Grape Producers Remain Diligent with Fungicide Spray Applications

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Grapes

By Clint Thompson University of Georgia (UGA) Extension advises grape producers to remain diligent with their fungicide applications. Phil Brannen, UGA Extension fruit disease specialist, discussed disease management, with harvests slated to commence soon across the region. “We’re starting to see some downy mildew coming out right now, so we are getting some disease as we’re looking towards the latter …

Dacthal Done: Onion Growers Lose Effective Herbicide

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Onion

By Clint Thompson Onion producers should be aware that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an emergency order suspending all uses of Dacthal. The order became effective on Aug. 7 and the herbicide can not be sold or used in any manner, according to Stanley Culpepper, University of Georgia Extension weed scientist. “Even it’s sitting in your barn, you …

Sweet Surprise: Muscadines a Treat in Southeast

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Grapes

By Clint Thompson All it should take for consumers to enjoy a muscadine grape is to just give it a try. Getting to that point, however, remains a challenge for Georgia producers. University of Georgia (UGA) pecan breeder Patrick Conner discussed the future of muscadines during a field day on Aug. 17 at the UGA Tifton Campus. “We’ve got to …

Debby Aftermath: Georgia Pecan Crop Quality in Question

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s pecan crop was vulnerable to Hurricane Debby and its trek through the Southeast the week of Aug. 5. The nuts that did not fall to the ground because of Debby’s high wind speeds may have been victimized with poor quality as a result. It’s an issue that producers in Southeast Georgia are not likely to see …

Vidalia Onion Committee is Seeking New Member Nominations

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Vidalia Onions

Vidalia, GA — The Vidalia® Onion Committee (VOC) is seeking nominations from industry producers to serve on the committee. The VOC elects eight new nominees annually as part of an annual process. Four members and four alternate seats are currently available on the committee. The VOC administers the federal marketing order locally and consists of eight producer members and their …

Meet UGA’s New Peach and Citrus Breeder

Clint ThompsonCitrus, Georgia, Peaches

By Clint Thompson The University of Georgia (UGA) turned to one of its own to man the newly created peach and citrus breeder position in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). Dario Chavez joined UGA in 2014 and has conducted peach research on the UGA Griffin Campus for the past 10 years. Chavez will expand his research to …

Dry Weather Impact: Minimal Apple Diseases This Year

Clint ThompsonApple, Georgia

By Clint Thompson An extended dry period in North Georgia has led to minimal disease buildup this summer for the state’s apple producers. Whether that continues depends on how much additional rain the region records over the next month. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, said disease infections in apple orchards were almost nonexistent through mid-July. …

Whitefly Roundup: Hot and Dry Conditions Could Lead to Heavy Buildup

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson The environmental conditions are ripe for whitefly buildup in the Southeast. They’ll continue to be if excessive rainfall remains absent for prolonged periods of time, believes Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension vegetable entomologist. “It depends on what happens with the weather, if we go hot and dry. We started building considerably recently. If it goes …

Hurricane Debby’s Impact on Georgia Pecans

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Hurricane Debby’s impact on Georgia’s pecan crop was not as severe as Idalia was the prior year. But it still affected trees with its high wind speeds and excessive rainfall, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist. “That southern tier, starting around Lowndes County, Brooks, in there was hit pretty bad. Some of the …

Diamide Resistance Development in Beet Armyworms

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Two bioassays conducted at the University of Georgia (UGA) showed diamide insecticide resistance developing in beet armyworms. How widespread it is remains a mystery, says Stormy Sparks, UGA Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist. “That showed up last year. We’re still not sure how widespread it is. We’ve gotten reports from multiple crops, multiple people, multiple insecticides,” Sparks said. …