Pecan prices remain high this week for top quality and export quality pecans, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. As supply continues to dwindle in the latter part of the season in Georgia, producers likely headed back out to their orchards Wednesday and Thursday following inclement weather the early part of the week. Prices paid to …
Christmas Tree Sales: It’s Unreal
By Clint Thompson Christmas tree sales started early and ended earlier for one South Georgia farmer. “The sales were unreal,” said Jerry Hubbard, owner of Hubbard Christmas Tree Farm in Thomasville, Georgia. Hubbard’s ‘unreal’ year of Christmas tree sales started in mid-November and ended in mid-December. People visited from all over the Southeast to cut a tree. Hubbard even had …
Looming Deadline: EPA Ban of Chlorpyrifos Will Impact Peach Production
By Clint Thompson The looming deadline for revocation of tolerances for the use of chlorpyrifos (lorsban) means peach tree producers have a little more than two months to find alternatives in managing two pests. According to Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the ban of chlorpyrifos will impact growers differently …
Farmer Testimonial: Georgia Producer Laments High Input Costs
By Clint Thompson Ricky Powe’s fall vegetable production generated positive yields. Combine that with an advantageous market for farmers and it should have produced a content farmer. So why wasn’t this South Georgia farmer more pleased with his cropping situation? It is the exorbitant amount of spending he and other specialty crop farmers are paying for input costs. “That’s going …
Lingering Drought? U.S. Drought Monitor to Show How Recent Rains Have Helped
By Clint Thompson Regions across the Southeast have received much-needed rainfall in recent days. But will it be enough to alleviate some of the drought conditions being felt in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and other Southeastern states? Growers will know more when the next U.S. Drought Monitor is released on Thursday. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist, believes the …
Hurricane Michael Aftermath: Pecan Producer Still Reeling Amid a Down Year
By Clint Thompson A down year in pecan production was especially impactful for one Georgia producer who is still recovering from Hurricane Michael three years ago. “We didn’t make but about a 10% crop, so not good at all,” said Eric Cohen, co-owner of Pecan Ridge Plantation in Decatur County. “It’s a real short crop in Georgia this year.” A …
AFBF, Other Groups Send Letter Requesting Ag Workers Be Exempt From Travel Restrictions
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), along with more than 60 agricultural groups, including the Alabama Farmers Federation, Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Georgia Agribusiness Council, Georgia Farm Bureau and Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, sent a letter to the Biden Administration requesting that agricultural workers from South Africa be exempt from travel restrictions. The “Proclamation on Suspension of Entry …
Late Registration Ongoing for Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference
By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers in Georgia, Florida and Alabama are reminded that registration is ongoing for the upcoming Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, scheduled for Jan. 6, 2022 through Jan. 9, 2022, at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia. Late registration for the event ends Jan. 5. Interested attendees can register for the full four-day conference …
Dry Conditions Helping Georgia Strawberry Producers with Disease Pressure
By Clint Thompson The extended dry conditions before this past weekend across various parts of Georgia benefited the state’s strawberry producers. The less rain and wet conditions meant fewer instances of diseases being a factor, says Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties. “If it gets dry, they can water …
Bacterial Spot Disease a Significant Problem for Florida Producers
According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, bacterial spot disease remains a problem in tomato and susceptible pepper plants around the southwest Florida area. In some instances, bacterial spot and speck have been observed moving to the top of the plant and infesting stems, new growth and fruit. Bacterial spot also remains a significant issue in multiple locations …