During January’s Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Georgia, Daniel Tregeagle, an Extension economist with North Carolina State University, gave a presentation on economic and regulatory trends impacting citrus and specialty crop growers. MODEST MARKET GROWTHThe biggest blip on the proverbial economic radar has been COVID-19 and its continuing effects. Tregeagle noted these impacts mostly will be transient, …
UF/IFAS Research: Controlled-Release Fertilizer a Valuable Option for Farmers
By Clint Thompson University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research could solve a problem aimed at preventing leaching of fertilizer in the soil for vegetable crops. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, says research with controlled-release fertilizers have generated encouraging results. “In …
Onion Sweetness: Soil Conditions, Fertilizers Affect Vidalia Flavor
Source: UGA CAES Newswire University of Georgia Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratories (AESL) researchers are ensuring sweetness is a quality of all Vidalia onions. Vidalia onions are known for their sweetness because of the low sulfur environment of the sandy Coastal Plain soils in South Georgia where they are grown, said Daniel Jackson, manager of the Crop Quality Lab, a …
UGA Researching Organic Onion Fertilizers
Organic onion production in Georgia is nothing new. But the data is lacking for farmers who are trying to expand and be more efficient in their operations. That is why Tim Coolong, associate professor in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is studying organic onion production. “Onions have been grown conventionally for decades. That system, I feel like …
Understanding Nitrogen Needs of Plants From Fertilizers
Jagathi Kamalakanthan, agronomistNCDA&CS Agronomic Services Division919-733-2655 RALEIGH — Gardening can provide much needed physical activity and emotional well being to balance the effects of social distancing associated with the COVID -19 pandemic. Many people turn to their lawns and gardens to relieve stress and enjoy nature. If you are working in your yard, following are some helpful agronomic tips for …
Using Control Release Fertilizer in Vidalia Onion Production
By Ashley Robinson Appropriated timing of fertilizer application during crop development ensures soil nutrient availability thorough the onion growing season. Typically, fertilizer is applied five times for Vidalia onion production in Georgia. However, researchers have found that control release fertilizer applications can significantly reduce the number of fertilizer applications while maintaining crop yield. RESEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS During the 2018-19 Vidalia onion …
Researching New Fertilizer Technologies in North Florida
By Karla Arboleda To find efficiency in reducing nitrogen levels in soil, researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are working with several technologies. Bob Hochmuth, a UF/IFAS Extension agent at the North Florida Research and Education Center – Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV), coordinates controlled-release fertilizer research. The work aims to improve the functionality of …
New Fertilizer Technology May Help Farmers Reduce Nitrogen Load
LIVE OAK, FL (UF/IFAS-Oct. 21, 2019) — In the Suwannee Valley, farmers are diligently searching for solutions, or Best Management Practices (BMPs), to efficiently use fertilizers in crop production. At the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center – Suwannee Valley (UF/IFAS NFREC-SV), a team led by Bob Hochmuth, UF/IFAS Extension regional specialized agent for vegetable crops and assistant center …
Precision Application of Dry Fertilizer in Wild Blueberry Fields
By Arnold Schumann, Qamar Zaman, Hassan Chattha, Scott Read and Aitazaz Farooque The wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) is a perennial, shrubby, slow-growing plant that is native to northeastern North America. Commercial wild blueberry fields are developed by removing competing vegetation and debris from natural mixed forest, because they cannot be successfully planted. Establishment of a commercially productive field of wild …
Attention North Carolina Farmers: Submit Soil Samples by Nov. 26 to Avoid Peak-Season Fees
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services soil testing lab is about to hit its busy season. Growers and homeowners are encouraged to submit soil samples by Nov. 26 to avoid peak-season fees and to get results and recommendations sooner. Peak-season fees will be waived for the western counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. “Accurate lime and …