By Clint Thompson South Georgia’s specialty crop farmers will soon be planting their fall crops. Weather will once again factor in what growers will have to be concerned with over the next couple of months. Will it rain too much and sprout diseases? Will it suddenly turn dry and lead to increased insect pressure? Bhabesh Dutta, University of Georgia Cooperative …
Rains Force Early Finish for South Georgia Specialty Crops
By Clint Thompson The extreme heat this summer nearly took its toll on farmer Bill Brim’s specialty crops. The persistent rains the past couple of weeks definitely did. Bill Brim, part owner of Lewis Taylor Farms in Tifton, Georgia, discussed the impact that the saturated conditions had on his specialty crops like pepper and squash. “On pepper it finished us …
Southeast Alabama Specialty Crops Fizzle Under High Temperatures
By Clint Thompson Southeast Alabama specialty crops prefer dry weather conditions. This season’s prolonged drought was not detrimental to production season. However, they don’t like it extremely hot at the peak of harvest season. But that was the scenario farmers faced in the Southeast in June. It significantly impacted fruits and vegetables in the Wiregrass region of Alabama, said Neil …
Recent Rains Could Delay Fumigation Process
By Clint Thompson Persistent rainfall across the Southeast in recent weeks could delay fumigation progress from specialty crop farmers preparing to plant their fall crops. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, discusses how heavy rain events could keep producers from getting into their fields at a key point in the season. …
Building a More Heat Tolerant Plant Starts with Genes
Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are looking for ways to help specialty crops beat the heat. A new study has identified genes that may help plants cope with stress from high temperatures. It could set the stage for developing crops bred for enhanced heat tolerance, said Bala Rathinasabapathi, senior author of the …
More Rain, Less Drought Across Southeast
The more it rains, the less drought that is being experienced across the Southeast. Dry conditions continue to subside in Florida and Georgia, according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. While about half of Georgia is abnormally dry, there are considerably less moderately dry conditions. Those are located in a couple of areas across the state, including around …
Rain’s Impact on Diseases in Peaches
By Clint Thompson The increase in rainfall across the Southeast is having minimal impact on diseases in the region’s peach crop. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Extension fruit disease specialist, discusses the current scenario facing producers as harvests continue. “Thankfully, we’re no longer drought stressed in a lot of the locations, which is good. There’s been an increase in disease …
Northeast Alabama: Rainfall Needed in Dry Region
By Clint Thompson Northeast Alabama is in dire need of rainfall. The region is abnormally dry, according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Some areas are even moderately dry, especially along the Alabama-Tennessee state line. It is taking a toll on crops and ponds, says Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama. “Right now, irrigation ponds are …
Recent Rains Helping North Georgia Peach Crop
By Clint Thompson What were hot and dry weather conditions have turned into sporadic periods of rainfall in North Georgia. That has been positive news for the state’s peach crop, says Drew Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms in Alto, Georgia, and president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. “You catch an inch of rain on some peaches that …
Water’s Importance to This Year’s Peach Harvest
By Clint Thompson At least another month remains in this year’s peach harvest season for Georgia producers. Amid the current hot and dry weather, conditions have been ripe for minimal disease pressure. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Extension fruit disease specialist, discusses the positive and negative impact that the prolonged drought is having on this year’s peach harvest. “For a …