pressure. That is exactly the case in Alabama where multiple species are present and could pose a problem for specialty crop producers. Ayanava Majumdar, Extension professor in entomology and plant pathology at Auburn University, highlights the pests that growers need to be mindful of. “The armyworm pressure is consistent. We …
Southeast Alabama Specialty Crops Fizzle Under High Temperatures
By Clint Thompson Southeast Alabama specialty crops prefer dry weather conditions. This season’s prolonged drought was not detrimental to production season. However, they don’t like it extremely hot at the peak of harvest season. But that was the scenario farmers faced in the Southeast in June. It significantly impacted fruits and vegetables in the Wiregrass region of Alabama, said Neil …
Northeast Alabama: Rainfall Needed in Dry Region
By Clint Thompson Northeast Alabama is in dire need of rainfall. The region is abnormally dry, according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Some areas are even moderately dry, especially along the Alabama-Tennessee state line. It is taking a toll on crops and ponds, says Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama. “Right now, irrigation ponds are …
How to Manage Early-Season Caterpillars
By Ayanava Majumdar When summer temperatures are soaring and you are hot and sweaty, all caterpillars may look the same. But look carefully inside the crop canopy, especially in fruit-bearing vegetables. Depending on your location, the sequence of insect pests could be different, so have a conversation with your Extension agent about what they are seeing. WHAT TO WATCH FOR …
Insect Activity Increasing Across Alabama
Insect activity has increased across Alabama, according to Alabama Extension. Traps record pest populations across the state over a two-week period. Specialty crop producers should be wary of beet armyworms and southern armyworms. Beet armyworms have increased 32% compared to a 75% increase for fall armyworms. According to the pest monitoring report, there were 99 beet armyworms on July 1, …