The BeSure! campaign from the Growing Matters Coalition tells us it’s always a good time to check your pesticide’s label. The coalition says when choosing crop protection tools, both effectiveness and potential impact on the environment must be considered. Protecting bees and other wildlife is a major part of good stewardship practices and is why Growing Matters launched BeSure!, an initiative to support growers …
It’s Hot Out There: Warming Trend, Sporadic Rain to Continue Through Next Week
By Clint Thompson Weather conditions heated up this week across the Southeast. A lack of rainfall in certain areas created a warm environment for specialty crops. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist, discussed the current warming trend across the region. “We’ve been in this cold and persistent pattern where it seems like it’s rained almost every weekend in …
Florida Rep. Cammack: Specialty Crop Production Could Go Out if Issues Not Addressed
By Clint Thompson Specialty crop production in the U.S. is in danger. Unfair trade practices with Mexico have made sustainability a national concern for producers, not just those in the Southeast. That’s why it has to be addressed in the next Farm Bill, to preserve those farms that have survived so far. Florida Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03) discussed that issue …
Middle Georgia Peach Crop: About 5% Remain Following March Freeze Events
By Clint Thompson Peach lovers already know there will be slim pickings with this year’s crop. Unfortunately, that equates to about 5% in middle Georgia, estimates Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties. “We really don’t have anything to harvest. If we have peaches, they’re going to be mid-June to …
New Way to Treat Pathogens Shows Promise
By Matthew Cutulle Soil-borne pathogenic bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms cause approximately 90% of diseases affecting the most widely cultivated agricultural crops in the United States. These soil-borne pathogens are among the most damaging factors in crop productivity affecting yield, plant vigor and overall marketability. One of the most problematic pathogens that growers in the Southeast deal with is the …
2023 York Distinguished Lecture Series Features Chavonda Jacobs-Young
By Maegan Beatty On May 3, the Harn Museum of Art hosted the 2023 York Distinguished Lecture Series. The speaker was Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young. She serves as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for research, education and economics and chief scientist. Jacobs-Young helped establish USDA science priorities in supporting precision nutrition research, building scientific infrastructure and the next …
Blueberry Cultivars in North Florida
By Maegan Beatty Blueberries are a popular commodity throughout the state of Florida and the entire southeast region. Scientists and researchers are working to create new cultivars that can sustain hard freezes during those difficult winter months, especially throughout the North Florida area. Dr. Jeff Williamson is a part of the Horticulture Sciences Department at the University of Florida Institute …
Powdery Mildew Discovered in North Florida Melons
Another week of watermelon production in Florida’s Suwanee Valley region, another confirmation of a potentially devastating disease. Fortunately, it appears that producers were ready for powdery mildew disease, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) regional specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “It is confirmation, sort of like the downy mildew situation, where they’re …
Blueberry Quality, Quantity High in Most of Florida
By Clint Thompson Blueberry harvests are winding down across Florida. Quality and quantity were high in certain fields, though others observed negative impacts from Hurricane Ian last September. Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, discussed the state of harvests across Florida this year. “Quality wise for sure, it’s been a good …
In the Field: 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. Midlands Phillip Carnley Rob Last Upstate Andy Rollins