Weekly Field Update
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state.
Hurricane Helene cast tropical storm forced winds over most of South Carolina Friday as she tore through Florida and Georgia. The western part of the state took the brunt of the damage and large areas remain without power as of Monday morning. Rivers also continue to rise as floodwaters from western North Carolina make their way to the coast.
As field conditions improve, begin taking photos and documenting all farm damage experienced by the storm. Crop or infrastructure impacts can be documented by using the ESF-17 form or online here. The information collected will be used to estimate the statewide agricultural impact of Hurricane Helene. Please note this form is for agricultural impacts only.
Contact your local Farm Service Agency office for questions related to potential disaster assistance.
Food Safety Considerations:
Flood water can contain hazards from runoff or sewage. These hazards may be biological (bacteria, viruses, parasites) and/or chemical (petroleum, heavy metals, chemicals, etc.), and if present, they may cause illness or injury to consumers.
- If the edible portion of a food crop is contacted by flood waters, that food is considered adulterated (unfit for consumption) and cannot enter into commerce.
- If the edible portion of the crop does not come in contact with flood water, the grower should determine the safety of the crop on an individual basis. If growers are unsure whether their crops are affected, they should contact their State Department of Agriculture, FDA or University Cooperative Extension Service.
Also, be aware that produce in cold storage can degrade rapidly when power is lost.
Plant Disease Considerations
Long periods of leaf wetness promote downy mildew, gummy stem blight, and anthracnose of cucurbits. Stay on top of fungicide applications as soon as field conditions allow.
Black rot on brassica crops is typically seen after a hurricane because the wind-driven rain spreads the bacterium. Since black rot was already present in several areas, it is likely to get much worse in the coming weeks. No chemicals are effective enough to provide useful protection before a hurricane. Growers should consider harvesting early if the crop is close enough to maturity.
Root rot due to soilborne water molds may be a problem on crops currently in the field. Older plants that were being “held over” to harvest a few more peppers or eggplants should be removed once fields can be accessed. Be sure to remove the roots as well to avoid building up water molds and making infestation worse. On newly transplanted fall cucurbits and fruiting vegetables, damping-off may occur due to Pythium being activated in saturated soil. If transplants are reset to improve stand, do not put them in the same hole; move 6 to 12 inches away from the previous transplanting hole.
Additional Resources
Evaluating the Safety of Flood-affected Food Crops for Human Consumption.
USDA Hurricane Preparation and Recovery Guides for SC Producers.
Don’t forget to look at our Resources tab for links to crop handbooks, helpful websites, and related blogs.
Coastal Region
Zack Snipes
- Fortunately, we dodged most of the wind, rain and overall damage.
- Squash and zucchini got beat up pretty bad.
- Fall greens in some areas were laid over, but I think they will recover.
- We had some sandblasting to some crops, but I think for the most part we are ok. We had gotten pretty dry, so the rain was much needed. Praying for our friends in the upstate.
Midlands
Rob Last
- As we begin to assess the damage from Helene and clean up, here are a few thoughts:
- Scout crops carefully for physical damage. Any physical damage caused by the storm can be an infection point for fungal and bacterial diseases.
- The extended leaf wetness period over Thursday and Friday will promote many diseases, such as anthracnose.
- Avoid transplanting into waterlogged soils. Root rots and damping off can thrive in these conditions.
- Consider food safety. Do not harvest crops which have been submerged. Map areas of fields with standing water to allow for remedial drainage.
Sarah Scott
- Aiken and Edgefield Counties have a tremendous amount of damage following Helene. Many side roads are blocked with downed trees and power lines, and some more remote areas are inaccessible.
- Power remains out for most of the area but is starting to come back on for some.
- Clean-up efforts are underway, and we will assess fields and crop damage as we are able to travel around.
Pee Dee
Christiana Huss
- Muscadine grapes are loaded with fruits ready for harvest.
- Collards have gone into the ground. Diamondback moth caterpillars are already on young plants.
- The okra harvest is starting to slow down. If your plants have gotten tall and aren’t producing as much, you can cut them to knee height and fertilize. This can cause the plant to produce new branches and more okra.
- Armyworms are abundant and eat a wide variety of plants.
Brittney King
- Different areas of the Pee Dee received anywhere from 2 to 4 inches of rain last Thursday/Friday from Hurricane Helene. As of right now, I have not seen or gotten reports of any damage. Please reach out to me if you do have any damage or issues!
- We will most likely see an increase in disease and insect pressure, so please be sure to scout your fields. It is a good idea to get fungicide sprays out, especially if you were unable to before the rain started.
- I did notice bacterial leaf spot on cabbage last week, along with a large population of banded cucumber beetles on collards. There are no fungicides, bactericides or biopesticides that are effective against bacterial leaf spot. It is more common in the fall and early spring during cooler temperatures. Crop rotation is the most important tool in managing this disease.
- Banded cucumber beetles are not typically an issue in collard, but this field happened to be planted with watermelon previously. The cucumber beetles were able to survive on the watermelon crop residues in the soil. Insecticides would not normally be recommended, but in this case, Assail is great to use because it is systemic. Not only will you manage the cucumber beetle population on the collards, but it will also help decrease insect pressure for the next cucurbit crop.