PRATTVILLE, Ala. – Sweet Grown Alabama hosted its third annual farm to table dinner at The Barn at Twin Valley in Prattville on Thursday, July 13. More than 250 attendees enjoyed a dinner full of locally grown products, live music from local band Shackelford Lane and beautiful Alabama farm views. Farmers and ranchers, Sweet Grown Alabama sponsors and supporters, local legislators and community …
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 …
Muscadine Production: Alabama Extension Specialist Highlights Varieties for Potential Growers
By Clint Thompson Variety selection is essential for growers interested in planting a muscadine crop. Producers should know what varieties work best before they start planting. Elina Coneva, Extension specialist and professor of horticulture at Auburn University, focused on muscadine varieties during a recent webinar. She highlighted those that worked well in her research trials, beginning with the ‘Hall’ variety. …
AFVGA Executive Director: Crop Insurance Essential Following March Freeze Events
By Clint Thompson Crop insurance is a necessity that all growers need to utilize. Alabama’s specialty crop producers need only to look back at March to see how one weather event changed the outlook for an entire crop. Blake Thaxton, executive director of the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA), said the sub-freezing temperatures over multiple days especially impacted …
Central Alabama Strawberry Season: Better Than Average
By Clint Thompson Strawberry season was a success for growers in central Alabama. Weather conditions the last few months allowed for producers to maintain their season longer than normal, said David Lawrence, regional Extension agent in central Alabama. “We finished two or three weeks ago, which is, if you can get into June with strawberries, you’ve done good. We had …
Grape Crop Management: What to Look Out for with Harvest Season Looming
By Clint Thompson Harvest season is on the horizon for grape producers in Georgia and Alabama. Now is a critical time for growers to implement their disease and pest management strategies. Sarah Lowder, University of Georgia viticulture Extension specialist, discussed what producers should be mindful of with harvest season just a few weeks away. “At this point, keeping on top …
Federal Assistance: Alabama Producers in 51 Counties Eligible for Disaster Assistance
By Clint Thompson A pair of March freeze events devastated fruit and vegetable crops in Alabama. Specialty crop producers in 51 counties in Alabama have been found eligible for disaster assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture included 51 counties in its recent Crop Production Loss Disaster Declaration. Primary affected areas include Baldwin, Blount, Chilton, …
Beneficial Insect: Green Lacewing Key Management for Aphid Control
Clint Thompson Sometimes the best management strategy for a producer hoping to control an insect is to release its predator. That is a tactic commercially available to specialty crop growers, according to Ayanava Majumdar, an Alabama Extension entomologist. Majumdar spoke about beneficial insects and how farmers can release them to control certain insect pests during a recent webinar. One of …
Alabama Extension Recommends Certain Pumpkin Cultivars
By Clint Thompson Some Alabama vegetable growers are considering their pumpkin plantings for this fall. Andre da Silva, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, highlighted what cultivars growers need to focus on during a recent webinar. “We did some variety trials, and I would just like to show that those are jack-o-lantern pumpkins that we evaluated last year in central Alabama. What …
Management Tips for Reusing Plastic Mulch in Fall
By Clint Thompson Alabama Extension recommends that vegetable growers re-use their plastic mulch in the fall. But there are management strategies that producers need to utilize to make it a worthwhile strategy. Andre da Silva, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, focused on plastic mulches during a recent webinar. “Using plastic mulch for a second crop is a good approach for the …