By Josh Paine for UGA CAES News Organic fruit and vegetable growers want to meet the recent uptick in national consumer demand, but they need additional tools to battle pests and diseases that often accompany organic crop growth. One such tool may be the use of essential oils. That’s why the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and …
Pecan Crop Remains Ahead of Schedule
The pecan crop in the Southeast remains ahead of its normal production schedule, though cooler temperatures in recent weeks have slowed the crop’s progress, says Andrew Sawyer, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension area pecan agent for Southeast District. “I think the cool (weather) has actually slowed us down a little bit,” Sawyer said. “The crop was already 10 (days) to …
Water War Arguments to be Held ‘In Due Course’
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday indicated it will hear oral arguments in the long-running water battle between Florida and Georgia but did not specify when. The court issued an order that said the dispute is “set for oral argument in due course.” The case involves divvying up water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, which stretches from northern Georgia to …
First Virtual Georgia Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training
The Georgia Department of Agriculture Produce Safety Team is offering a virtual two-day Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training via Zoom on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 from 8 a.m.-noon. Any produce grower who grows, packs, harvests and/or holds covered produce, makes more than $25,000 in annual produce sales (on average, based on the past three years of sales), and does …
UGA awarded $2.7 million grant to fight fungus in broccoli
By Josh Paine for UGA CAES News A new multistate project will bring together researchers from the University of Georgia and partner universities to fight Alternaria leaf blight and head rot in broccoli, a plant disease that thrives in warm temperatures and humidity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded a $2.7 million Specialty Crop …
South Georgia Producers Facing Mounting Obstacles This Fall
South Georgia vegetable farmers are facing their share of challenges this fall. Between heavy whitefly infestations, increased disease pressure and extreme cloud cover over the past two weeks, producers continue to deal with obstacles during this fall production season, according to Jeremy Kichler, University of Georgia Colquitt County Extension Coordinator. “When (Hurricane) Sally came through, we got anywhere from 5 …
Breeding Better Cucurbits
By Cecilia McGregor and George Boyhan Cucurbit crops are some of the most widely grown vegetable crops in the Southeast. However, the hot and humid climate is conducive to pest and disease development, which presents a challenge to growers. Cucurbit breeding at the University of Georgia (UGA) is focused on breeding pumpkin, watermelon and squash with excellent fruit quality and …
Cold Outbreak is Likely the First Week of October
According to the UGA Extension Viticulture Blog, Pam Knox, UGA Extension climatologist, said the nights of Oct. 2-4 could see temperatures in the 30s across the Southern Appalachians and into northern Georgia and Alabama. She said while most places won’t have temperatures that get down to freezing, areas that are frost pockets and prone to frost could freeze. A second …
Uncertainty Remains in Pecan Market
With some certainty, Georgia pecan producers are expecting a bumper crop this year. What remains uncertain is the market price farmers will receive at harvest. As growers are currently harvesting Pawnees with other varieties expected to be harvested next month, there is still an unpredictability regarding the pecan market, according to Phil Croft, manager of the Hudson Pecan Company. “Right …
Hop Stunt Viroid Infecting Citrus Trees in Georgia
According to UGA Extension IPM blog, hop stunt viroid has been discovered in Georgia. Citrus production in Georgia is rapidly increasing each year. There are citrus plantings in backyards, production, and plant nurseries within at least 32 GA counties. The growth of citrus in Georgia is only expected to increase over time. However, there are some threats to expansion. Citrus …