By Sean Montgomery for UGA CAES News A unique study conducted by University of Georgia entomologists led to the discovery of a distinctive supergene in fire ant colonies that determines whether young queen ants will leave their birth colony to start their own new colony or if they will join one with multiple queens. Researchers also found that ants were …
Spray Program Top Factor When Considering What Pecan Varieties to Plant
Pecan producers will soon be planting trees throughout the Southeast. But first, growers must decide what variety they’re going to plant. Scab susceptibility is the No. 1 factor that should influence what variety producers plant this year, according to Shane Curry, University of Georgia Appling County Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent. If growers are going to plant a variety …
NCDA&CS Announces Specialty Crop Block Grant Recipients
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced the recipients of more than $1.25 million in funding from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The funding will be used for projects that enhance the quality of specialty crops grown in North Carolina. “North Carolina is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the nation, and …
Florida Preps for Algae Blooms from Lake Releases
(NSF) — Measures are in place to offset potential blue-green algae blooms after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started Wednesday to schedule water releases from lower Lake Okeechobee, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. A news release late Wednesday said the department and the South Florida Water Management District are prepared to use “innovative technology” if needed …
NASS: Georgia Pecan Producers Forecast Big Production Gain in 2020
According to Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia pecan corn, hay, peanut, oat and wheat producers are set to harvest significantly larger crops in 2020 than they did in 2019, according to the October Crop Production Report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. NASS forecast Georgia pecan production in 2020 at 125 million pounds, an increase of 71% from 2019. If …
Alabama Extension Agent: Plant Now to Get Head Start on Spring
Alabama farmers interested in producing blueberries or any other containerized plant are encouraged to plant now, says Gary Gray. The Alabama Regional Extension Agent emphasizes the importance of keeping them watered, however. “I do prefer now. If you’ve got containerized plants, plant them now and they’ll have a head start on spring. They’ll be ahead of the game, as opposed …
Vidalia Onion Producers Wary of Center Rot
It’s never too early for Vidalia onion growers to start thinking about bacterial diseases that are problematic this time of year; especially Center Rot. While Southeast Georgia is the perfect environment for onion production, it also presents different challenges for onion producers. There are many plant diseases that can impact production. According to a UGA Extension publication, during this time …
H-2A Program Updates
When the U.S. government announced its decision to suspend visa processing in Mexico on March 18 to combat the spread of COVID-19, growers around the country immediately expressed concerns that the action could have a major impact on agriculture and the U.S. food supply. The concern, of course, was due to the vital role that foreign workers play in the …
UF Scientists Make Big Stride Toward Greening-Resistant Citrus Trees
By: Brad Buck, 813-757-2224, bradbuck@ufl.edu University of Florida scientists achieved a major milestone in their quest to develop a citrus greening-resistant tree by sequencing the genome of a fruit plant that’s a close cousin to citrus trees. You’d need to print 54,000 pages of copy paper to see the complete genome sequence. But within it, scientists believe they’ve found genes …
Weather Could be Decisive Factor in South Georgia Farmer’s Fall Vegetable Crop
Weather has wreaked havoc on one South Georgia farmer’s fall vegetable production. Sam Watson, managing partner of Chill C Farms in Colquitt County, Georgia, said his crop has not progressed as far along as it should have by this point in the growing season. He’s concerned a potential frost could derail his plans for a productive fall season. “We’re Oct. …