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By Clint Thompson The Southeast has yet to enter an official La Niña weather pattern. But it’s inevitable. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist, said the current temperature threshold has prevented weather experts from declaring an official La Niña. But it’s inevitable. It’s just a matter of how long it takes and its impact on the Southeast. “They …
By Clint Thompson and Frank Giles The fall of 2024 will not soon be forgotten by specialty crop growers in the Southeast after Hurricanes Helene and Milton roared ashore bringing far-reaching impacts to crops and infrastructure. While the true fallout of the storms will take months to realize, early reports show the level of damage growers are dealing with in …
By Clint Thompson Pecan harvests are well underway across South Georgia. What growers are harvesting right now will comprise most of what they pick for the season, believes Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist. “For a lot of them the volume has not been there; at least it’s less than what they thought when they were looking …
By Clint Thompson One South Georgia muscadine producer continues to educate consumers about the grape, especially its many health benefits. Gary Paulk, CEO of Paulk Vineyards in Wray, Georgia, attended last months’ IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show in Atlanta. Like other businesses in attendance, Paulk used the two-day event to market his crop and inform consumers about the sweet-tasting …
By Clint Thompson Alabama Christmas trees are on the verge of being cut down for this year’s holiday season. Looks like most live trees have benefited from this year’s growing conditions, says Steve Mannhard, with Fish River Farms in Baldwin County, Alabama. “They are in pretty good shape. They’re better than last year. We had a little better summer in …
By Frank Giles Invasive pests are a particular problem for specialty crop growers in the Southeast. Insects find their way through various ports of entry, and the region’s climate is often conducive to their survival and reproduction. A relatively new pest that is on the move and has growers and the research community on notice is Thrips parvispinus. The pest …
High populations of whiteflies are being observed across the southern region of Florida, according to the most recent release of the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. High population levels are being reported in some watermelon fields in Southwest Florida. However, scouts indicate low, yet increasing population levels in most crops, with nymphs being reported in some older fields. Whitefly …
Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, is advising blueberry growers about management options they need to consider during November. Producers should continue monitoring and managing leaf diseases, especially in evergreen systems. It is the time for blueberry farmers to begin monitoring for blueberry gall midge. They can use bucket traps (3 …
By Clint Thompson President Donald Trump’s re-election last week means a new administration for the next four years. That includes a new Secretary of Agriculture with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Tom Vilsack has served as ag secretary since 2021 under President Joe Biden. Trump’s first secretary of agriculture was Sonny Perdue. Now the question becomes, who will be …
By Frank Giles What would you do if your farm’s name was splashed across headlines nationwide in association with a food-borne illness outbreak? That’s a scary question some specialty crop growers have had to answer. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was signed into law in 2011, was largely driven by food-borne illness outbreaks associated with produce. Some of …
