Georgia Chill Hour Update: Slow Start to 2026 But Still in Good Shape

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s chill hour accumulation is currently lagging behind last year’s totals, due to a slow start in January. The state is still in good shape, however, according to Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties. “We were 80 hours ahead and then after the Southeast Regional Fruit …

Chilli Thrips Update for Georgia Blueberry Producers

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson The fear of the unknown is what makes chilli thrips a dangerous threat to Georgia blueberries. Chilli thrips were first confirmed in Georgia four years ago and have been observed in multiple counties since then, though Ash Sial, University of Georgia (UGA) entomologist, believes the list of counties is much larger. Sial highlighted chilli thrips and their …

Georgia Ag Forecast Scheduled for Jan. 23

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

Georgia farmers and agricultural industry leaders should mark their calendars for Friday, Jan. 23. That is when the Georgia Ag Forecast is scheduled to take place at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences economists use the event every year to provide an outlook of agricultural markets for …

Georgia Ag Commissioner Discusses Specialty Crops at Southeast Regional

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Specialty crop industry leaders from across Georgia, Alabama, Florida and the Carolinas attended the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference last weekend in Savannah, Georgia. One of those ag leaders in attendance was Georgia Ag Commissioner Tyler Harper. He discussed specialty crops in an interview with AgNet Media. “I think when you look at agriculture as a …

Georgia Chill Hours Update

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Georgia peach growers will be interested to know that current chill hours throughout the state remain on par with previous years, according to the UGA Weather Network. In Byron, Georgia, located in the central part of the state, there were 437.5 chill hours recorded from Nov. 1, 2025, to Jan. 5, compared to 420.25 last year and …

Neo Update in Georgia Strawberry Fields

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

Clint Thompson Neopestalotiopsis (Neo) is observed in Georgia strawberry fields. Fortunately for producers, it is not being reported at levels that were seen a year ago, according to Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist. “I don’t know how bad it is, but we do have some. Again, it depends on the source of the plants and …

GAC President Outlines Priorities Ahead of Georgia Legislative Session

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s legislative session next year is set to begin in about a month. Agricultural organizations are ready to advocate for their priorities. One of those organizations is the Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC). GAC President Will Bentley was at the Georgia Farm Bureau Convention on Dec. 8 and discussed what some of his organization’s top priorities are. Not …

Georgia Farm Bureau Set to Host Annual Convention

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

MACON, Ga. – Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) members will gather on Jekyll Island Dec. 7-9 for the organization’s 88th annual convention. The convention theme is “Rise and Thrive,” and this will be the 61st time GFB has held its annual meeting on Jekyll Island, including every state convention held since 1976. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper, Georgia House Speaker …

Georgia growers

Georgia Growers Tour Brazil’s Citrus Industry

Dan CooperBrazil, Georgia

A recent tour of Brazilian citrus provided Georgia growers with valuable information on how to capitalize on production amid huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and owner of JoNina Farm, was one of seven producers who attended the week-long tour this fall. One of the main observations was Brazil’s strong production despite the prevalence …

‘Frustrating Times’ for Georgia Pecan Growers

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Georgia

By Clint Thompson Pecan harvests are not panning out like Georgia growers expected and hoped for this harvest season. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist, said the crop was ‘light’ early into the harvest season. Georgia pecan grower Randy Hudson believes Georgia yields will fall below 100 million pounds this year. “We’ve had a beautiful harvest season. …