Under Water: Debby Devastates Georgia Blueberry Bushes with Excessive Rains

Clint ThompsonBlueberries, Georgia

By Clint Thompson Georgia blueberries are feeling the impact of Tropical Storm Debby this week. The storm, which was classified as a Category 1 Hurricane when it made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend coast, has drenched excessive amounts of water on blueberry bushes in the southeast part of the state. It has left Russ Goodman, co-owner of Cogdell Berry Farm …

Pecan Pointers to Remember

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

It is an important time of the production season for pecan producers. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, noted in the UGA Extension Pecan Blog that growers need to be aware of the time sensitive task of leaf sampling. The leaf sampling period runs through Aug. 7. It’s the period when nutrients are most stable in the leaf. …

UGA Vidalia Onion Production Meeting Scheduled for Aug. 22

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Vidalia Onions

Georgia’s Vidalia onion producers and industry experts should mark their calendars for an upcoming University of Georgia (UGA) Extension production meeting, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia. UGA Extension agents and specialists will provide updates on disease management, flavor research, storage trials, fertility trials, …

Minimal Disease Pressure in Georgia’s Peach Crop This Year

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Peaches, Uncategorized

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s peach producers rebounded this year with a bumper crop. A big reason for their success was the lack of disease pressure prevalent in peach orchards this year. The prolonged drought during the early summer led to a reduction in diseases that are normally problematic for growers, says Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease …

Registration Ongoing for Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum Slated for Aug. 20-21

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Registration remains open for the Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum, slated for Aug. 20-21 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. Topics ranging from the H-2A program, labor trafficking, housing, heat policies and compliance issues are scheduled for attendees. Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, which …

Black Aphid Management Important for Georgia Pecan Producers

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

Georgia pecan producers should be wary that black aphids have increased in numbers in recent weeks, according to the University of Georgia (UGA) Extension Pecan Blog. Lenny Wells, UGA Extension specialist, said growers with black aphid-susceptible varieties have already been spraying, though they need to rotate the aphicide chemistries. “We have a number of good aphid products out there, including …

GFVGA Lawsuit Hearing Against DOL Slated for Aug. 2

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson A positive step was taken for Georgia specialty crop growers in the current lawsuit against the Department of Labor (DOL), challenging the new worker rules proposed for the H-2A program. Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), a plaintiff in the case, said the implementation of the rules has been delayed …

UGA Tifton to Host Muscadine Cultivar Field Day

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Grapes

Muscadine producers are invited to attend a Muscadine Cultivar Field Day on Saturday, Aug. 17 at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Campus Muscadine Vineyard. The field day will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Patrick Conner, muscadine breeder, will provide a tour, beginning at 9 a.m. Visitors may follow through with the tour or can pick up …

Dry Weather a Plus for Pecan Producers?

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Dry weather this time of year is not always a bad thing for pecan producers, but that is contingent on growers having irrigation set up for their orchards. “We recommend that you don’t even try to grow them without irrigation to begin with,” says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. “For growing pecans, it’s actually …