A low volume of fruit in the cold-hardy citrus region is being produced for the juice market. With the current market prices for juiced citrus, that number could increase in the near future. This topic was discussed during the recent Georgia Citrus Association annual meeting in Tifton. “With the prices today, there is a future for it,” said grower Kim …
Georgia Vidalia Onion Growers Be Wary of ‘Destructive’ Downy Mildew Disease
By Clint Thompson If history is any indication, downy mildew can happen any time in Georgia’s Vidalia onion crop. Growers can ill-afford to get behind the eight-ball with regards to managing this “destructive” disease, says University of Georgia Extension Vegetable Plant Pathologist Bhabesh Dutta. “There’s a reason people named it a destructer, because it destroys pretty much everything in three …
Paper Mulch Potential: UF/IFAS Continues Next Stage of Research
By Clint Thompson Paper mulch enters the next stage of research with University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and watermelon production in the Suwanee Valley. Bob Hochmuth, UF/IFAS Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, has led the research in North Florida. “We’ve got over 100 acres of paper mulch that is down and ready …
UGA Recognition: Patrick Conner Named One of Eight NAI Senior Members
The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) selected eight University of Georgia (UGA) researchers, including Patrick Conner, as 2025 NAI Senior Members, surpassing its own record of five inductees set last year. UGA now has 24 Senior Members overall. Conner, a professor of horticulture in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is recognized for leadership in pecan and muscadine …
Legislative Update: GAC President Will Bentley Discusses CUVA
The Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) remains a hot topic being discussed in the Georgia Legislature. The Georgia State Senate has passed three pivotal bills dealing with CUVA: SB 45, SR 56 and SB 59, all spearheaded by Sen. Sam Watson (R-Moultrie. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley discussed each bill.
NCDA&CS Offers Free Agronomic Services for Western N.C. Growers
RALEIGH — It has been months since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina (N.C.), and recovery is still ongoing throughout the region. Many residents and growers had devastating losses, but work is under way to rebuild and move forward in 2025. To help with recovery, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Agronomic Services Division is offering all of …
Leveling the Playing Field: Tariffs Good for Georgia Fruits and Vegetables
By Clint Thompson Tuesday’s tariffs implemented by the Trump Administration is helping level the playing field for Georgia’s fruit and vegetable industries. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), discussed the trade war which resulted in tariffs levied on China, Mexico and Canada. “We have tried everything we know to level the playing …
Mark Your Calendars: AFVGA Annual Conference and Trade Show Set for Gulf Shores in 2026
By Clint Thompson Alabama fruit and vegetable growers can go ahead and mark their calendars for next year’s Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) Conference and Trade Show. It will once again be held in February in Gulf Shores, Alabama, says Blake Thaxton, executive director of the AFVGA. “It is an ideal time, and I think we’re gaining steam …
Thrips Control Essential for Georgia Vidalia Onion Farmers
By Clint Thompson Georgia Vidalia onion growers must prioritize thrips control with harvest season approaching. Since thrips vector center rot disease, producers must be diligent in their scouting and insecticide sprays, says Chris Tyson, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension area onion agent. “February is usually the time we start worrying about thrips, February and March, really. They are the two …
USDA Extends Response Deadline for ’24 Census of Horticultural Specialties
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will continue to collect the 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties through April 18, 2025. Conducted just once every five years, the Census of Horticultural Specialties is the only source of detailed production and sales data for U.S. floriculture, nursery and specialty crop industries, including greenhouse food crops. Growers …