By Clint Thompson With hot temperatures expected to get hotter and dry conditions only expected to get drier, irrigation management is a top priority for Alabama vegetable and specialty crop producers. “They need to make sure their irrigation system is working correctly, obviously,” said Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist. “The nice thing about most vegetable growers is that they …
Georgia Farmer: I Believe Our Industry is Worth Fighting For
By Clint Thompson Georgia vegetable farmer Bill Brim exudes passion when talking about agriculture. It’s all he’s known for more than 50 years. Brim directed passion and zeal toward the U.S. International Trade Commission during its hearing on cucumbers and squash in April. “I am here because I believe in Georgia farmers. I believe our industry is worth fighting for,” …
Georgia Farmer: How Do We Stay in Business?
By Clint Thompson The math is not adding up for South Georgia vegetable farmer Sam Watson. Input costs are increasing, especially with rare items like boxes and pallets. Yet, market prices remain low. “We have enough struggles dealing with cheap markets and labor problems, we shouldn’t have to worry about a box and a pallet,” said Watson, managing partner of …
Georgia Farmer: I Just Hope We Make it Through it
Producers Discuss Impact of Pallet Shortage Never in his many years of farming did Georgia vegetable producer Jaime Patrick ever envision a scenario in which he would lack pallets to ship his produce. It’s never been a problem … until now. “You just call, and they send them to you,” said Patrick, who farms in Omega, Georgia. “I never thought …
Pallet Shortage: Farmers, Industry Leaders Express Concern About Potential Impact
Southeast vegetable growers didn’t need another obstacle to overcome this spring. This latest challenge might be their toughest yet. Growers and industry leaders have confirmed a major pallet shortage across the country. Pallets are instrumental in a grower’s ability to ship their product from the farm to the store. Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers …
Chilly Outcome: Cold Temperatures Damage Some South Georgia Crops
Cold temperatures and a late-season frost could lead some South Georgia vegetable producers to replant some of their crops, namely watermelons and cantaloupes. Bill Brim, part owner of Lewis Taylor Farms in Tifton, Georgia, said his plants survived most of last weekend’s temperature drop, other than some cantaloupe plants in Worth County. “Cantaloupes got burnt a little bit in some …
Resistant Varieties Key Against Anthracnose
It is never too early to start thinking about cucurbit disease management in Alabama. In the case of anthracnose, producers who are planting their crops are best served by utilizing resistant varieties, according to Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University. “I was just looking through the Southeast Handbook …
War of Deception: Consumer Awareness Key in Support of American Farmers
In the ongoing war between supporting local farmers against the influx of imports, American farmers need consumers to fight back. The significance of where food originates may never be more important than it is right now. With imports continuing to flood markets for various commodities, the end result is farmers contemplating selling their land. Others are wondering what else can …
Effectively Managing Pests While Protecting Pollinators
By Sylvia Willis, Amy Vu and Jamie Ellis Pollinators play an important role in the production of crops around the nation. Different crops rely on different techniques for pollination. Corn, for example, uses wind to carry pollen to female flowers, whereas watermelon depends on pollinators to deliver pollen. Pollinators include insects, birds and bats. Many fruits and vegetables result directly …
To Fumigate or not to Fumigate?
Excessive rains in February continue to impact South Georgia vegetable producers who are trying to plant this year’s crop. Some fields are still too soggy to apply fumigation, a necessary component of vegetable production in how it controls nematodes and other diseases like fusarium. Farmers are faced with the difficult decision that could impact yields come harvest season: Apply fumigation …