Peach producers need to be mindful of Phony peach disease. According to the UGA Peach Blog, Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension plant pathologist, cautions growers that if a tree is diagnosed with the disease, they need to destroy the tree immediately. They also need to remove it from the orchard to prevent further spread of the Xylella fastidiosa …
Extend the Growing Season of Blueberries, Other Summer Fruits
By Mary Leigh Oliver AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. – As blueberries and other summer fruits begin to grow out of season, gardeners may be looking for ways to extend the growing season. While there are many factors that affect the output of fruit crops, there are several things people can do to put their plants in the best situation possible for …
Insect Pressure in Alabama Concerning for Producers
Insect pressure is high right now throughout Alabama. Ayanava Majumdar, an Auburn Extension Professor in Entomology and Plant Pathology, wants producers to be aware of the difference between squash vine borer larvae and pickleworm larvae. Complaints have increased significantly for both insects. Squash vine borer larvae are found inside hollow stems at the soil surface. Eventually, they pupate in the …
New Ways to Promote Watermelon
Winter Springs, Fla. – Watermelon continues to find its place on menus throughout the country despite the rapidly changing foodservice landscape. Partnering with both quick service and full service national chains in the spring and summer months, the National Watermelon Promotion Board (Board) focused on takeaway-and delivery-friendly options to not only include watermelon on the menu, but keep it top …
Top 5 Lessons Learned From a Newly Certified Organic Grower
By Tiffany Bailey At Honeyside Farms, we have been growing produce using organic practices for over 10 years. When we needed to move farm locations, we found a piece of farmland that could become certified organic. So, we decided to go for it. These are the top lessons we learned in our first year as a fully certified organic farm. …
Georgia Ag Commissioner: One of the Vulnerabilities This Year Was Blueberries
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black testified last week in a hearing with the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office that his state’s fruit and vegetable producers had a decent spring of production amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, one commodity group had its challenges especially when competing against Mexican imports. “I think one of the vulnerabilities this year was blueberries. We had some …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Dr. Tony Keinath reports, “For the past few years, Orondis Opti on cucumber and cantaloupe and Orondis Ultra on pumpkin and watermelon have been the best fungicides to manage downy mildew. Based on results from a …
Alabama Growers Be Mindful of Deadline Extension for CFAP
Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension economist Adam Rabinowitz wants Alabama non-specialty crop and specialty crop producers to be aware of the deadline being extended for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and what crops in the state are most impacted. In the Alabama Extension blog, Rabinowitz reminded producers that CFAP provides financial assistance to growers of selected agricultural products. …
2020-’21 UF/IFAS Citrus Production Guide Available
By: Ruth Borger, 517-803-7631, rborger@ufl.edu LAKE ALFRED, Fla. — While the coronavirus pandemic has changed much of the University of Florida citrus programming, one annual tradition continues, albeit with some changes. The 2020-2021 UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Production Guide is now available to growers, just as it has in years past. The difference is that growers …
Response Requested From Ag, Marine Industry Professionals for New Round of Surveys
By: Kirsten Romaguera, 352-294-3313, kromaguera@ufl.edu GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida researchers have opened the second round of surveys on COVID-19’s impact on the state’s agriculture and marine industries, intended to capture changes in operations for the first half of the year. The Assessment of COVID-19 Impacts on Florida surveys were first deployed in mid-April and closed in mid-May, offering …