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By Clint Thompson Drought continues to persist across some areas in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, according to the Aug. 21 edition of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Abnormal and moderate drought conditions are observed over most of Southwest Alabama. Moderate conditions are seen in the northern areas of Mobile and Baldwin counties, along with the western region of Washington County and …
By Frank Giles It has been busy on the ag labor front recently. There have been several announcements at the federal level amid continued deportation efforts by the Trump administration. In late June, Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez DeRemer gave comments regarding the agency’s H-2A program during the Western Governors Association meeting in New Mexico. She acknowledged the …
By Clint Thompson Georgia vegetable growers must be wary of a new insect pest that could impact a couple of crops this fall. Stormy Sparks, UGA Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist, discussed the Cotton Jassid. “The other thing that has shown up is the cotton two-spotted leaf hopper or Cotton Jassid. (About a month ago) we didn’t even know if it …
Snail impacts on Southeast citrus production can be devastating. A big part of the problem is not the damage to citrus trees but the harm the pest inflicts on irrigation systems. Lauren Diepenbrock, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor and entomologist, conveyed this message to cold-hardy producers during the Citrus Grower’s Summer Update meeting on …
By Clint Thompson Vidalia onion growers are a few weeks away from planting this year’s seedbeds. Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension area onion agent at the Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia, said plantings will commence in September, with some seed going in the ground during the first couple of weeks. “We’ll probably start the very …
By Frank Giles Recent salmonella outbreaks and recalls in the Southeast are a good reminder for all specialty crop growers to evaluate their food-safety protocols and practices. That’s the message from Michelle Danyluk, a professor of food biology and safety with the University of Florida Institute of Food Agricultural Sciences. “It has been a busy year on the food Danyluk …
By Clint Thompson This week’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo was again a sweet success as farmers and industry leaders flocked to Tampa, Florida, for the two-day show on Wednesday and Thursday. The Florida State Fairgrounds hosted the event for the third straight year, as more than 1,100 pre-registered. Seminar sessions were held for citrus and specialty crop growers, discussing …
By Clint Thompson Persistent rains in recent weeks have Georgia pecan producers concerned about scab disease with harvest season looming. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist, discussed disease development which spiked concerns following excessive rains during the first week in August. “(The rain) probably causes more problems than solutions right now. The biggest issue over the last …
By Frank Giles In watermelon, diseases can spread fast. In fields where diseases have a history of establishment, outbreaks can arise quickly when conditions are favorable. Most production guides recommend a lengthy rotation of watermelon in fields to help reduce disease inoculum. According to Bhabesh Dutta, professor of plant pathology and Extension vegetable disease specialist for the University of Georgia …
By Clint Thompson Sweet Grown Alabama continues to be an effective tool in connecting retailers and consumers to locally grown produce. Even though the program is still in a growing stage, it is becoming widely recognized across the state. Aisling Walding, assistant director of Sweet Grown Alabama, talked about the program’s growth and its spike in popularity. “We are still …
