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By Clint Thompson A prolonged heat wave scorched the Southeast this summer. Not only did it make life uncomfortable for those who had to work outside in the hot conditions, the weather conditions impacted pumpkin yields for farmers in the region. That is according to Drew Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms in Alto, Georgia. “Yields are not what they should …
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. Lowcountry Report Anna Sara Hill Midlands Report Rob Last Pee Dee Report Bruce McLean
By Clint Thompson North Carolina (N.C.) strawberry growers are still coping with how to best manage Neopestalotiopsis (Neo) disease. It’s a challenge that producers and industry leaders, like Mark Hoffmann N.C. State Associate Professor and Small Fruits Extension Specialist, are struggling to get a handle on. “I would say at the moment we don’t know exactly how to handle Neopestalotiopsis, …
By Clint Thompson Heavy rains last weekend and those in the forecast for next weekend are not ideal for row crop producers trying to harvest their cotton and peanuts. But for pecan growers, the additional rainfall this time of year is expected to benefit the nuts, according to Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist. “It’s probably actually …
By Clint Thompson An El Niño winter means cooler and wetter conditions in some areas across the Southeast region. That means the wettest conditions are slated for certain parts of Florida, Georgia and Alabama, according to Pam Knox, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agricultural climatologist. “Typically, the wettest conditions are in, and this is for a typical El Niño, so …
Cold-hardy citrus producers are about a month away from harvesting this year’s crop. A lot can happen during that time. What is beyond the grower’s control is what most concerns Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and co-owner of JoNina Farm in Ochlocknee, Georgia. “We personally experienced last year a 40-year hailstorm. So that’s always a possibility …
By Clint Thompson Scab disease’s devastating impact on the Pawnee pecan variety is forcing one South Georgia farmer to revamp his production strategy. “I’m taking Pawnee out this winter, and that’s where I’m at,” said Buck Paulk, located in Ray City, Georgia. “It’s like after Hurricane Helene last year, it went off the deep end. I mean, it’s done like …
RALEIGH – As fall wildfire season begins in North Carolina, the North Carolina (N.C.) Forest Service is urging the public to take extra care with outdoor burning. Wildfire activity typically increases from October through early December, when falling leaves, dry vegetation and changing weather conditions can allow fires to spread quickly. “Most wildfires in this state are preventable,” said Agriculture …
By Clint Thompson The calendar finally says it’s fall, but with it may come a prolonged drought in the Southeast. That’s what happened in 2025 and has a tendency to occur no matter what year it is. An extended period of dry weather could have a negative effect on Christmas tree production in Alabama, especially with young trees, according to …
By Clint Thompson Whitefly infestations have been high this year in South Georgia. It’s the worst the region has experienced in nearly a decade, according to Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist. The high populations are impacting the vegetable and cotton crops this fall. “It’s worse than it’s been in a long time,” Sparks said. “They just …
