Clemson Extension agents provide updates in the The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Weekly Field Update 7-19-21 Statewide Dr. Tony Keinath’s remarks on fungicide stewardship: Growers who are applying newer fungicides that are pre-mixes of two active ingredients do not need to add another fungicide to the tank mix. …
Citrus Achievement Award Winner Talks New Varieties and COVID-19 Lessons Learned
See what Larry Black of Peace River Packing Company has to say in Part 1 of this exclusive Q&A series.
Sweet Future for Papayas in Florida?
By Clint Thompson University of Florida/IFAS research yielded profitable options for tropical fruit producers yearning to produce a new crop. That crop is papaya. “It’s about more options and de-risking the process,” said Alan Chambers, plant geneticist at UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center. Chambers conducted research at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead and featured various …
Wet Summer Expected to Stay That Way
By Clint Thompson A wet summer is expected to stay that way for the foreseeable future, according to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist, discusses the impact. “So, last year was wet from all of the tropical activity. We’re just at the beginning of this tropical season this year, so we’ve …
Time to Overhaul U.S. Agricultural Policy
By Zhengfei Guan Since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation, the U.S. produce industry has been actively pursuing policy changes to counter increasing foreign competition. This competition, particularly from Mexico, has caused great challenges to the sustainability of the domestic industry. I have participated in policy discussions and testified at two recent hearings. The first was on seasonal …
Perfect Tomato? Plant Breeding a Challenge For Even the Best
By Clint Thompson University of Florida tomato breeder Sam Hutton can sometimes be in a no-win situation when trying to create a variety of the future. Between a consumer base that desires quality, and farmers, who crave quantity, it presents a challenging scenario. How do you keep farmers and consumers happy? It is almost impossible. “As you increase your sugars, …
Hemp Survey: Alabama Extension Asking for Grower Input
A group of hemp research and extension faculty, including Alabama Extension, are conducting a survey with hemp producers to gauge research priorities in the future. The group is asking hemp growers to fill out the survey to help with the efforts. This is Alabama’s third hemp production season, though the rainy summer has delayed or deterred growers from planting their …
UGA Extension to Host Onion Meeting
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension will host a fumigation meeting for Vidalia onion producers at the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center (VOVRC) on Tuesday, July 20 at 11 a.m. UGA Extension will provide updates for producers, as they prepare for onion seedbeds. A BBQ Lunch will be provided for attendees. The meeting will conclude at 1 p.m. Contact Chris …
Citrus Canker Detected: Disease Confirmed in Alabama
Citrus canker has been detected in Alabama. Plant health officials have confirmed the plant disease in a residential area of Baldwin County, Alabama, which is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and state of Florida. This is the first detection of citrus canker in Alabama. It can affect all citrus species. Though the disease is harmless to humans, it can …
Drought-Less Region: Sufficient Moisture Remains in Alabama, Florida and Georgia
According to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of the Southeast continues to have sufficient moisture amid a wet summer. No areas of Alabama or Georgia are abnormally dry. Only a small part of Miami-Dade County in Florida is abnormally dry. South Carolina has sufficient moisture, except for a small region across the northwest part of the state. …