By Clint Thompson Alabama hemp producers need to be wary of high insect pressure across the region. Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, said growers especially need to watch out for corn earworms. “The biggest thing that people need to be aware of that we’re dealing with right now is corn earworm. We started finding them in …
Conditions Ripe for Leaf Scorching in Pecans
Two types of leaf scorching are impacting Georgia pecan trees during these hot summer days. According to the University of Georgia Extension pecan blog, young trees are suffering leaf scorching related to heat stress. While there are various components that cause leaf scorch, the main problem is that a factor is affecting the root or vascular system. Lateral roots and …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Updates Across the 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. Weekly Field Update-8/9/21 Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “Generally speaking, we are in the change-over period from spring to fall crops, with some fumigants being applied to next year’s strawberry plantings. If fumigants are to be used, …
A Look at What’s in the Citrus Breeding Project Pipeline
Proposed research endeavors will mine the rich varietal pool established in recent years.
Expo Pre-Registration Closes Aug. 12
Pre-registration for the upcoming Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo, scheduled for Aug. 18-19 in North Fort Myers, Florida, closes Thursday, August 12 at 11:59 a.m. The annual conference returns to an in-person event this year after last year’s virtual show amid the coronavirus pandemic. The two-day event will feature a citrus session on Wednesday, Aug. 18. Growers and industry …
Onion Sweetness: Soil Conditions, Fertilizers Affect Vidalia Flavor
Source: UGA CAES Newswire University of Georgia Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratories (AESL) researchers are ensuring sweetness is a quality of all Vidalia onions. Vidalia onions are known for their sweetness because of the low sulfur environment of the sandy Coastal Plain soils in South Georgia where they are grown, said Daniel Jackson, manager of the Crop Quality Lab, a …
Studying Salmonella Contamination in Onions
By Bhabesh Dutta, Govindaraj DevKumar, Brian Kvitko and Hemant Naikare Organic onion production has grown substantially over the last two decades with the adoption of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP). Consumer demand for organic food is rapidly increasing. U.S. organic growers, both large and small, are benefiting from this trend. Organic onion production faces several …
USDA Announces Grant Funding Available for Specialty Crop Multi-State Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Friday that $10 million is available for competitive grant funding in the 2021 Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP). “This program is an important resource to strengthen the competitiveness of our nation’s specialty crop industry,” said Bruce Summers, administrator of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, which manages SCMP. “By working across state lines, grant …
Optimistic Outlook: Sunnier Days Ahead for North Alabama Produce
By Clint Thompson The calm after the storm seems to have hit north Alabama. In a summer highlighted by persistent rains, the north Alabama region has experienced sunnier days recently. It has Doug Chapman, Alabama Extension agent for Commercial Horticulture in North Alabama, optimistic for what remains for his farmers’ vegetable and specialty crops. “It rained on the first of …
Added Burden: Input Costs a Concern for Vegetable Producers
By Clint Thompson Freight and other input costs continue to be on the mind of vegetable and specialty crop producers heading into the fall season. It is especially concerning for Drew Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms in North Georgia, who is in the middle of a 20-acre watermelon harvest and will pick as much as 200 acres of pumpkins this …