By Frank Giles and Clint Thompson The freeze that struck Florida in late January and early February brought the coldest air to the state in more than a decade. Freezing temperatures caused significant damage to specialty crops across the state. In many areas, the frigid temperatures held for hours, exacerbated by high winds that thwarted freeze-protection efforts many growers tried …
How’s It Going? Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Lowcountry Report Zack Snipes Midlands Report Rob Last Pee Dee Report Brad Fowler Upstate Report Samantha Brown Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and Strength to …
Updating Freeze Protection Metrics for Florida Blueberry
The Florida Blueberry Growers Association hosted its annual spring meeting and field day at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, Florida, in early March. The day featured presentations from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and a tour of blueberry trials at the facility. A variety of production topics were covered during …
TAP Assistance for Florida Growers Impacted by Recent Freeze Event
By Clint Thompson and Dale Sandlin Florida specialty crop growers suffered immensely with the Jan. 31/Feb. 1 freeze event. Time is ticking for those producers to take advantage of disaster programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). Richard Fordyce, USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation, highlighted one specific program that will benefit Florida …
Georgia Hurricane Helene Block Grant Applications Open March 16
ATLANTA – Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper announced this week that Georgia farmers, ranchers and foresters in eligible counties that have suffered losses in timber, infrastructure, poultry, beef cattle, dairy cattle, milk loss, dairy feed loss, pecans, blueberries, citrus, nursery, plasticulture and bare ground practices due to Hurricane Helene may apply for assistance through Georgia’s Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program. …
Sneak Peek: March 2026 Specialty Crop Grower Magazine
In this month’s sneak peek, the March issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights the recent deep freeze event in January and February that devastated various fruits and vegetables in Florida. Freezing temperatures caused significant damage to specialty crops across the state. Those crops included citrus, blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, green beans and watermelons. Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced preliminary …
Attention Blueberry Producers: Repeated Insecticide Sprays Needed Against Chilli Thrips
By Clint Thompson Georgia blueberry producers have viable insecticide options to protect their crop against chilli thrips. They just has to be applied more than once, says Ash Sial, University of Georgia (UGA) entomologist. “We do have some (options) but they need to be repeated because of the way these chilli thrips, their life cycles work. It’s really hard to …
Georgia Blueberry Growers Hoping to Dodge Late-Season Freeze
By Clint Thompson Blueberry harvests are still multiple months away for Georgia producers. But the most significant factor that could impact this year’s crop is just a couple of months away. Georgia growers are hoping to dodge a late-season freeze event that could impact what blueberries are produced this year. Zack Williams, University of Georgia Bacon County Extension Coordinator, discussed …
Estimate Puts Florida Freeze Damage at More Than $3 Billion
As growers surveyed fields and groves after the freeze in late January and early February, it was clear the damage had been catastrophic in many cases. That was confirmed by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson with the first estimate of damage released on Feb 20. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) preliminary estimates of losses to Florida …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Tom Bilbo – Extension Entomologist Coastal Region Zack Snipes Midlands Rob Last Upstate Samantha Brown Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and Strength to Sweet …



















