By G.E. Vallad, J. Desaeger, J. Noling and N. Boyd Vegetable and strawberry growers have long relied on soil fumigants to contend with various soilborne pathogen and pest complexes, as part of an integrated management strategy that includes crop resistance, cultural control and pesticides. However, with the loss of methyl bromide (MBr), many growers have struggled to maintain consistent soilborne …
Wait Until Mid-September to Plant Turnip, Mustard Greens in Alabama
While the normal time to plant turnip and mustard greens is now, Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, advises farmers and homeowners to wait a few weeks so temperatures can cool off. During a webinar on Aug. 19 that can be accessed on the Alabama Extension Commercial Horticulture Facebook page, Kemble said growers typically plant both greens in August through …
Citrus and VSC Expos Start Wednesday
The 2020 Citrus Expo and Vegetable & Specialty Crop (VSC) Expo will be held Wednesday and Thursday, August 19-20. Due to COVID-19, this year’s event has transitioned to a virtual format, but growers can still get the same great Expo experience they are accustomed to. Both the citrus and VSC seminar programs will debut online at CitrusExpo.net at 9:30 a.m. …
Fumigants for Nematode Management in Vegetables
By Abolfazl Hajihassani and Chinaza Nnamdi The majority of vegetable production in Georgia is located in multiple counties in the southern region of the state. Vegetables are grown year-round on both raised beds covered with polyethylene plastic mulch and on bare ground. Using a comprehensive survey conducted in 2018, we have documented that root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., are the No. …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Dr. Tony Keinath with a word on crop rotation. “To keep the soil on your farm productive over the long term, do not replant the same vegetable, or a related crop, in the same field “too …
Peak Time for Insect Pressure
Heat and dry weather conditions make this a peak time for insect pressure. Ayanava Majumdar, an Auburn Extension Professor in Entomology and Plant Pathology, cautions fall vegetable growers about insect pests and to scout regularly. “Insects love the heat because they grow through their life cycle faster because of the extra heat. They grow faster. They mate and reproduce faster …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Rob Last reports, “Across the area fall plantings are growing on and developing well. Scouting for pests and diseases will remain critical to ensure timely applications are made where necessary. For those without fall planted crops …
Bringing Technology to Specialty Crops
United States Department of Agriculture Posted by Greg Astill, Markets and Trade Economics Division, Economic Research Service and Suzanne Thornsbury, Senior Advisor for Agricultural Economics and Rural Communities, Office of the Chief Scientist in Research and Science Advances in technology, automation, and remote sensing is a cross-cutting, macro movement in science impacting agriculture outlined in the USDA Science Blueprint (PDF, …
Cowpea Curculio Troubling for Alabama Producers
A tiny insect continues to take a bite out of the southern pea crop in Alabama. Ayanava Majumdar, an Auburn Extension Professor in Entomology and Plant Pathology, believes insecticide resistance is a huge issue in why farmers in Alabama and Georgia cannot get a handle on cowpea curculio. “I think many people just don’t believe that resistance is an issue …
UF/IFAS to Host Vegetable Growers Meeting
The University of Florida/IFAS will host a vegetable growers meeting on Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. to noon. It will be a virtual meeting and feature talks from Extension agents and specialists. Extension agent Craig Fey will discuss fundamentals of weed management and focus on principles such as exclusion, prevention, cultural and chemical strategies. UF/IFAS weed scientist Ramdas Kanissery will …