By Clint Thompson The freeze event during the March 12-13 weekend wiped out at least half of Georgia’s blueberry crop this season, according to early estimates. More than 54 million pounds of blueberries were lost when temperatures dropped into the 20s on that fateful Sunday morning. Temperatures were as low as 26 degrees Fahrenheit in Alma, Georgia on March 13, …
Weather Impacting Vidalia Onion Quality?
By Clint Thompson Vidalia onion harvests have begun in Southeast Georgia. Early returns are positive despite changing weather patterns over the past month, says one Georgia farmer. “Overall, the quality looks like it’s going to be fair quality,” said producer Aries Haygood. “These changes in these weather patterns the last three or four weeks has got us a little bit …
Rainfall Creates Planting Delays in Alabama
By Clint Thompson Increased rainfall last week in Alabama created planting delays in some specialty crops, says Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension specialist. Planting delays are especially true with hemp and sweet corn. “We’re still on the early side of (hemp) planting, so I don’t think it’s going to affect too many growers. But in terms of …
Disaster Programs a Must for Southeast Specialty Crop Producers
By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers are always at risk for natural disasters in the Southeast. Especially in the late summer and early fall when conditions are ripe for a potential hurricane or severe thunderstorm, growers need to be prepared. Adam Rabinowitz, Alabama Extension economist, discusses the importance of government-assistance programs. “I think in particular in this area we experience …
Strawberry Growers Be Wary of Potential Frost
A potential for a frost event this weekend should have strawberry growers in North Carolina on high alert. North Carolina (N.C.) State Extension says that producers will need to protect their crop if the weather forecast predicts frost. The greatest potential for frost will be Sunday and Monday mornings, though some regions in the western part of the state could …
U.S. Drought Monitor: Florida’s Drought Conditions Mostly in Southern Region
By Clint Thompson Florida’s drought conditions are now mostly isolated to the southern part of the state, while Georgia is still experiencing moderately dry conditions in the central and southern regions. This is according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Recent rainfall helped alleviate some of the drought conditions in North Florida, though abnormally dry conditions are still …
Florida Peach Producer: I’m Surprised We’ve Got a Peach at All
By Clint Thompson The weather was so unpredictable this winter in Florida that one peach producer was shocked he had a crop this year. Not only does Mike Graham have peaches, he has quite a bit. “It looks really good for me. I’ve had other people tell me they don’t have any, a light crop. But no, we’ve got a …
March Freeze Wipes Out Georgia Farmer’s Greens Production
By Clint Thompson The mid-March freeze and subsequent rain events continue to wreak havoc on South Georgia specialty crop producers. Bill Brim, part owner of Lewis Taylor Farms in Tifton, Georgia, said the sub-freezing temperatures devastated his vegetable greens production. “It’s pretty tough right now. We’ve got a lot of damage from that cold weather on all of the greens,” …
Weather Forecast: Return to Dry Conditions
By Clint Thompson Variable weather conditions this winter should stabilize over the next month. The previous couple of weeks has seen lower temperatures and increased rainfall across the Southeast region. But that is not expected to continue, said Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist. “The longer-term patterns that I have looked at look like we’re going to have …
Grape Producers Looking for Rain, Just Not as Much as 2021
By Clint Thompson Grape producers need some rain. They just don’t need a repeat of last season, said University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Fruit Disease Specialist Phil Brannen. “As far as grape production, (last year) was very difficult,” Brannen said. “It’d be a lot nicer for us again this year, we don’t necessarily need a completely dry year because I …