The time is now for some blueberry producers to prune their crop. Pruning is the process by which farmers selectively cut parts of their plant. This will sustain the overall health of the plant while enhancing its fruit quality. In a webinar on the Alabama Extension Commercial Horticulture Facebook page on Monday, Eric Schavey, Regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama, …
Seed Facility: Bayer Opens Distribution Center in South Georgia
A new fruit and vegetable seed distribution center will provide seed to Southeast produce farmers in a timely and efficient fashion. Bayer Vegetable Seeds announced the opening of its new distribution center in Valdosta, Georgia, located about 10 minutes from the Georgia-Florida state line. It will provide access to its Seminis branded large seed portfolio. Currently, the distribution center is …
Freeze Effect: Peach Producers Wary of Late-Season Frost
Chill hours are no longer a concern for peach growers in Alabama and Georgia. So, what is their biggest worry heading into the spring? “March 28, the full moon in March. We always tend to have some cold in that full moon in March. But with it being later, maybe we’ll be out of the woods and in the clear. …
Saturated Soils: Rainy Winter Provides Hope of No Drought This Summer
Excessive winter rains have kept some Georgia farmers out of the field because of saturated conditions. But they provides hope that a potential summer drought is less likely than originally feared. “We were expecting a more typical La Nina winter which is usually warm and dry in that part of the country. It has not been that way so far …
Alarming Ant Issue: Pest Impacted Hemp in 2020
Commercial hemp production has taken off in the Southeast. A key takeaway from the different production sites in Georgia and Alabama in 2020 was the alarming number of ant problems reported on production. “A lot of times it was fire ants, but it wasn’t exclusively fire ants. There were some other types of ants as well,” said Tim Coolong, associate …
2021 IPM Guides: Information Critical to Production Success
Posted by Victoria Dee AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. – Whether you’re an amateur gardener or seasoned agriculturalist, there is no denying that pests can sometimes sneak in and ruin a crop. These pests may appear in the form of insects, weeds or plant diseases — and all can be detrimental. Current and former Alabama Cooperative Extension System entomologists, weed scientists, plant …
Georgia Producers Adjust to Unpredictable Winter Weather
A projected La Nina weather pattern consisting of drier conditions and warmer temperatures has been anything but this winter for Georgia fruit and vegetable producers. With colder temperatures and consistent rainfall, producers have had to adjust. “Overall, I think everything’s looking pretty good. It’s been a wet winter and then a cold winter. Now, we’re back into a little bit …
Back-to-Back Bountiful Watermelon Seasons?
It is never too early to start thinking about watermelon season in the Southeast. After all, south Florida’s crop has been in the ground for about a month. Central Florida producers will plant in mid-February. North Florida, Alabama and Georgia are slated to start around mid-March. It is never too early to start thinking about another dream season to follow …
Cultivating a New Generation of Farmers
By Sarah Bostick Every five years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts a census. The 2017 Census of Agriculture captured in numbers what we see happening all around us: Farming is changing. GREENER GROWERS One of the most notable changes is that a growing number of farms in America are run by new and beginner producers …
Wind’s Blowing: South Florida Melons Progressing Amid Adverse Conditions
South Florida watermelons have been in the ground almost a month. Plants are progressing, but today’s cooler temperatures and strong wind has one farmer concerned potential gummy stem damage. “Right now, (plants are) looking pretty good. I’m just hoping that this wind doesn’t do a lot of damage. When your line is just starting to run a little bit and …










