Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum Set for Aug. 25-26

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Georgia producers and industry leaders should mark their calendars for this year’s labor relations forum, scheduled for Aug. 25-26 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), talked about this year’s event which will feature talks pertinent to the ag …

Look Before Planting: Inspect Strawberry Plants for Disease Symptoms

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Strawberry producers are less than three months away before they start planting next year’s crop in Georgia. Their first order of business is ensuring the plants are clean before they are put in the ground. Producers want to avoid a Neopestalotiopsis (Neo) outbreak, and a careful inspection will help make that happen. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia …

southeast

UGA Extension Hosts Southeast Citrus Workshop

Dan CooperCold Hardy, Events, Georgia

A part of Georgia’s citrus crop lies in the southeastern part of the state. Aubrey Shirley, University of Georgia (UGA) Tattnall County Extension coordinator, believes that portion is continuing to grow. The main threat to that growth is citrus greening disease. “If we get greening really bad and it starts to hinder production, I think the industry is so young, …

Sneak Peek: August 2026 Specialty Crop Grower Magazine

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Georgia

In this month’s sneak peek, the August issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights the skyrocketing input costs that are impacting day-to-day farming operations. Various growers across the Southeast spoke up about the costs, relating to diesel, fertilizer and pesticide use. Those growers included Kent Hamilton and Jessica Kirk from Georgia and Tony DiMare from Florida, who said he has …

Vidalia Onion Update Scheduled for Aug. 20

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

Vidalia onion producers and industry leaders should mark their calendars for next month’s Vidalia Onion Update, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia. The event will start at 10 a.m. and conclude at noon. The agenda for the event will include talks on variety evaluation, disease management, a precision agriculture update …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Technology Conference Takes Glimpse Into the Future

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to enhance the agricultural landscape. How specialty crop producers farm today may look different from how they farm five years from now. The potential future of specialty crop production in the Southeast was on display during the Southeastern Specialty Crop Technology Conference & Show in Tifton, Georgia, in early May. Ag companies and …

North Georgia Farmer Discusses Pumpkin Production in Southeast

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Pumpkin production season is officially under way in North Georgia. Producer Drew Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms in Alto, Georgia, has about 130 acres this year. He talked about his pumpkin crop in an interview with AgNet Media. “Most everything’s been in the ground about two weeks, and they’re up about 10 inches tall already,” Echols said. …

Whiteflies Showing Up Sooner Than Expected

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson One familiar insect pest is starting to rear its ugly head this summer. Unfortunately, its arrival is earlier than expected. But that’s the grim scenario facing vegetable farmers preparing for their fall crops. Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension vegetable entomologist, said whiteflies have started showing up in cotton, according to conversations he has had with …

Drought Monitor Update

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Florida, Georgia

The July 16 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows lingering drought conditions in the southern and northern areas of Georgia, sufficient moisture throughout most of Alabama and extreme conditions in North Florida and down the state’s west coast. Alabama The driest areas in Alabama are located in the northern parts of the state. Moderate drought is observed in Northwest …