By Maria M. Lameiras for CAES News After years of building and analyzing sample collections, plant pathologists at the University of Georgia have identified the genes that allow a type of bacteria that causes onion center rot to resist onions’ natural defenses in a “chemical arms race.” The pathogen Pantoea ananatis can enter onions through the leaves — usually as …
UGA Extension helps Georgia Grown connect to consumers
By Maria M. Lameiras for UGA CAES News Like the moments before a race begins, dozens of staff with Georgia Grown and University of Georgia Cooperative Extension prepared to load thousands of pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables into hundreds of waiting cars and trucks stretched out in long lines at the Gwinnett Georgia Grown To Go event in Lawrenceville, …
Georgia Grown Continues to Gain Ground
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Grown program continues to expand every year and highlights products grown in the state, like blueberries, pecans, milk and Vidalia onions. Its presence at events throughout the year, like the Sunbelt Ag Expo, allows the Georgia Department of Agriculture to showcase Georgia grown products, which help make agriculture the No. 1 industry in the state. …
Southeastern Growers Kick Off 2019 at Industry-Wide Conference
Every year, the southeastern fruit and vegetable industry starts a new year together at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference (SERFVC), and 2019 was no different. Thousands of growers, packers, shippers, industry leaders and educators gathered together in Savannah, Georgia, on Jan. 10–13 at one of the industry’s biggest regional events. Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit …
Southeastern Agriculture Well Represented at PMA Fresh Summit
The Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) annual Fresh Summit took place Oct. 17-19 in Orlando, Florida. Every year, this huge summit brings members of the global produce and floral industries together to make connections and mingle with fellow industry professionals. Every year, southeastern agriculture has a huge presence at the summit, most notably in the Fresh from Florida and Georgia Grown …
Sneak Peek: February 2018 VSCNews Magazine
The February issue of VSCNews magazine is packed with information about protecting your crops against disease. Included in the issue is the latest research on diseases like target spot, fusarium wilt, center rot and more. Gary Vallad, University of Florida associate professor, explores target spot in tomatoes. He discusses what to look for as well as methods for management. Bhabesh …
Sen. Ossoff Pushing for Onion Breeder Position at ARS
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s Vidalia onion crop is already one of the top vegetables produced in the state. U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (GA) wants to ensure the crop continues to spike in production and popularity. He is calling on the U.S. Senate’s Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies to appropriate funding to support …
Major Scientific Breakthrough in Onion Research
University of Georgia Extension vegetable pathologist Bhabesh Dutta has led an international team of researchers that have identified a gene cluster in two Pantoea species that produce a phosphonate compound to kill onions. This is a major breakthrough for the onion industry and should pave the way for scientists to breed onions against phosphonate compounds, which are associated with bacterial …
Increased Copper Applications Help with Center Rot Management
By Clint Thompson Increased applications of copper during the second half of the production season can help Vidalia onion producers combat center rot disease more efficiently. Chris Tyson, UGA Extension area onion agent, conducted research on the practice which led to improved yields. “We figured a grower in the second half of the season may spray on average three to …
Variety Testing Essential for Onion Producers
By Clint Thompson Variety selection is one of the first steps Georgia Vidalia onion producers take in producing a valuable crop every season. They depend on variety testing by University of Georgia Extension specialists to provide data supporting what varieties perform best under specific conditions. Chris Tyson, UGA Extension area onion agent, highlighted specific factors that he evaluates when studying …