By Clint Thompson The extreme heat this summer nearly took its toll on farmer Bill Brim’s specialty crops. The persistent rains the past couple of weeks definitely did. Bill Brim, part owner of Lewis Taylor Farms in Tifton, Georgia, discussed the impact that the saturated conditions had on his specialty crops like pepper and squash. “On pepper it finished us …
Southeast Alabama Specialty Crops Fizzle Under High Temperatures
By Clint Thompson Southeast Alabama specialty crops prefer dry weather conditions. This season’s prolonged drought was not detrimental to production season. However, they don’t like it extremely hot at the peak of harvest season. But that was the scenario farmers faced in the Southeast in June. It significantly impacted fruits and vegetables in the Wiregrass region of Alabama, said Neil …
Fall Blueberry Conference Scheduled for Oct. 20
Florida blueberry growers can mark their calendars for the Florida Blueberry Growers Association’s annual Fall Conference and Trade Show, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. Registration details will be released soon, as will information regarding the meeting’s agenda, educational sessions, sponsorship opportunities and vendor information.
N.C. State Tomato Field Day Slated for Aug. 11
N.C. State Tomato Field Day Slated for Aug. 11 North Carolina (N.C.) State Extension will hold its annual Tomato Field Day on Thursday, Aug. 11 at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River, North Carolina. Registration will be held at 8 a.m., with field tours starting at 8:45 a.m. and lunch served at noon. The vendor …
International Trade Commission Clears Way for Fertilizers
By Frank Giles The International Trade Commission (ITC) recently ruled against imposing tariffs on nitrogen fertilizers imported from Russia and Trinidad and Tobago. The panel’s ruling found that imports from those countries did not hurt American producers of fertilizer. The ITC ruling removed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties of up to 132% on urea nitrate fertilizers from Russia. Duties of 113% …
UF/IFAS Breaks Record on Research Expenditures
Research conducted at the University of Florida in agricultural sciences and natural resources conservation topped previous years’ spending totals in the latest figures reported to the National Science Foundation. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) researchers reported a total of $277.9 million spent during their projects in the fiscal year that ended June 30, the highest …
Webinar Focuses on Citrus Trunk Injection to Treat HLB
The pros of injecting the antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) into citrus tree trunks to combat HLB appear to be numerous, including increased fruit yield, according to scientist Ute Albrecht. On the other hand, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher only discussed one con, but it was a big one. “Trunk injections cause injury, and long-term effects need to …
Choanephora Blight Found on Green Bean in Charleston
Due to frequent rains, cloudy weather and high humidity, Choanephora blight or wet rot was found throughout a one-acre planting of green bean cultivars and breeding lines at Coastal Research and Education Center last week, according to The South Carolina Grower. Growers and home gardeners may see similar symptoms on late-planted beans throughout South Carolina. Choanephora blight is a common …
Recent Rains Could Delay Fumigation Process
By Clint Thompson Persistent rainfall across the Southeast in recent weeks could delay fumigation progress from specialty crop farmers preparing to plant their fall crops. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, discusses how heavy rain events could keep producers from getting into their fields at a key point in the season. …
Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus on Rise in North Carolina
By Clint Thompson High populations of thrips meant a surge in tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in North Carolina tomatoes this season. Inga Meadows, North Carolina (N.C.) State Extension specialist, discusses the uptick in thrips activity this year. Since thrips vector the virus, that meant more incidences of TSWV. “In some parts of North Carolina, we’ve had quite a bit …