By Clint Thompson Irrigation is a key component of farming vegetables and specialty crops. With scorching temperatures and dry conditions expected for the foreseeable future, producers need to keep their crops watered to maximize yield production. Andre da Silva, Assistant Professor of Vegetable Crop Systems at Auburn University, said it depends on what type of irrigation systems that farmers have …
Downy Mildew Alert in Grapes
According to the University of Georgia Extension Viticulture Blog, downy mildew disease was discovered this week in the UGA Horticulture Farm grape research plots for the first time this year in Watkinsville, Georgia. UGA Extension implores producers to be scouting throughout the state. Also, growers need to incorporate highly efficacious materials into their spray programs as they move forward through …
Secrets to online sales success
By Tiffany Bailey and Ida Vandamme There is no denying that the demand for organic food is on the rise. Fueled by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, consumers are showing a rapidly increasing willingness to purchase food online. There is also a recent trend in consumers seeking local and healthy food options. All these factors create a time when …
Georgia Farmer: Every Week’s a Different Challenge
By Clint Thompson The hits just keep on coming for vegetable and specialty crop producers across the Southeast. If it’s not fuel prices skyrocketing, it’s a pallet shortage sweeping across the country. If it’s not high labor costs or having enough labor availability, it’s having to contend with increased imports. “Every week’s a different challenge, it seems like, something; either …
Irrigation Needs: What’s Needed During Prolonged Dry Periods?
By Clint Thompson If it’s not already, it’s about to be hot and dry in Alabama. With vegetable production well under way across the state, one word is on the minds of Alabama producers – irrigation. Eric Schavey, Regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama, provides irrigation tips for farmers during prolonged dry periods. “Usually, the rule of thumb is around …
Nematode Issue: Pest Still a Problem for Vegetable, Specialty Crop Producers
By Clint Thompson Nematodes were not any less of a problem this year for Florida producers. But they weren’t any worse, either, said Johan Desaeger, Assistant Professor of Entomology and Nematology at the UF Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. “They’re always bad in Florida. But if they were worse this year or not, it’s hard to tell. When I …
Crops Update: Clemson Extension Agents Provide Updates Across State
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in the The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Rob Last reports, “As we mentioned last week, cucurbit downy mildew has been confirmed in cucumber crops locally. All cucurbit growers should be applying downy-mildew specific fungicides, such as Ranman tank mixed with either chlorothalonil …
Disease Alert: Downy Mildew Observed in North Florida Watermelons
University of Florida/IFAS Extension agents in the Suwanee Valley area are confident downy mildew disease is in the region’s watermelon crop. Producers need to spray for this disease, also known as “wildfire.” Spray programs especially need to be initiated in the southern parts of the Suwannee Valley region, including in Levy and Gilchrist counties, where the first reports of the …
Irrigation Key in Managing Pests
One of the first steps to conducting a sustainable integrated pest management system is timely irrigation. If plants aren’t watered adequately and on a timely basis, plants can become stressed, making them more vulnerable to insect pests, according to Ayanava Majumdar, Extension Professor in Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University. He offers a few tips for water management in …
Florida Blueberries: Best Year in a Long Time
By Clint Thompson What a difference a year made for Florida blueberries. A year ago amid the early onset of COVID-19 and consistent imports from Mexico, prices were down for most of the season, about 50% of the historical average farmers would normally get, according to producer Ryan Atwood. This year’s crop, though, was helped by consistent prices for most …