Alabama peach producers should mark their calendars for an upcoming peach production meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, at 11 a.m. (Est.) in Jemison, Ala. Alabama Cooperative Extension will host the meeting which will feature topics like brown rot management, peachtree borer control, bacterial spot management, chill accumulation update and fungal gummosis management. Scientists at Auburn University will also …
Alabama to Host Outlook Conference
The Auburn University College of Agriculture and Alabama Cooperative Extension System Farm and Agribusiness Management Team want producers and industry leaders to mark their calendars for Thursday, Dec. 15, for its annual outlook conference. State and regional economic experts will discuss various trends impacting Alabama producers, including the current agricultural economic situation and outlook for the upcoming year. Topics relevant …
Alabama Pecans High on Quality, Low on Price
By Clint Thompson Like pecans in other parts of the Southeast, Alabama’s crop is high on quality and quantity this season. Their market value remains low, however. That’s not what growers were hoping for with their first full crop following Hurricane Sally. Bryan Wilkins, Alabama Extension research associate, discussed the crop’s progress this year. “It was a little slow getting …
Alabama Extension to Host Nutrient Management Meeting
Alabama Extension will host a nutrient management meeting, focusing on farmers’ concerns about the rising fertilizer prices. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Autauga County Extension Office in Autaugaville, Alabama. Rishi Prasad, Alabama Extension specialist and assistant professor in Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences at Auburn University, said the …
Impact of Late Strawberry Plantings Across Northern Alabama
By Clint Thompson The lack of moisture in North Alabama led to delayed strawberry plantings for some growers. Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama, expected this would be the outcome in October. He discussed what this means for those producers impacted. “We got strawberries in, finally. We’re a couple of weeks behind what we needed to. Some people …
Hemp License Applications Available from Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries
Alabama farmers interested in producing hemp have until Nov. 30 to apply for an industrial hemp license from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI). Applications will only be accepted online through the Kelly Registration System (KRS) at https://agi.alabama.gov/hemp/formsandapplications/. The Alabama Legislature passed the Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program Act, Section 2-8-380 Code of Alabama 1975 in 2016, tasking …
Alabama Strawberry Producers Be Wary of Diseases
By Clint Thompson Strawberry plantings are being conducted across Alabama. Producers need to be wary of different diseases prior to planting. Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the department of entomology and plant pathology at Auburn University, suggests growers apply a fungicide dip to help with Anthracnose. “This will provide some early-season protection against anthracnose and someother diseases,” …
Alabama H-2A Meeting Scheduled for Nov. 7
Alabama specialty crop growers are reminded that the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Alabama Department of Labor and Alabama Cooperative Extension will educate growers on the H-2A guest worker program during an in-person educational session on Nov. 7. It will be held from 8 a.m. to noon in the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries auditorium at 1445 Federal …
Dry Weather Delaying Strawberry Plantings in North Alabama
By Clint Thompson The current dry weather is delaying strawberry plantings in North Alabama, says Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama. A lack of rain this fall means growers don’t have adequate moisture to keep their beds properly shaped. Producers are more than a week behind in getting their plants in the ground as a result. “It’s slowing …
Alabama Update: Growers Be Wary of Insect-Transmitted Diseases
By Clint Thompson The current drought-like conditions sweeping across the Southeast should have specialty crop producers wary of insect-transmitted virus diseases. The hot and dry weather favors pests like aphids and whiteflies. Growers should be concerned about subsequent diseases, says Ed Sikora, Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University. He discussed …