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Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Zack Snipes Midlands Phillip Carnley Rob Last Pee Dee Brittney King
By Clint Thompson The Specialty Crop Tracker is a record of this year’s crop progress based on observations from growers, Extension agents and other industry stakeholders on the ground throughout the Southeast. Hurricane Debby Floods Fields In early August, Hurricane Debby slowly rolled through the Southeast, dumping huge amounts of rain in certain areas. For some specialty crop growers, it …
By Clint Thompson The recent revelation that Neopestalotiopsis has infected strawberry plug plants originating from nurseries in Prince Edward Island will impact Alabama producers. Blake Thaxton, executive director of the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA), has heard various reports of the disease for the past several weeks. “When the plug growers that are here started receiving tips, all …
By Clint Thompson Agricultural imports are so commonplace that a projected increase is not a surprise to Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA); disappointing but not surprising. Ag imports in fiscal year (FY) 2025 are forecast at $212 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service and Foreign Agricultural …
Scientists throughout the South are using artificial intelligence (AI) to help growers save labor costs and time, spray with precision, detect diseases, control food quality, maintain animal health and help grow wheat. Among the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientists helping growers save time and money is Yiannis Ampatzidis, an associate professor of agricultural and …
By Clint Thompson Southeast specialty crop producers are eyeing a potential storm nearing the Gulf of Mexico that could impact the Southeast later this week. The potential development of the storm, named Helene, along with its current path means Florida, Georgia and Alabama are all in its crosshairs. “The whole state of Georgia right now is in the cone. It …
The University of Georgia’s new citrus breeder is preaching patience for South Georgia growers wanting new varieties to work with. Dario Chavez emphasized during the Citrus Grower’s Summer Update meeting in Valdosta that it could take a decade or longer to research and find new citrus varieties that will help Georgia’s blossoming industry. “I think some of the growers are …
By Clint Thompson Peaches in Georgia and Alabama may not be in season, but their management is a year-round job for growers. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, discussed the current management strategies growers should be implementing on the heels of a bumper crop. “This time of year, we’re …
By Clint Thompson The general session at this year’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo shined the spotlight on timely topics important to all types of growers. Farm Bill One of those topics was the farm bill, a key piece of legislation that may not be finalized by the end of this year, according to Tori Rumenik, director of commodity services …
The latest release of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows the recent rainfall has had minimal impact on the drought conditions in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Almost all of Alabama is experiencing some level of drought conditions; ranging from abnormally dry, starting in Mobile and Baldwin counties; all the way to extreme drought in parts of Jackson and Limestone counties …
