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By Clint Thompson Georgia’s vegetable leaders are unsure what last week’s sub-freezing temperatures and historic snowfall mean for this year’s winter greens in the field. It is not a scenario a South Georgia grower had to deal with prior to the start of last week where frigid temperatures were present for several days in a row. “We’re still not sure …
South Carolina producers should be mindful that a small fruit growers meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 13 at the Sandhills Research and Education Center in Columbia, South Carolina. The meeting will start at 10 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. It will cost $20 at the door online through the link below. Clemson Extension Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent Andy …
By Clint Thompson Frigid temperatures and unexpected snow last week in the Southeast impacted specialty crops. Strawberry producers in Alabama, Florida and Georgia felt the sting of the winter storm. That included Alabama farmer Todd Cassenbaum. He resides in Lillian, Alabama, located just across from Pensacola, Florida, where historic snow amounts were recorded. Eight inches of snow fell on his …
By Clint Thompson Blueberry growers need a more sustainable way of managing diseases. A calendar-based method requires fungicide applications that may not be necessary. The Blueberry Advisory System allows producers to be more efficient in how they manage anthracnose, a key disease growers have to manage every year. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, …
Alabama Cooperating Extension is set to host its third annual Spray Drone End-User Conference, scheduled for March 23-26 at the Mobile Convention Center in Mobile, Alabama. Online registration is available on the Alabama Extension website at www.aces.edu/go/DroneConference. There are two registration fees based on attendance preferences. Registration for in-person attendance is $400 but will increase to $500 after Jan. 31. …
By Clint Thompson A Georgia produce grower and industry leader was named Farmer of the Year at the 2025 Georgia Ag Forecast meeting on Friday. Kent Hamilton, chief executive officer at Southern Valley, located in Norman Park, was recognized during the Ag Forecast event. He’ll later compete against other farmer of the year recipients from the Southeast for the Sunbelt …
Citrus in the cold-hardy region of South Georgia, South Alabama and North Florida encountered below-freezing temperatures and historic snowfall all week. Growers are now taking stock of their groves, surveying damage and preparing for what to do next, which includes managing phytophthora. “Most all of the crop was in, so there was very little exposure there. There’s a little bit …
By Clint Thompson Stanley Culpepper, University of Georgia Extension weed scientist, believes 2025 will be a pivotal year for specialty crop growers attempting to navigate the regulations surrounding pesticide implementation. It’s what he has highlighted during county grower meetings and what he stressed during the recent Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. “Everyone of us in the future, as we …
Charles Hall, the former executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), passed away on Monday, Jan. 20. He was 74. Hall has been instrumental in helping the GFVGA host one of the premier regional trade shows in the country every January during the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. He will be forever missed by those …
By Clint Thompson Alabama pecan growers need to think outside the box in the future when it comes to marketing their product. At least that’s the belief shared by Bryan Wilkins, Auburn University research associate. “The guys that were doing more retail than wholesale, they’ve done okay. I honestly think that’s the trend that this Southeast market is going to …
