By Clint Thompson Precision agriculture innovations are required for sustainability to be a reality for specialty crop producers in the Southeast. That is why the International Conference of Integrative Precision Agriculture was held in Athens, Georgia in May. That is why growers presented their concerns to industry specialists like Ash Sial, University of Georgia (UGA) entomologist. He identified the main …
Georgia Watermelon Producer: Expected Gap for Volume
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s delayed start to the watermelon season means an expected gap could hit the market this week in the Southeast. Greg Leger, owner of Leger & Son, Inc, in Cordele, Georgia, said he will not begin harvesting until next week, which is in line with the scenario most growers are facing. “I’m looking at the (June) 12th …
Specialty Crop’s Importance to Georgia
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s specialty crop sector remains vital to the state’s economy. Its value continues to grow in importance, according to Ben Campbell, associate professor in the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Ag and Applied Economics Department. “Specialty crops are a big player in the Ag industry. You think of greenhouses, you think of …
UGA Research: Another Option in Managing Fusarium Wilt?
By Clint Thompson A five-county University of Georgia (UGA) Extension research project is yielding positive results regarding the management of fusarium wilt disease. The research from the South Georgia counties of Berrien, Cook, Crisp, Wilcox and Turner has potentially provided another tool in the toolbox for watermelon growers challenged with this annual problem. Extension agents have researched various rootstocks and …
Increase Fungicide Sprays: More Rain Means Higher Probability of Disease
By Clint Thompson Increased rainfall in Georgia means specialty crop producers should be increasing their fungicide applications. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, cautions growers about the disease potential in areas of increased moisture. “It’s the same ol’ thing where drought for most vegetable growers, drought isn’t really that bad of …
Don’t Miss the Deadline: Blueberry Commodity Commission Nominations Due by May 26
Any blueberry producer interested or knows someone that is interested in serving on the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Blueberries need to remember that nominations are due by Friday, May 26. Nomination forms can be found at – agr.georgia.gov/cpf, under the nomination form tab or by emailing andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov. Nominations will be accepted through email or by mail at Andy Harrison, …
Don’t Miss the Deadline: Peach Commodity Commission Nominations Due by May 26
Any peach producer interested or knows someone that is interested in serving on the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Peaches need to remember that nominations are due by Friday, May 26. Nomination forms can be found at – agr.georgia.gov/cpf, under the nomination form tab or by emailing andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov. Nominations will be accepted through email or by mail at Andy Harrison, …
Christmas Freeze Impact: Georgia Strawberry Volume Down
By Clint Thompson The volume of Georgia’s strawberry crop is down this year. The frigid temperatures experienced during last Christmas is a big reason why. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, explains why multiple days of sub-freezing temperatures had a detrimental effect on the state’s crop this year. The …
Warm Temperatures Spur South Georgia Watermelons
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s watermelon harvests are less than a month away. The crop’s development increased last week thanks to warm temperatures. It was much different than the weather conditions growers experienced previously, according to Greg Leger, owner of Leger & Son, Inc, in Cordele, Georgia. “We won’t have anything until the (June) 5th or 10th, something like that. There …
Whitefly Numbers Low Across South Georgia
By Clint Thompson Now should be the normal time that vegetable growers would be observing whiteflies across the Southeast region. So far, knock on wood, that hasn’t been the case. Population numbers remain low, according to Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist “Normally, under these type of conditions, we start watching whiteflies a lot closer. But …