Florida agriculture took a wallop from Hurricane Ian last year. Throw in another hurricane (Nicole) and a freeze, and the disaster losses stacked up. The state’s citrus industry took a particularly hard hit. On Jan. 17, citrus industry representatives headed to Tallahassee to testify before the Florida Senate Agriculture Committee about the toll these weather events had on an already …
Grower Sees More Damage From Season’s Second Freeze
Another freeze event last weekend could spell doom for some citrus trees produced in the cold-hardy citrus region. Kim Jones, president of the Cold Hardy Citrus Association, discussed the dire situation facing growers in the region. “I think we had some damage to some new growth that had come out from the last freeze. I can’t tell how much, but …
All Georgia Citrus Saw Impacts from Christmas Freeze
By Clint Thompson This winter season provided the first cold challenge for Georgia-produced citrus. With multiple days of sub-freezing temperatures during Christmas week, the impact was not good for trees produced throughout the state. Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) Lowndes County Extension coordinator, discussed the situation during the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Georgia. “Pretty much every variety …
Florida Blueberries Escape Significant Damage from Christmas Freeze
By Clint Thompson Timing can make the difference in the success of a specialty crop. In the case of Florida blueberries, it likely has helped the crop survive one of the coldest freeze events in recent memory. Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, explains how the lack of blooms in Florida’s …
Upon Further Review: Vegetables Hammered by Cold Temperatures
By Clint Thompson A week removed from one of the worst freeze events in recent memory in the Southeast, vegetable growers are resigned to the reality their crops were devastated by consecutive days of sub-freezing temperatures. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, talks about the devastation, most notably in green production. …
Uncovered Georgia Strawberries Likely Suffered ‘Moderate’ Damage
By Clint Thompson Part of Georgia’s strawberry crop suffered some damage during sub-freezing temperatures over the past week. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, said the crop that was not covered was most susceptible to temperatures that stayed mostly in the 20s and 30s since Christmas Eve morning. “I …
Cold Temperatures Benefit Peach, Grape Producers
By Clint Thompson Consecutive days and nights of cold temperatures were just what the doctor ordered for peach producers and grape growers in the Southeast. They allowed farmers to obtain much needed chill hours. Grape producers also received help in managing Pierce’s Disease. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist Phil Brannen highlights the benefits that this week’s 20-and …
Temperatures Walloped the South Georgia-North Florida Citrus Region
Temperatures in the teens walloped the South Georgia-North Florida citrus region over the Christmas weekend, destroying fruit still on trees and damaging trees to some extent. “We got as low as 15, but most places it hovered around 18 degrees,” reported Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association. “All fruit left on trees appears to have turned to mush and …
Multiple Days of Sub-Freezing Temps Devastating for Southeast Specialty Crops
By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers can usually stomach one day of sub-freezing temperatures. But four days? That was not the ideal scenario for growers across the Southeast this past weekend. It was disastrous for vegetable farmers, citrus growers and potentially strawberry producers. Prolonged temperatures in 20s over parts of the region, including South Georgia and North Florida, have been …
Northern Citrus Areas Evaluating Freeze Fallout
Temperatures in the teens walloped the South Georgia-North Florida citrus region over the Christmas weekend, destroying fruit still on trees and damaging trees to some extent. “We got as low as 15, but most places it hovered around 18 degrees,” reported Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association. “All fruit left on trees appears to have turned to mush and …