florida tomato

Production Preview: Low Crop Prices Could Impact Fall Season

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Low vegetable prices this spring impacted the bottom line for southeast growers. They also could impact producers’ intentions when managing their fall crops, says Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “The biggest issue, I think more so than the weather, is that prices were very low this spring …

honeymoon phase

Honeymoon Phase for Georgia Citrus Production

Dan CooperDisease, Georgia

Georgia citrus growers are still in the honeymoon phase of production with regards to disease, said Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. While established groves in Florida have had to deal with disease buildup for decades, disease has yet to be problematic for South Georgia citrus production. But that could be changing. “With respect …

South Georgia Farmer: We’ve Gone From One Extreme Weather Event to the Other

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson South Georgia vegetable farmers have gone from one extreme weather event to the other in recent weeks. The lack of rainfall created abnormally dry conditions for most of the latter part of July. However, weather conditions changed this week with excessive rainfall. Georgia producers like Sam Watson are having to navigate the weather challenges in preparing to …

North Georgia Peach Producer: Production, Demand High This Year

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Georgia peach production has been strong this season. One North Georgia producer is still enjoying the fruits of his labor. Drew Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms in Alto, Georgia, and past president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), estimated on July 22 that production would continue for another month to six weeks. That is …

UGA Extension Sustainability Specialist: EPA is Protecting Growers’ Access to Pesticides

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to ensure pesticides remain a viable source of protection for farmers and their crops. That’s the message Taylor Singleton, University of Georgia assistant professor and Extension sustainability specialist, is preaching to growers at county meetings and different crop events, which included last week at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference in …

UGA Extension Specialist: Georgia Pecan Estimate of 85 Million Pounds Not Far Off

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, believes a recent 85 million-pound estimate of Georgia’s pecan crop this year is not far off, though various factors can still cause that number to decrease or increase by the time harvest season rolls around. The yield estimate of Georgia’s crop was made at the recent Tri-State pecan meeting …

Southeast Specialty Crop Leaders Provide Overview of Production Season

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Georgia

By Clint Thompson Fruit and vegetable farmers have mostly concluded their summer harvests and are now preparing for the upcoming fall season. Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), highlighted the challenges associated with spring production and what growers experienced this summer’s harvests. “I think it kind of depends on who you ask. In …

Poor Air Flow in Pecan Orchards Contributing to More Scab Disease

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Scab disease has been more prevalent in some pecan orchards this year compared to others. A significant factor is how tight some trees are in orchards and the lack of air flow that is circulated. That has contributed to the disease being more problematic for some Southeast producers than others, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension …

Increased Scab Disease in Pecan Orchards Amid Rainy Summer

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Scab disease’s persistence in this year’s Southeast pecans says more about the amount of rain the region has received this summer than fungicide ineffectiveness. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, spoke about the subject in a recent UGA Extension Pecan Blog. He emphasized that rainfall accumulation has been high during June and July, including in …

Region’s Specialty Crop Leaders Applaud National Farm Security Action Plan

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Georgia

By Clint Thompson Farm security is national security, and the Trump administration is ensuring both are protected with the National Farm Security Action Plan. The plan highlights agriculture as a focus of the nation’s national security, addressing threats from foreign adversaries, including China. “We feed the world. We lead the world. And we’ll never let foreign adversaries control our land, …