By Clint Thompson Recent cold temperatures will not have any impact on the development of this year’s pecan crop, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist. Wells estimates that pecan farmers saw budbreak at least two weeks early this year. With that early budbreak back in March, temperatures were still warm. Pecan trees put their foliage on …
Sulfur Applications Help Protect Grapes Against Powdery Mildew
By Clint Thompson University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Fruit Disease Specialist Phil Brannen believes grape producers can better protect their crop against powdery mildew disease and preserve essential fungicides with sulfur applications. Brannen believes sulfur is a viable alternative that growers need to utilize, especially since resistance has developed in two different classes of chemicals. Those classes are the quinone …
Georgia Pecan Growers to Vote on Assessment Renewal
Georgia Department of Agriculture ATLANTA, GA – Georgia pecan growers of 30 acres or more will vote in May on the renewal of a one-cent per pound assessment on pecans for the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Pecans. Pursuant Georgia law, producers are required to vote every three years to renew the assessment. Voting takes place May 1 through May …
Promoting Health Benefits of Blueberries Could Boost Sales
By Clint Thompson Produce industry experts believe consumers are, and will continue to be more health conscious, which is good news for blueberry producers. “It’s very apparent to me that consumers are getting the message because when you look at things like the blueberry category, the strawberry category, the citrus category, we’re seeing great movement in those types of items,” …
N.C. State Economist: Second Quarter Should Be Horrible Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
By Clint Thompson The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has dealt a devastating blow to the U.S. economy and especially the American farmer. North Carolina State Extension Economist Mike Walden believes the country needs to do what it can to help those farmers rebound from the current recession. “We do need to worry about keeping our farmers afloat. Fortunately, in the stimulus …
Using Pesticides Wisely Program Offered Online This Year
By Clint Thompson The Using Pesticides Wisely (UPW) program will be offered in an online format this year, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The program has helped Georgia reduce pesticide drift complaints to the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. It will be held this week April 21-23 at various locations. “Our Using Pesticides Wisely programs started in 2015. …
UGA, Georgia Department of Agriculture Offer Critical Training for Pest Control Application Online
By Maria M. Lameiras for UGA CAES News The University of Georgia and Georgia Department of Agriculture dicamba training program, Using Pesticides Wisely 2020, will move to online delivery for the remaining sessions. Using Pesticides Wisely (UPW) is a state program aimed at teaching farmers and other pesticide applicators how to properly apply pesticides to limit pesticide drift in Georgia. …
West: Hope to be Stabilizing Influence During Time of Uncertainty
By Clint Thompson Effective July 1, the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) will have a familiar face to serve as interim dean. Joe West, who recently retired as assistant dean from the UGA Tifton campus, just hopes he can be a stabilizing influence during a time of uncertainty in the Ag industry in Georgia. …
Drought Still a Problem for Florida
By Clint Thompson Even with much-needed rainfall this week and more expected this weekend, Florida remains in a drought; severe in some cases. The southern portions of the state and along the peninsula will remain drier than normal for the foreseeable future, according to Pam Knox, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension state climatologist, . “I’ve been watching the drought in …
Vidalia Onion Crop on the Smaller Size
By Clint Thompson Bob Stafford, manager of the Vidalia Onion Committee in Vidalia, Georgia, believes weather during the growing season has impacted this year’s Vidalia onion crop. “We planted 9,373 acres and lost some to hail and we lost some to too much water. We had a bad growing season. We’ll have a good promotable supply, but they’ll be a …