By Clint Thompson Pecan quality and quantity is expected to take a hit during the upcoming season. The quantity is not a surprise following last year’s crop. The quality is a result of increased scab disease pressure following persistent rains this summer. “Our young trees is where most of the crop is going to come from this year,” Lenny Wells, …
Management Tactics for Fall Armyworm Infestations
Fall armyworm infestations continue to be rampant across Alabama. According to the most recent Alabama Extension Pest Monitoring Report, there were 585 moth numbers collected in 19 different trap locations. That is way more than the 114 recorded this time last year. Fall armyworms are dark with a Y-shaped mark on their head and four spots at the tail end. …
Registration Ongoing for 2021 Piedmont Research Station Horticulture and Specialty Crops Field Day
According to N.C. State Extension, registration is ongoing for the 2021 Piedmont Research Station Horticulture and Specialty Crops Field Day. The in-person field day will be held on Aug. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This event will cover research conducted on the Piedmont Research Station, with special emphasis on hemp. Please register for the event through Eventbrite. Per …
Pepper Weevil Pointers
By Gene McAvoy The pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii) is a key pest of all pepper varieties grown in Florida. Populations build throughout the season and often reach unmanageable numbers in South Florida in the late spring (early fall in North Florida), resulting in crop loss. In South Florida, it is not unusual for growers to terminate older plantings where weevils …
South Carolina Set to Observe National Farmers Market Week Aug. 1-7
COLUMBIA – Show your appreciation for local businesses and South Carolina farmers during this year’s National Farmers Market Week. “By shopping at a farmers market, you are supporting your neighbors – and what better time than during the abundant summer months for South Carolina produce,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers. “The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that farmers markets are …
Growers Beware: Manage Drosophila, Sour Rot in Georgia Grapes
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension reminds grape producers that the time is now to plan their spotted wing drosophila management (SWD). It will help suppress sour rot disease in grapes that are vulnerable. The SWD flies are active year-round but are an extreme pest when grapes approach veraison or begin to ripen. The brix levels in wine grapes can reach …
Tomato Producers Be Wary of Fall Diseases
By Clint Thompson Tomato season is here for producers in Florida. Diseases like bacterial leaf spot and target spot should be on the mind of growers preparing their fungicide programs, says Josh Freeman, University of Florida/IFAS Associate Professor in Horticultural Science. “In the fall season we really worry about bacterial leaf spot getting established early just because we’re in a …
What’s the Latest? Upcoming Expo Focuses on Vegetables, Specialty Crops on Aug. 18
By Clint Thompson Registration continues for the upcoming Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo, scheduled for Aug. 17-18 at North Fort Myers, Florida. Those interested in learning more about vegetable and specialty crops are encouraged to attend Thursday’s sessions. Various topics will be discussed. These include Mike Joyner, president of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, discussing the impact of …
McBrayer Tapped To Lead Young Farmers Division
The Alabama Farmers Federation is welcoming a familiar face as director of its Young Farmers Division. Hunter McBrayer, a commodity director whose roots run deep in the Young Farmers program, will begin his new role Aug. 23. McBrayer said he is eager to travel the state, meet with members on their farms, increase engagement and help Young Farmers be more …
Update on Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus in Florida
By Ozgur Batuman and Salih Yilmaz Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is a highly contagious, devastating and economically important plant virus. It mainly threatens greenhouse-grown vegetable crops worldwide, especially tomatoes and peppers. ToBRFV is very similar to other tobamoviruses, such as tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), two tomato-infecting viruses common to most Florida growers. Although …