RALEIGH — It has been months since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina (N.C.), and recovery is still ongoing throughout the region. Many residents and growers had devastating losses, but work is under way to rebuild and move forward in 2025. To help with recovery, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Agronomic Services Division is offering all of …
Why Some Citrus Growers Are Removing Satsuma Trees
Satsuma mandarins are easily produced in the cold-hardy citrus region. But their lack of shelf life is causing multiple growers in the region, which includes North Florida and South Georgia, to pull trees in favor of something else. Those growers includes Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association. She’s removing 400 of 1,000 satsuma trees, or about 40% …
Alabama Extension Economist: High Input, Low Crop Prices a Major Challenge for Growers
By Clint Thompson The cost of doing business remains a huge concern for Alabama’s specialty crop farmers heading into the 2025 season. Input prices remain inflated, while market prices remain mostly deflated. Wendiam Sawadgo, Auburn assistant professor and Extension economist, explains how the math is not adding up for fruit and vegetable producers to remain sustainable. “Inflation has come down …
Attention Florida Blueberry Growers: Manage Flower Thrips, Anthracnose Fruit Rot
By Maegan Beatty Florida’s blueberry growers are embracing excellent crop conditions and a strong market with peak harvest expected in late February or early March, according to Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Blueberry Extension Coordinator. Producers must still be mindful, though, of the presence of flower thrips and anthracnose fruit rot impacting this …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Mass Deportation Concerns Specialty Crop Growers
The changing of administrations could have significant ramifications on workforce availability for specialty crop producers. President Donald Trump emphasized deportation of undocumented immigrants as part of his election strategy. If this happens, fruit and vegetable farmers could feel the sting of a shrinking labor pool since the specialty crop sector is reliant on an international workforce. Fewer workers for ag …
South Carolina Small Fruit Growers Meeting Scheduled for Feb. 13
South Carolina producers should be mindful that a small fruit growers meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 13 at the Sandhills Research and Education Center in Columbia, South Carolina. The meeting will start at 10 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. It will cost $20 at the door online through the link below. Clemson Extension Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent Andy …
Blueberry Advisory System Helps Growers Be More Efficient in Managing Anthracnose
By Clint Thompson Blueberry growers need a more sustainable way of managing diseases. A calendar-based method requires fungicide applications that may not be necessary. The Blueberry Advisory System allows producers to be more efficient in how they manage anthracnose, a key disease growers have to manage every year. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, …
How Low Will It Go? Florida Blueberry Growers Eyeing Temperatures Next Week
By Clint Thompson Blueberry growers in northern Florida are eyeing freezing temperatures next week and could be implementing freeze protection strategies as a result. According to weather.com, low temperatures in Gainesville, Florida, are expected to drop in the low 30s on Sunday through Wednesday, with 31-degree (Fahrenheit) temperatures expected Tuesday night and Wednesday night. That is a potential concern for …
Row Covers Important Tactic for Alabama Strawberry Growers Next Week
By Clint Thompson Next week’s potential stretch of prolonged cold temperatures means Alabama strawberry growers need to protect this year’s crop. That means the use of row covers to protect against temperatures that are expected to drop well below freezing for multiple days, says Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University. …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Familiar Foes Continue to Pester Sweet Corn Growers
By Clint Thompson Pyrethroid resistance in corn earworm is a threat to the sweet corn industry in South Georgia. Among all the other insect pests that impact sweet corn production in Georgia, none compares to the impact of corn earworm. Corn Earworm The usual chemical applications that growers have depended on to control corn earworm have become less reliable. This …