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By Clint Thompson An extended dry period this year led to little disease buildup in North Florida watermelons this production season. One disease has been noticeably absent this year, and that’s downy mildew. “The past few years, we have had downy mildew a lot earlier than this. So, we’re pleasantly surprised that we have not had any reports of it …
By Clint Thompson Southeast pecan growers should be aware that this week provides the last window to protect this year’s crop from the pecan nut casebearer. Apurba Barman, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan entomologist, said the insect has two flights within a couple of months, but it’s this first one that can have more impact. “Growers make an application …
By Clint Thompson Alabama’s peach crop is far below what some growers are accustomed to. But many producers are thankful just to have a crop, says Alabama farmer Jeremy Calvert. A mid-March freeze event froze out some of the state’s peaches. “Peaches, I think, can be safely said for the state of Alabama, they’re pretty good. There’s probably something like …
The Last WordBy Marcinda Kester If you’ve farmed in Florida for more than a season or two, you know that extreme weather isn’t an if, it’s a when. A freeze, a flood or hurricane can change your entire operation in a matter of hours. And as many growers learned after the freeze this year, the damage isn’t limited to just …
By Clint Thompson If history is an indicator, this spring’s drought could lead to warmer and drier conditions this summer. James Spann, chief meteorologist at the Alabama Weather Network, discussed the unusually dry conditions that encompassed the Southeast for approximately nine months in an interview with AgNet Media. He said the last time dry conditions were this bad during the …
It may not be June, but growers in the cold-hardy citrus region are experiencing June drop, a natural thinning process in which trees lose a lot of their fruit. Growers should not be alarmed about excess pieces of fruit that may be on the ground, says Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist. “We are …
By Clint Thompson The specialty crop industry scored a recent victory when the House of Representatives approved H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026. The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) is now putting the full-court press on the Senate to pass the farm bill as well. Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and …
By Clint Thompson The future of the American family farm is very much up in the air. More and more farms are closing up shop, while more and more agricultural lands are being used for anything besides agriculture. That’s concerning for industry leader Stanley Culpepper. Culpepper, a University of Georgia Extension weed specialist, spoke at the recent Southeastern Specialty Crop …
By Clint Thompson Adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture is not a foregone conclusion. Despite the technology’s perceived effectiveness in making crop production more efficient, the associated costs are still too high for farmers. “Right now, a lot of these technologies come with huge price tags for just the cost of purchasing the equipment,” said Lynn Sosnoskie, assistant professor …
By Clint Thompson Watermelon harvests have started across the Suwanee Valley Region of North Florida. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, pointed out in his weekly email that harvesting has begun across multiple farms. “I think by the time we get to the end of the …
