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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 …
In this month’s sneak peek, the October issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine puts blueberries under the spotlight and includes a feature on a pair of Georgia growers who are helping build a better future for the crop. Hunter Williams and Randy Miller, producers in Southeast Georgia, have different experiences and paths to the specialty crop sector. They discussed the …
Cold-hardy citrus producers are yearning for some cooler weather. It would not only provide some relief from the warm temperatures being experienced across North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama, cooler temperatures will aid in color development in this year’s fruit, among other benefits. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed the impact of …
By Clint Thompson Most everything has been done by Southeast pecan growers to produce a crop this year. As South Georgia farmer Justin Jones puts it, everything now until harvests are out of his and other farmers’ hands. “We’ve done our job as far as growing the pecan, keeping the tree happy,” Jones said. “It’s out of our hands at …
By Frank Giles Every so often, we’ll see another data point that confirms an argument we’ve been making for years in the Southeastern specialty crop industry: Imports of fresh fruits and vegetables are putting our growers at a disadvantage. In this instance, the data comes from the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) recently published report, “Competing Across the Calendar: The …
By Clint Thompson Registration is currently ongoing for this year’s Southeast Strawberry Expo scheduled for Nov. 8-11 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort in Mill Spring, North Carolina. One of the topics on this year’s agenda is variety testing, as conducted by Austin Wrenn, with Wrenn’s Farm. He will provide updates on what works well in what soil …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended the deadline for farmers to apply for Stages 1 and 2 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) to Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is providing greater flexibility for farmers who experienced quality losses on eligible crops. As farmers apply for this key program, farmers who experienced quality-related discounts …
By Clint Thompson Strawberry plantings will soon begin across the Southeast. Plant sourcing remains the best line of defense against Neopestalotiopsis (Neo) disease, says Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist. “We tell people to make sure you’re talking to your nurseries and getting from a nursery that does not have a history of having it, …
By Clint Thompson The calendar turns to October this week. While the Southeast has dodged a major hurricane so far this year, specialty crop growers and homeowners must remember they are not out of the woods yet. Pam Knox, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agricultural climatologist, discussed the potential for storms this time of year. “We’re passed the peak of …
By Clint Thompson Plenty is on the minds of North Florida and South Georgia watermelon growers ahead of this year’s Suwannee Valley Watermelon Institute, scheduled for Dec. 3. Multiple concerns are expected to be addressed at the meeting, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “I …
