By Clint Thompson Fruit production is well under way in South Carolina’s coastal region. Rob Last, Clemson horticultural Extension agent for Bamberg, Barnewell, Allendale and Hampton counties, provided production updates for various crops, which includes minimal pest and disease pressure. “Everything’s looking very good at the moment,” Last said. “Peaches, blueberries and strawberries are all flowering nicely. We’re looking very …
South Florida Turfgrass Field Day Scheduled for March 31
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Turfgrass research will be highlighted as part of the 33rd Annual South Florida Turfgrass Field Day and Exposition, scheduled for March 31 at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center in Fort Lauderdale. The event is organized in partnership with the South Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. The field day will include tours …
Thermotherapy for Production of Nematode-Free Plant Material
By Johan Desaeger Producing nematode-free plant material is one of the most important steps in nematode management. Many nematodes can hide in plant material such as tubers, bulbs, roots, cuttings and seed. The seed gall nematode (Anguina tritici), a seedborne pest infecting seed heads in wheat and rye, was the first plant-parasitic nematode ever to be described (by Needham in …
Hops: A Potential Alternative Crop for Alabama Producers
According to Alabama Extension, research specialists will conduct a hops cultivar trial in the hop yard of the E.V. Smith Research and Extension Center in Shorter, Alabama this year. There will also be a workshop conducted at a later date, training growers on cultivar selection and crop management. The research is in response to increased interest for hops production throughout …
Registration Ongoing for N.C. State Extension Turfgrass Short Course
The N.C. State Extension Turfgrass Short Course will be held April 11-14 at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh, North Carolina. Landscape managers, golf course personnel, sports turf managers, master gardeners, homeowners and residents seeking more information are encouraged to attend the four-day course. Faculty in N.C. State’s turfgrass program will cover all aspects of turfgrass management. Topics include …
Integrated Pest Management of Chilli Thrips in Strawberries
By Sriyanka Lahiri Currently, strawberry production in Florida is particularly susceptible to infestation by chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis). Although chilli thrips had been reported as a pest of ornamentals in Florida before, it wasn’t until 2015 when strawberry fields started to be severely impacted by this invasive pest. CHEMICAL CONTROLSChemical control is the predominant tool to manage chilli thrips. However, …
More Active Housing Market Means Improved Business for Nursery, Greenhouse Industries
By Clint Thompson A more active housing market equates to improved business for the nursery and greenhouse industry. It was especially evident during the past year. Wendiam Sawadgo, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension economist, shared those thoughts during the latest Alabama Extension Commercial Horticulture Webinar Series. “I think we saw a sharp dip starting around March of 2020. We …
‘Exciting’ Year for UF/IFAS Mango Research
By Clint Thompson It is expected to be an “exciting year” for mango research at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Florida. That is the mindset of Alan Chambers, an assistant professor, who discussed the future of the industry. “We are going to be doing some very exciting …
Rabbit Management: Conserve Habitat for Predators
By Clint Thompson Management of a South Florida pest starts with conserving the habitat for its predators. That’s what sugarcane and vegetable producers need to keep in mind when managing rabbit wildlife. “I’m going to quote a gentleman who heard about our (rabbit) workshop. He’s a producer in the western United States, and he said they had similar problems out …
Early Cucumber Planting Protects Against Downy Mildew Disease
Early cucumber planting helps avoid downy mildew disease and increases yields, according to Clemson plant pathologist Tony Keinath in The South Carolina Grower. Keinath said producers should plant within one month of recommended planting dates which avoids downy mildew disease that is most prevalent between May 15 and June 15. In an experiment in 2021 at Clemson’s Coastal Research and …