The University of Georgia (UGA) has disease labs and clinics to help citrus producers determine what diseases are impacting their trees. Jonathan Oliver, UGA assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, highlights the diagnostic facilities that growers can take advantage of. “We have a lab in Tifton, the Plant Disease Clinic, that can accept samples from commercial citrus,” Oliver said. “We …
USDA Announces $531 Million in Grant Agreement to Cover Ag Losses in Georgia
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide more than $531 million in Congressionally mandated recovery assistance to Georgia farmers through a block grant agreement with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to help producers recover from Hurricane Helene. “Farmers and ranchers in Georgia have been hit hard and suffered significant economic …
Psyllids and HLB Spreading in Georgia
Populations of Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) have been found in residential and commercial citrus in Georgia’s Lowndes and Wayne counties during the past two months. ACP spread huanglongbing (HLB) disease. In several places where ACP were found, HLB-infected trees were identified nearby. University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (UGA CAES) entomologist Apurba Barman provided details about the …
Drought’s Impact on Peach Trees in the Fall
By Clint Thompson Zero to minimal rainfall across Georgia over the past month should prompt the state’s peach producers to implement an essential management strategy. Though peach season has come and gone and with the trees nearing dormancy, growers must consider their trees’ water needs amid the current drought. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources …
UGA Climatologist: Even for Fall, It’s Been Drier Than Usual
By Clint Thompson The most recent release of the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates dry conditions worsening and expanding across the Southeast, especially in Alabama, Georgia and North Florida. It is also not a surprising development since this is the dry time of year, according to Pam Knox, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agricultural climatologist. “It is the driest time of …
Drying Up: Rain Needed for Vegetable Production
By Clint Thompson Prolonged periods of dry weather are not the worst thing for specialty crop growers. Most will say they prefer to apply their own water instead of having too much rainfall. It minimizes the disease pressure that producers have to manage. But there is such a scenario where a little rain would be welcomed, says Ty Torrance, University …
Unspoken Anxiety: Hurricane Season a Threat to Southeast Pecans
By Clint Thompson Fall is the time of year that pecans are harvested in the Southeast. It also prime hurricane season for growers in Alabama and Georgia. As pecan production season transitions into harvest season, producers are praying for zero impact from a pending storm. As growers saw from storms like Hurricane Helene last year, Hurricane Idalia in 2023 and …
Birds Can Be Bothersome in Cold-Hardy Citrus Groves
By Clint Thompson Cold-hardy citrus producers are reporting increased cases of bird damage to their young fruit. Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) area citrus agent, discussed the ongoing situation in the UGA Citrus Blog. While this is not a major concern for growers, it is an issue that they need to be aware of when surveying their citrus groves. …
Foliar Insecticide Applications Essential for Pecan Phylloxera Control
By Clint Thompson Foliar insecticide applications are essential for pecan producers hoping to control pecan phylloxera, an insect pest in the Southeast. Apurba Barman, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan entomologist, discussed the insect during the recent Georgia Pecan Growers Association Fall Field Day at the UGA Ponder Farm in Tifton, Georgia. He stressed that foliar applications are most effective …
Industry Experts Highlight Importance of Georgia Ag Labor Forum
By Clint Thompson Labor remains a top priority for Georgia fruit and vegetable growers. Whether it’s staying in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration or learning more about the H-2A and H-2B programs, specialty crop producers need events like this week’s Georgia Agricultural Labor Relations Forum to stay updated on a topic that evolves regularly. Georgia Agribusiness Council …