GFVGA Lawsuit Hearing Against DOL Slated for Aug. 2

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson A positive step was taken for Georgia specialty crop growers in the current lawsuit against the Department of Labor (DOL), challenging the new worker rules proposed for the H-2A program. Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), a plaintiff in the case, said the implementation of the rules has been delayed …

UGA Tifton to Host Muscadine Cultivar Field Day

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Grapes

Muscadine producers are invited to attend a Muscadine Cultivar Field Day on Saturday, Aug. 17 at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Campus Muscadine Vineyard. The field day will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Patrick Conner, muscadine breeder, will provide a tour, beginning at 9 a.m. Visitors may follow through with the tour or can pick up …

Dry Weather a Plus for Pecan Producers?

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Dry weather this time of year is not always a bad thing for pecan producers, but that is contingent on growers having irrigation set up for their orchards. “We recommend that you don’t even try to grow them without irrigation to begin with,” says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. “For growing pecans, it’s actually …

Spread Your Risk: UGA ANR Agent Discusses Neopestalotiopsis in Strawberries

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Strawberry

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s bout with neopestalotiopsis fruit rot disease in strawberries this year means producers need to be more cautious in how they order their plants every summer. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources (ANR) agent for Peach and Taylor counties, believes growers need to spread the risk among multiple nurseries. It will help …

Sweet Georgia Peaches a Hit with Growers, Customers

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Peaches

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s peach producers are finally enjoying the fruits of their labor this year. “It’s good, it’s really hard to complain about this crop,” said North Georgia producer Drew Echols. “The flavor is great. There’s a lot of beautiful peaches.” Echols and other growers with a crop had reason to be smiling this harvest season. Last year’s crop …

What’s Next? Georgia Pecan Grower Stresses Education with Potential Exports to India

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson The trade mission to India last April went about as well as could be expected, according to Georgia pecan industry experts. But what happens next? Justin Jones, Georgia pecan grower, chairman of industry relations for the American Pecan Council and co-owner of brand Zorro Pecans, discussed the next step in making a trade partnership with India, not …

Pure Speculation: Hard to Estimate Georgia’s Pecan Production This Year

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Pecan harvests are on the horizon for Georgia producers. How many yields the state’s pecan farmers will produce is almost impossible to estimate, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist. “It’s hard to really put a number on or estimate Georgia’s pecan production at this point because of all the planting that’s taken place …

End in Sight: South Georgia Watermelon Harvests Nearing End

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Watermelon

By Clint Thompson Watermelon harvests are winding down across South Georgia. Late-season rainfall has sparked disease outbreaks in fields, says Tim Flanders, a watermelon scout. “Most of the folks I’m dealing with are beginning to wrap up. I’ve got some late watermelons that I guess they will continue to try to go for a while, but that’s just a small …

Sens. Ossoff, Rev. Warnock Pressing USDA to Promote Georgia Pecans

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock are pushing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help Georgia farmers export more pecans. Both are urging the USDA to provide adequate promotional resources for marketing Georgia pecans to the global market. The inquiry comes after the USDA announced the first tranche of funding under the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program …