University of Georgia Agricultural (UGA) Climatologist Pam Knox provided a climate outlook during a recent Georgia Citrus Update webinar. According to Knox, a strong La Niña is in place in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and the winds are now in sync with the ocean conditions. This signifies that La Niña is likely to continue through the winter months and into …
Harvesting and Storing Pecans This Fall
Posted by: Victoria Dee AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. – According to Alabama Extension, as leaves begin to darken and pumpkins decorate every doorstep, pecans are ripe and ready for harvest as fall settles in in the Southeast. These nutritious nuts are members of the hickory family and grow on towering shade trees commonly found in yards, orchards and pastures throughout Alabama. …
Extension Economist Doesn’t Expect Hemp Acres to Increase in Southeast in 2021
With hemp harvest beginning across the Southeast, predictions are already being made about what next year’s crop might look like. One Extension economist believes there will not be an acreage increase in 2021. Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension economist Adam Rabinowitz does not expect acres in the Southeast to increase until the market shows significant recovery. “I don’t think …
Wait to Prune Fruit Trees
Pruning fruit trees is an important management tactic that producers and homeowners need to implement every year. Industry experts emphasize, though, the importance of growers waiting until the winter dormancy period before beginning the pruning process. In doing so, producers will avoid damage from colder temperatures. “Years ago, we used to prune our peach orchards, for example, in the fall. …
ADAI Launches 2021 Applications for Growing, Processing Industrial Hemp
MONTGOMERY, Ala.- The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) will accept hemp applications from eligible growers and processors/handlers, using a new online application system starting, today, Oct. 13, 2020. Applications are available at agi.alabama.gov/hempapp. The final day to apply for a hemp license is Nov. 30, 2020 by 5:00 pm (CST). In 2016, the Alabama Legislature passed the Alabama Industrial …
Oak Root Rot Biggest Threat to Peach Industry
The most dangerous threat to the peach industry in the Southeast is Oak Root Rot, a soil-borne fungus that can wipe out peach trees, according to Edgar Vinson, Alabama Extension Professor of Horticulture. Oak Root Rot or Armillaria Root Rot, causes stunted leaves, yellow defoliation, chlorotic leaves, death of branches and, ultimately, death of the tree. Unfortunately for peach producers, …
Hurricane Delta strengthens faster than expected
According to the UGA Extension blog, Pam Knox, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agricultural Climatologist, said the impacts for the Southeast from soon-to-be Hurricane Delta remain the same, with the biggest effects in Alabama, western Georgia and western end of the Florida Panhandle. A stronger storm means that storm surge along the coast is likely to be higher than it …
Establishing an Olive Industry in Florida
By Michael O’Hara Garcia With weather and soils similar to the Mediterranean Basin, olives grow in Florida and throughout much of the southeastern United States. Currently, Florida has approximately 800 acres of olives under active cultivation by 60 to 80 individual farmers in 20 counties. The groves range from backyard hobby plots with several trees to high-density commercial operations of …
South Georgia Producers Facing Mounting Obstacles This Fall
South Georgia vegetable farmers are facing their share of challenges this fall. Between heavy whitefly infestations, increased disease pressure and extreme cloud cover over the past two weeks, producers continue to deal with obstacles during this fall production season, according to Jeremy Kichler, University of Georgia Colquitt County Extension Coordinator. “When (Hurricane) Sally came through, we got anywhere from 5 …
Strawberry Planting Season Draws Near
Alabama strawberry producers enjoyed sweet success in 2020. Farmers are hoping for a repeat performance this year as planting season nears. Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, said growers target Oct. 15 date as the latest timeframe they want to have this year’s crop in the ground. “They can certainly …