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By Clint Thompson Alabama peach producers appear to be in good shape with respect to chill hour accumulation this winter. That is according to Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University. Vinson discussed peaches with AgNet Media at last weekend’s Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Conference in Gulf Shores, Alabama. …
By Clint Thompson Pecan harvests have concluded. Some growers fared better than others. East Georgia producers struggled the most, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. “Certainly, east Georgia, I think, was really light. I’ve heard from others, further to the west, it’s hit and miss. It seems to be people that have a lot of young trees …
By Clint Thompson The Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) celebrated its annual conference and trade show this week in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Farmers, industry leaders and Extension personnel flocked to the Lodge at Gulf State Park to learn about various trends and topics impacting the fruit and vegetable industries. Topics like Neopestalotiopsis in strawberries, paper mulch research in …
By Clint Thompson The current weak La Niña weather pattern is forecast to be transitioning to neutral conditions during the Jan.-March timeframe. It should linger through the summer before giving way to an El Niño weather pattern. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist, highlighted what that transition means for the Southeast with respect to potential tropical systems and …
By Clint Thompson The Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) was designed to avoid having an adverse effect on American farmers. That has not been the case, however. It’s a message that those in the agricultural industry voiced to legislative leaders amid spiraling AEWR wages used to pay workers in the H-2A program. It ultimately led the Department of Labor to …
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. Coastal Region Anna Sara Hill Zack Snipes Midlands Rob Last Upstate Samantha Brown
By Clint Thompson Florida strawberry producers are in the early stages of assessing freeze damage from last weekend’s winter storm. They are confident the crop will rebound after this temporary setback, according to Nick Wishnatzki, public relations director at Wish Farms in Plant City, Florida. “We are still assessing the damage and there has been some damage, not extensive at …
A South Georgia citrus producer is upbeat after last weekend’s winter storm, which brought plunging temperatures and blistery wind conditions, threatened his grove. Jaime Patrick of Patrick Farms in Omega admitted it would still be a few days before he had a clearer view of the overall impact from the freeze. But he is optimistic. “It’s going to take us …
Tripti Vashisth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor of horticultural sciences and citrus Extension specialist, was part of a question-and-answer session that the UF/IFAS Statewide Citrus Team held for growers last week prior to the weekend’s winter storm. She talked about how low temperatures and high winds could impact citrus flowering. She expressed hope …
By Clint Thompson Florida’s blueberry farmers are busy assessing damage sustained from last weekend’s winter storm. While it may not be for some time that growers get a clear picture of how much damage occurred from low temperatures and high winds, it is certain that there was impact. That is according to Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food …
