By Clint Thompson Predicting the pecan market is not an exact science. In fact, it can be as unpredictable as the weather. No one really knows what the market will be like when pecans are harvested in the fall. “I keep hearing, spurts here and there from a couple of people, that demand is there and all of that, but …
The 2023 Citrus Achievement Award Winner Glenn Beck Confident in the Future
By Frank Giles It has been tough to keep an optimistic attitude as HLB spread through Florida citrus groves and took production down to historic lows. Mix in recent weather disasters and being positive is even more challenging. But the 2023 Citrus Achievement Award winner, Glenn Beck, has always believed there will come a day when HLB is finally defeated …
Changes Noted in Florida Citrus Forecast
With the 2022–23 season harvest virtually completed for all varieties, the June citrus forecast for Florida had several slight changes. The Florida orange and grapefruit forecasts each climbed 1% from May, while the tangerines/tangelos forecast dropped 2%. Forecasts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) were unchanged for Arizona, California and Texas. FLORIDA ORANGESFlorida’s all-orange …
Abnormally Dry Conditions Observed in Some Areas Across Southeast
The most recent release of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions in Georgia and Alabama and some moderate and severe drought conditions in Florida. The driest conditions in Georgia remain concentrated to the southwest part of the state, in Crisp, Wilcox, Ben Hill, Turner, Irwin, Tift, Worth, Lee and parts of Dougherty, Colquitt, Cook and Berrien counties. Other …
Christmas Freeze Effect: Shorter Vidalia Onion Crop This Year
By Clint Thompson There were fewer Vidalia onions in Georgia this year. It was a direct result of the freeze event during last Christmas, believes Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension area onion agent at the Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia. He discussed how much of this year’s crop was lost as a result of multiple …
Alabama Extension Recommends Certain Pumpkin Cultivars
By Clint Thompson Some Alabama vegetable growers are considering their pumpkin plantings for this fall. Andre da Silva, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, highlighted what cultivars growers need to focus on during a recent webinar. “We did some variety trials, and I would just like to show that those are jack-o-lantern pumpkins that we evaluated last year in central Alabama. What …
What’s Happening? Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
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. Statewide Tom Bilbo – Vegetable Entomologist Midlands Phillip Carnley Rob Last Pee Dee Bruce McLean Upstate Andy Rollins
Florida Vegetable Producer: Importing 60% of Produce is Scary
By Clint Thompson Communication remains the key tool in the toolbox that growers and specialty crop industry leaders need to utilize in convincing consumers to support locally grown produce. It is a strategic tactic that is being under-utilized according to Chuck Obern with C&B Farms, located south of Clewiston, Florida. “The real issue all of us have and I don’t …
North Florida Watermelon Growers Finishing Season
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s delayed start to the watermelon season is North Florida’s gain. With serious volume from Georgia’s crop not expected until next week, growers in the Suwanee Valley are taking advantage, though they are quickly winding down with their own crop. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in …
A New Ilarvirus in Florida Tomatoes
By Ozgur Batuman and Salih Yilmaz Ilarviruses can infect both herbaceous and woody plants and are known to be transmitted by pollen and seed with varying efficiency. Thrips have been associated as vectors of ilarviruses since they create wounds during feeding that can serve as entry points for virus particles carried in or on infected pollen. Tobacco streak virus (TSV) …