Isaias Set to Saturate Parts of Southeast

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Tropical Storm Isaias is set to become a hurricane before making landfall this weekend along the Gulf Coast. Depending on the storm’s development over the next couple of days, the Southeast region will be impacted, as a lot of rain and some wind can be expected, according to Pam Knox, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agricultural climatologist. …

Pumpkin Crop Low Following Hot Summer

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson A prolonged heat wave scorched the Southeast this summer. Not only did it make life uncomfortable for those who had to work outside in the hot conditions, the weather conditions impacted pumpkin yields for farmers in the region. That is according to Drew Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms in Alto, Georgia. “Yields are not what they should …

Rains Helping Quality of Southeast Pecans

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Heavy rains last weekend and those in the forecast for next weekend are not ideal for row crop producers trying to harvest their cotton and peanuts. But for pecan growers, the additional rainfall this time of year is expected to benefit the nuts, according to Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist. “It’s probably actually …

South Georgia Pecan Farmer Modifies Production Schedule Amid High Incidences of Scab to Pawnee Variety

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Scab disease’s devastating impact on the Pawnee pecan variety is forcing one South Georgia farmer to revamp his production strategy. “I’m taking Pawnee out this winter, and that’s where I’m at,” said Buck Paulk, located in Ray City, Georgia. “It’s like after Hurricane Helene last year, it went off the deep end. I mean, it’s done like …

South Georgia Whitefly Infestations Worse Since 2017

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Whitefly infestations have been high this year in South Georgia. It’s the worst the region has experienced in nearly a decade, according to Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist. The high populations are impacting the vegetable and cotton crops this fall. “It’s worse than it’s been in a long time,” Sparks said. “They just …

Pecan Farmers Watching the Tropics, Hoping to Avoid Late-Season Storm

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Most everything has been done by Southeast pecan growers to produce a crop this year. As South Georgia farmer Justin Jones puts it, everything now until harvests are out of his and other farmers’ hands. “We’ve done our job as far as growing the pecan, keeping the tree happy,” Jones said. “It’s out of our hands at …

Phony Peach Disease Annual Problem That Could Worsen If Tree Not Destroyed

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Management of phony peach disease remains simple for Southeast growers – destroy the infected tree before it becomes more of a problem than it already is. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, said in a prior interview that the disease is caused by a bacteria and reduces production to nearly zero. The …

Cooler Temperatures On The Horizon

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Cooler temperatures are on the way in the Southeast. It’s not a moment too soon for farmers and residents in Florida, Alabama and Georgia who have endured high temperatures well into September. Pam Knox, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agricultural climatologist, discussed the heat and what’s on the horizon during an interview with AgNet Media. “It looks …

UGA Extension Pecan Specialist Discusses Use of Scab Resistant Varieties

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Scab resistant pecan varieties are popular among Alabama and Georgia growers these days. Varieties like Lakota, Avalon and Creek are used so producers can minimize the amount of fungicide sprays they must make during a growing season. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, cautioned producers about overwhelming an orchard with one or more of a …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Online Fraud Targeting Farmers Reported in Georgia

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Frank Giles In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) can make images and videos that look real, scammers are taking advantage of the technology and all the ways potential victims can be reached through their phones, emails and social media accounts. A Specialty Crop Grower article last month featured Gene McAvoy, a well-known agriculturalist, whose Facebook page was hacked. …