Georgia’s Summer Weather: Mostly Wetter and Hotter

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By Clint Thompson Summer is winding down across the Southeast. Georgia’s specialty crop producers will remember this year to be a mostly wet and hot summer, though, those conditions vary throughout the state. The increased rainfall caused tremendous scab pressure in some pecan orchards. The heat also reduced potential harvests for some of the watermelons produced. Pam Knox, University of …

Drought Update: Extreme Dry Conditions Observed in Southwest Florida

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Drought conditions vary across the southern states. Alabama has a few counties that are abnormally dry. Much of West Georgia is abnormally dry, and the southwest corner of Florida is either abnormally dry, moderately dry, severely dry or extremely dry, according to the latest release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Only a few areas in Alabama are abnormally dry. These …

Drought Conditions Across Southeast Region

Web AdminDrought, Weather

Abnormally dry conditions are starting to spread more across Georgia and Alabama, while dry areas persist along the west coast of Florida, according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. A couple of areas in Georgia are abnormally dry. One is located along the Georgia-Alabama state line. It starts as far north as Floyd and Bartow counties and stretches …

Labor Relations Forum Scheduled for Sept. 6-8, 2023

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Heat awareness and safety concerns continue to be a priority for agricultural employers and their employees. Producers can learn more about heat illness prevention during the 49th Annual Agricultural Labor Relations Forum, scheduled for Sept. 6-8, 2023 at the Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek. Attendees will learn of the hazards associated with heat illness, resources for employers, compliance and more. Speakers on this topic include …

UGA Ag Climatologist: Peak Hurricane Season Starts Mid-August

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By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers should be aware that the peak hurricane season is approximately a month away. Weather experts have already increased the number of hurricanes expected this year. The current warm waters felt in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean are reason for concern in the Southeast. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist, discussed …

Parts of Southwest Florida Experience Dry Conditions

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Drought conditions remain minimal across the Southeast. The only dry areas are located along the west coast of Florida and in northern Alabama, according to the most recent release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. The only part of Florida that is experiencing dry conditions is located along the west coast in the southern part of the state. It starts as high …

North Alabama Rains Prompt Growers to Apply Fungicides

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By Clint Thompson Recent rain events in North Alabama have prompted specialty crop producers to increase their fungicide applications. Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama, said rainfall in the region has been sporadic in some areas and non-existent in others. But the increased moisture in certain areas has forced growers to apply fungicide sprays to control potential diseases. …

Hurricane Development a Concern with Current Hot Ocean Waters

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By Clint Thompson Hot ocean waters in the Gulf of Mexico are concerning for the Southeast. Parts of the Gulf have temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. They could spark hurricane development very quickly, and unfortunately, there is not much preparation time for specialty crop growers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist, says people …

Perfect Storm: Weather Events Impacted Georgia’s Watermelon Season

Web AdminGeorgia, Watermelon, Weather

By Clint Thompson Intense heat in recent weeks quickly led to the conclusion of this year’s watermelon harvests in most of South Georgia fields. The two-week deluge of rainfall in June also contributed to the crop’s shortened harvest window this year. “The extreme weather events really beat the vines up and it also introduced disease. That coupled with, once they …

Algorithm to Help FAWN Be Even More Reliable

Web AdminFlorida, Research, Weather

A new algorithm is set to further bolster the credibility of the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN), a system that farmers count on for such data as temperature, humidity, wind and rain. Among other improvements, the technology will send an email to FAWN technicians, letting them know when readings are out of a normal range, said Rick Lusher, director of …