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Citrus greening disease has yet to find its footing in Georgia. But that doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t eventually. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed the ramifications of citrus greening during the recent Southeast Citrus Update in Lyons, Georgia. “If we get greening established here, we’ll start seeing lower and lower production on …
By Clint Thompson Georgia vegetable farmers must be aware that whitefly populations have spiked in recent weeks, according to Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist. It’s a concern for producers preparing their fall crops. “Whiteflies really jumped (recently). (This week’s rain) may slow them down. I had a patch of soybeans there on the station where …
By Clint Thompson Drought conditions continue to remain a problem over parts of the Southeast, even following a rainy week last week. Southwest Alabama, Southwest Georgia and most of central and southern Florida are the areas most impacted by dry conditions, according to the Aug. 7 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Alabama Abnormally dry conditions in Alabama start in …
By Clint Thompson An excessive amount of rainfall throughout South Georgia in recent weeks will lead to some pecans falling prematurely. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist, cautioned growers in the UGA Pecan Extension Blog that the recent rains have come during shell hardening. It will lead to “nuts hitting the ground over the next week or …
A 30-day public comment period is currently under way for anyone interested in commenting on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s reorganization plan, as outlined in Ag Secretary Booke L. Rollins’ memorandum on July 24. All stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback by emailing reorganization@usda.gov. The comment period concludes on Aug. 26. As part of the plan, the USDA will consolidate …
By Clint Thompson South Carolina watermelon producers encountered their share of rainfall this production season. They had to overcome a plethora of diseases as a result. Brittney King, Clemson commercial horticulture Extension agent in Florence, South Carolina, provided an overview of the watermelon season and the challenges it presented this year. Growers still achieved strong yields. “Overall, it went pretty …
By Clint Thompson Low vegetable prices this spring impacted the bottom line for southeast growers. They also could impact producers’ intentions when managing their fall crops, says Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “The biggest issue, I think more so than the weather, is that prices were very low this spring …
It is never too early to start thinking about the 2026 Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) Conference and Tradeshow, scheduled for Feb. 4-6, 2026, in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The three-day event will be held at The Lodge at Gulf State Park. The theme for next year’s show is “Game Plan for Growth: Team AFVGA.” AFVGA Executive Director Blake …
By Clint Thompson North Carolina (N.C.) vegetable growers should be mindful that cucumber downy mildew has been confirmed on cucumber plant samples from a research plot at the Mountain Research Station in Haywood County, North Carolina. It was detected on July 30. Inga Meadows, N.C. State Extension Associate in Vegetable and Herbaceous Ornamental Pathology, noted that water-soaked lesions on the …
Georgia citrus growers are still in the honeymoon phase of production with regards to disease, said Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. While established groves in Florida have had to deal with disease buildup for decades, disease has yet to be problematic for South Georgia citrus production. But that could be changing. “With respect …
