By Clint Thompson Harvests of North Florida watermelons are in full swing across the Suwanee Valley. How long they are able to continue vary from farm to farm. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) regional specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, discusses the outlook for how much longer the harvests will continue. “There’s …
Recent Rainfall Alleviates Some Dry Conditions Across Southeast
Recent rainfall has helped alleviate the dry conditions in North Alabama and North Georgia, though various regions across the Southeast are still dry. According to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, only Morgan, Jefferson and Henry counties are abnormally dry in Alabama. Most of the southern region of Georgia is either abnormally dry, moderately dry or severely dry. Dry …
Senator Visit: Ossoff Discusses Time Spent with Georgia Producers
By Clint Thompson U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) connected with South Georgia farmers on Thursday in an effort to hear producers voice their concerns ahead of the 2023 Farm Bill. The Georgia senator met with producers representing multiple commodities, including pecans at the Georgia Pecan Growers Association in Tifton, Georgia. He discussed the importance of interacting with growers. “It was …
Disease Update for North Florida Watermelons
Gummy stem blight remains the main disease threat to North Florida’s watermelons, as harvests continue across the Suwannee Valley. The combination of increased rains and harvest equipment moving through the fields provides better potential for the disease to spread, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) regional specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, …
Post-Harvest Control of Bud Mites Essential for Blueberry Producers
By Clint Thompson Multiple control methods are available for blueberry producers trying to manage bud mites. It starts post-harvest when scouting and management of the pests are most important, says Ash Sial, University of Georgia entomologist. “While they don’t seem to be a serious issue in most situations, in some situations they can causes extremely high levels of damage. Last …
Bill Brim: Fighting for the Future of U.S. Farmers
By Clint Thompson Georgia farmer Bill Brim faces his share of challenges producing spring and fall crops in Tifton. But one worry haunts him daily: Where his grandchildren and future generations will get their food. “It’s going to come from the south of us (Mexico imports), and it’s going to be controlled by other people that you don’t want to …
Blueberry Management: What to do in June
Florida blueberry harvests have ended for the 2022 season, but management continues this summer. According to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, growers need to be actively scouting for algal stem blotch. The disease is significant on southern highbush blueberries. It will stunt growth and cause leaf yellowing, as well as increased susceptibility to Botryosphaeria. Producers need …
UF/IFAS Study Looks to Oxygen as Solution for Flooded Fields
Flooded fields can be problematic for Florida specialty crop farmers. Various locations across the Sunshine State average 40-60 inches of rainfall per year. Florida still ranks No. 1 in the nation in production of several crops. This includes snap beans, the subject of a new study from University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers that evaluated …
USDA Announces Framework to Shore Up Food Supply Chain
WASHINGTON, June 1 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced details of a framework to transform the food system that will benefit Southeast specialty crop producers. The goals of USDA’s Food System Transformation framework include: Building a more resilient food supply chain that provides more and better market options for consumers and producers while reducing carbon pollution: The pandemic …
Brown Rot Management Key for Peach Producers
By Clint Thompson Alabama Extension reminds peach producers that brown rot disease can flare up this time of year and wreak havoc on the remaining crop. That is why growers should be diligent with their preventative fungicide sprays, says David Lawrence, Alabama regional Extension agent. “It’s almost a given that if you don’t spray preventatively, you’re going to face it …