By Clint Thompson Small melon producers in the southeast have a few options to choose from if they want to capitalize on new cantaloupe varieties, according to Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist. “It’s one of those crops that we have a lot more potential with. It’s scattered through the state. Most growers, especially if they have roadside stands, all …
Drought Conditions Persist in Southeast
Abnormally dry conditions are persisting across the Southeast, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The majority of Georgia is abnormally dry, with even a few counties in east-central Georgia experiencing moderately dry conditions. This includes Burke, Jefferson, Washington, Richmond, Glascock , McDuffie, Columbia, Wilkinson and Lincoln counties. Southeast Georgia counties have received sufficient rainfall. Abnormally dry conditions are being experienced …
ACES to Host Hemp Licensee Meetings
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) will host five meetings in January for licensed hemp producers in advance of the 2022 season. Growers can choose one meeting to attend based on scheduling and availability. These meetings will replace the one normal mandatory meeting held in previous years. These meetings will cover regulations from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries …
ADAI to Host Citrus Industry Meeting
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) will host a Citrus Industry meeting on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. at the ADAI auditorium in Montgomery, Ala. The in-person meeting will highlight developments from the citrus survey conducted by the department and the potential impact that citrus canker detections have for the industry in Alabama. The current status of …
AFVGA Executive Director: Address Input Needs as Early as Possible
By Clint Thompson Blake Thaxton, executive director of the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA), implores his farmers to be proactive instead of being reactive with adjusting to the current surge in input costs. “Our overall message is to make sure you’re addressing your input needs as early as possible to get ahead of any kind of delays that …
AgNet Media Magazine Gets New Name
Beginning in January 2022, Vegetable and Specialty Crops News (VSCNews) will have a new name. The monthly trade magazine that debuted from AgNet Media four years ago will become Specialty Crop Industry. Not only is the new name more concise, but it also more accurately reflects the scope of the magazine’s content and audience. Although AgNet Media is dropping the …
Current Dry Conditions for Parts of SE a Concern During La Nina Winter
By Clint Thompson The current dry conditions felt in some areas across the Southeast could be a prelude to a long dry winter for vegetable and specialty crop farmers. That would not be good news for next growing season, says Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist. “What it does mean is that we have to start thinking about …
Successful Meeting: AFVGA Executive Director Pleased with Conference
By Clint Thompson Blake Thaxton, executive director of the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA), was pleased with the association’s annual conference and trade show that was held on Nov. 18-19 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Attendance was great. The seminar sessions provided insight in various challenges the industry is facing. It was everything Thaxton had hoped for. “We had …
Christmas Tree Season: Record Sales Expected Again
By Clint Thompson Last year was a banner season for Christmas tree farms in Alabama. Jeremy Pickens, Alabama Assistant Extension Professor in Horticulture at Auburn University, expects more of the same this year. In fact, consumers should not procrastinate too long to purchase a tree this holiday season. “I think (the industry’s) holding steady and growing. We’re probably picking up, …
UGA’s New Extension Vegetable Specialist
By Clint Thompson The new University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable specialist in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is no stranger to the vegetable and specialty crop industry and the challenges it currently faces. That’s why Ted McAvoy should be a wealth of knowledge and experience for South Georgia producers. McAvoy joined UGA after working at Syngenta …