Drought Monitor: Dry Conditions Intensifying Across Alabama, Georgia, North Florida

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Drought, Florida, Georgia

The most recent release of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows worsening drought conditions across the Southeast, especially in Alabama, Georgia and North Florida. Severe conditions are prevalent in southern Alabama, starting in Clarke and Baldwin counties and stretching eastward to Barbour, Henry and Houston counties. Northwest Alabama is also severely dry, starting in Pickens County and stretching northward to Colbert, …

EPA’s Potential Mancozeb Cancellation a Major Threat to Grape Industry in Southeast

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Grapes

By Clint Thompson The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed cancellation of mancozeb is a potential threat to the grape industry in the Southeast. According to the University of Georgia Extension Viticulture Blog, Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, encourages growers to submit a letter to the EPA concerning this potential action. The deadline for comments has …

Spotted Lanternfly’s Potential to Transmit PD a Problem for Georgia Grape Producers

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Grapes

By Clint Thompson The potential of spotted lanternfly (SLF) to transmit Pierce’s disease (PD) is a problem for Georgia grape producers. That’s because the insect will eventually make its way to Georgia, believes Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist. “It’s another thing that may be able to vector Pierce’s disease. This is very early in …

Strawberry Plant Shortage? Neopestalotiopsis Wreaking Havoc on Supply

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Georgia, Strawberries

By Clint Thompson The recent revelation that Neopestalotiopsis impacted multiple nurseries from Prince Edward Island will affect the supply of strawberry tips and plug plants that are available for Southeast growers. Producers are likely to experience a shortage as well as a spike in costs per plants that are available, says Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and …

DOL Halts Implementation of Farmworker Protection Rule

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Watermelon

By Clint Thompson The court victory last week for users of the H-2A program regarding the implementation of the Farmworker Protection Rule led the Department of Labor (DOL) to suspend the rule altogether. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia granted a preliminary injunction, halting the effective date of the DOL’s Farmworker Protection Rule. The DOL could …

Drought Monitor: Dry Conditions Expanding, Worsening Across Southeast

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Drought, Florida, Georgia

Drought is expanding and worsening across the Southeast, especially in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, according to the most recent release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. All of Alabama is suffering from dry conditions, ranging from abnormally dry to severe drought conditions. The driest part of the state is located in the northwest part of the state. Severe conditions are located …

UGA Extension Specialist: Pecan Scab High During July

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Scab disease was high this summer for Georgia pecan producers. Additional rainfall in July contributed to the increased pressure affecting the state’s crop, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist. He also said growers have managed the disease effectively and need to continue towards the end of this production season. “We’ve had a lot …

Attention Strawberry Growers: ‘Alarm Bells’ for Neopestalotiopsis Disease

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Georgia, Strawberries

By Clint Thompson A disease that first impacted Florida strawberry fields in the 2018-2019 season is already causing trouble for next year’s crop. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, is cautioning growers about the high potential risk for Neopestalotiopsis with plants originating from Prince Edward Island. “As many strawberry producers are aware, some nurseries are …

Factors to Consider When Producing Muscadines

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Grapes

By Clint Thompson University of Georgia (UGA) muscadine breeder Patrick Conner advises would-be growers about producing the grape in the Southeast. During a field day on Aug. 17 at the UGA Tifton Campus, Conner said producers should be wary about two factors if they pursue growing the crop. The first is letting the vine overcrop. There is a danger in …

Victory for Users of H-2A Program

Clint ThompsonFlorida, Georgia, Watermelon

By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers in Georgia and Florida scored a court victory on Monday. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia granted a preliminary injunction, halting the effective date of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) controversial Farmworker Protection Rule. The DOL cannot enforce the rule in the 17 states that were involved in challenging …