By Clint Thompson Some Alabama vegetable growers are considering their pumpkin plantings for this fall. Andre da Silva, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, highlighted what cultivars growers need to focus on during a recent webinar. “We did some variety trials, and I would just like to show that those are jack-o-lantern pumpkins that we evaluated last year in central Alabama. What …
Blueberry Management Options for June
Florida blueberry producers just completed their harvests for the 2023 season. But plans are already being made for the ’24 crop. Disease and pest management are key to a successful season next year. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences scientists encourage growers to scout for algal stem blotch. If farmers observe the disease, they should prune out …
Florida Grower Citrus Show Delves into Global Nutrient Markets
By Frank Giles April was a busy month for the AgNet Media team. On top of our normal duties, we also hosted the Florida Grower Citrus Show in Fort Pierce. This was after much thoughtful deliberation and planning that included changing the format of the event. Since this was the first time hosting the show since it was acquired last …
Nutrient Needs in Pecan Production
By Clint Thompson Fertility needs are an important concept for pecan growers to understand if they are going to be successful. Different times in the production season require various amounts of specific nutrients. Take nitrogen for example. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, said nitrogen requirements are most important right now. “The peak nitrogen absorption by the roots …
FBGA Spring Field Day and Meeting 2023
The Florida Blueberry Growers Association welcomes all Growers and Industry Suppliers to the 2023 Spring Field Day and Meeting, Thursday March 9th at the UF-IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, Florida. Get the latest updates from University of Florida IFAS Researchers. Featured sessions will include: Dr. Rachel Mallinger – Assessing honeybee hive strength, pollinator activity and pollination …
UGA Extension Reminds Strawberry Producers to Tissue Sample
University of Georgia Extension reminds strawberry growers that now is the time tissue sample their strawberry plants. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, reported in the UGA Extension Strawberry Blog that tissue sampling is the best way to determine if plants have the nutrients they need to produce …
Fertilizer Prices to Remain High for Specialty Crop Producers
By Clint Thompson The high fertilizer prices gripping the agricultural world should improve some for farmers this year. But just a little. At the very least, costs are not expected to increase, says Glen Harris, University of Georgia (UGA) professor and Extension agronomist in environmental soil and fertilizer. “If you look back, fertilizer prices went up in 2008 but came …
What’s Happening? Clemson Extension Agents Provide Weekly Updates on Crops
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Andy Rollins reports, “Based on Dr. Jeremy Pattisons’ work on fall development in strawberries, we need to have between 600 growing degree days (GDD) (Chandler) and 800 GDD (Camarosa) from October to December. It is suspected that …
Weekly Field Update – 10/17/22
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 reports, “We have had absolutely beautiful weather as of late. This past week, agents were busy harvesting sweet sorghum to make into syrup, to distill, brew and pop (sorghum popcorn). This old timey tradition …
The Big Florida Fertilizer Update
By Frank Giles Outbreaks of blue-green algae and red tide in recent years have put the spotlight on the use of fertilizer in agriculture. Environmental groups have blamed agriculture for being a main source of nutrient pollution that has caused water-quality problems. Folks in agriculture know it is more complicated than that and they need new data to support their …