Hurricane Ian is approaching the Southeast and is expected to bring significant amounts of rain and heavy winds to South Carolina over the weekend. The latest forecasts show Ian traveling northeast towards the Atlantic, then northward through western South Carolina. Clemson Extension agents advise specialty crop growers in The South Carolina Grower to be prepared to experience damaging winds, excessive …
U.S. Drought Monitor: North Alabama Still Dry
The lingering drought affecting the Southeast is becoming less of an issue in Georgia, though conditions remain dry in northern Alabama, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. All of northern Alabama is either abnormally dry, moderately dry or even severely dry in a few counties. The worst conditions are observed in the northwest corner of the state in Colbert and …
Rains Alleviate Some of North Florida’s Dry Conditions
Heavy rains last week alleviated some of the abnormally dry conditions in North Florida. But Central and South Florida remain moderately dry as are South Georgia and South Alabama. Moderate dry conditions are still being experienced in the Florida Panhandle from Escambia County eastward to Madison County. Levy and Marion counties are also moderately dry, which stretches as far south …
Dry Weather Leads to Minimal Disease Pressure in South Carolina
By Clint Thompson South Carolina’s recent dry period has led to minimal disease pressure in the state’s specialty crops. It is especially evident in the Midlands area where Justin Ballew, Clemson Commercial Horticulture agent, is located. “Since we’re irrigating about 100% of our crops, (the dry weather) has actually not really been a bad thing. We’ve had very low disease …
Wet Weather Could Lead to Disease Issues in South Carolina
By Clint Thompson Increased rainfall the past couple of weeks in South Carolina means more potential for disease development in crops that are just getting ready for harvest. That is a concern for growers, says Clemson Extension agent Zack Snipes. “We got a bunch (of rain) here in Charleston for sure. We got a bunch the previous week, too. It’s …
Collision Course: North Florida, South Georgia Watermelons Likely Hitting Market at Same Time
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelons and South Georgia watermelons are likely on a collision course for the Southeast market this summer. Weather is the main reason why. Florida Frost Producers in the Suwanee Valley Region in North Florida have started harvesting this year’s crop. But many of their fields were impacted by a scattered frost late in the season. …
Trump Administration Invests $2.3 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural North Carolin
YADKINVILLE, N.C., Oct. 26, 2020 – The Trump Administration announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $2.3 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in North Carolina. This investment is part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program. “Access to high-speed internet is a …
Cold Outbreak at End of October Could End Growing Season in Northern Alabama, Georgia
According to Pam Knox, University of Georgia agricultural climatologist, in her UGA Extension blog, the forecasts are starting to show a strong cold front passing through the Southeast at the end of October. This will usher in a period of much colder air which could include frost across northern Alabama and Georgia as well as western parts of the Carolinas …
South Carolina Strawberries Looking Good Despite Rainy Winter
By Clint Thompson A wet winter in South Carolina has presented challenges to the state’s strawberry producers. But South Carolina’s strawberry production is looking good this year despite the rainy winter, according to Bruce McLean, Jr., Clemson (S.C.) Extension area commercial horticulture agent for Dillon County, Horry County, Marion County and Malboro County. He said production this season is starting …
South Carolina Peaches Ripe for Productive Season
By Clint Thompson The country’s No. 2 state in peach production appears ripe for a productive season, pending how the market spirals over the next few months, according to Andy Rollins, Clemson Extension agent in Spartanburg, South Carolina. “It’s looking really good overall as far as the amount of crop and how clean the crop actually is right now,” Rollins …