Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Weekly Field Update – 8/1/22 Midlands Justin Ballew reports, “It has gotten dry again in the Midlands. Scattered areas received some good rain over the weekend, but others missed it and remain badly in need. I’ve heard of …
Blueberry Cultivation in Soilless Substrates
By Gerardo H. Nunez Blueberry production in containers filled with soilless substrates is rapidly expanding throughout the world and in the Southeast. Blueberry bushes are notorious for their strict soil requirements. They prefer well-drained, acidic soils with high organic matter. These soil characteristics are not common in many parts of the world. Thus, blueberries have traditionally been grown with soil …
Fall Blueberry Conference Scheduled for Oct. 20
Florida blueberry growers can mark their calendars for the Florida Blueberry Growers Association’s annual Fall Conference and Trade Show, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. Registration details will be released soon, as will information regarding the meeting’s agenda, educational sessions, sponsorship opportunities and vendor information. Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower …
UGA Releases Parasitic Wasp to Control Invasive Fruit Fly
UGA Releases Parasitic Wasp to Control Invasive Fruit Fly In a quiet field of abandoned blueberries and shrubby brush in south Georgia, Cera Jones released hundreds of tiny parasitic wasps into the thicket. They followed their natural instinct to search for a host to incubate their predatory progeny. Jones manages the University of Georgia (UGA) Small Fruit Entomology Lab under …
Ag Sector Likely to Support Economy Through Possible Recession
Though concern exists about impending recession in the U.S., the traditional economic indicators of recession aren’t yet apparent. This is especially true in the agricultural sector, says Georgia’s State Fiscal Economist Jeffrey Dorfman, a professor of agricultural and applied economics in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.   “The interesting question is, if I run a business …
More Flexibility for Crop Insurance Reporting
Southeast specialty crop growers now have more flexibility to use their own records to adhere to crop insurance reporting requirements. This will aid farmers who sell through direct marketing channels to collect insurance, report annual production or file a claim, says Marcia Bunger, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA). “This particular change is going …
Finding a Fit for Blackberries in Florida
By Frank Giles Blackberries have been produced in Florida for some time, but new efforts have been made to learn more about the crop to grow production and markets in the state. Blackberries have been proven to be a popular item at U-pick operations. For farmers who grow U-pick strawberries and blueberries, blackberries offer a way to extend the picking …
Opinion: It Is Time to Defend Domestic Specialty Crops
By Frank Giles As the heat of summer sets in, many specialty crops have finished their seasons in the Southeast. While most crops saw good production this season, markets were again impacted by foreign competition, especially from Mexico. Surging prices for key inputs like fertilizer didn’t help the situation. Even in specialty crops where volume was down due to weather, …
Blueberry Management for July
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) reminds Florida producers about what blueberry management tactics they need to consider as the calendar turns to July. Growers should scout for algal stem blotch, a key disease in southern highbush blueberries. It can stunt growth and cause yellowing in leaves. Farmers should also monitor and manage leaf diseases. They …
Management Update for Spotted-Wing Drosophila
By Clint Thompson Even in a year when hot and dry weather conditions prevailed across the Southeast region, spotted-wing drosophila was still a problem for blueberry producers. Ash Sial, University of Georgia entomologist, discusses the challenging characteristics of the spotted-wing drosophila and what growers should remember for future seasons. “This is the unique thing about this pest is that dry …