Persistent Rains Expected Across Southeast

Clint ThompsonWeather

By Clint Thompson Rainfall has been more persistent in recent days across the Southeast. According to Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist, that current trend should continue over the next few weeks in Georgia, Alabama and Florida. “It’s look like we’ve switched into a much wetter pattern. We were under this high pressure that lasted for most of …

Dry Weather a Plus for Pecan Producers?

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Dry weather this time of year is not always a bad thing for pecan producers, but that is contingent on growers having irrigation set up for their orchards. “We recommend that you don’t even try to grow them without irrigation to begin with,” says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. “For growing pecans, it’s actually …

Spread Your Risk: UGA ANR Agent Discusses Neopestalotiopsis in Strawberries

Clint ThompsonGeorgia, Strawberry

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s bout with neopestalotiopsis fruit rot disease in strawberries this year means producers need to be more cautious in how they order their plants every summer. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources (ANR) agent for Peach and Taylor counties, believes growers need to spread the risk among multiple nurseries. It will help …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: The Last Word

Clint ThompsonSpecialty Crop Grower Magazine, Tomatoes

By Michael Schadler Suspension Agreement Purgatory The never-ending story of the United States-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement added a new chapter over the last year when the Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE) issued a request to the Biden administration to terminate the 28-year-old agreement. So far, FTE has received no response.  The Tomato Suspension Agreement is an agreement between the U.S. Department …

Blueberry Meeting

Summer Blueberry Meetings Tackle Disease Management in Florida

Dan CooperFruits

By Frank Giles The Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hit the road in July to host a series of meetings in key blueberry-growing regions of the state. MANAGE RESISTANCE UF/IFAS researchers covered several production topics during the meetings. Phil Harmon, professor of plant pathology, spoke about disease management …

Rep. Lucas Discusses Optimism About Farm Bill Being Finalized in ’24

Clint ThompsonFarm Bill

By Clint Thompson U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK.), the longest-serving Member on the House Committee on Agriculture, prefers the farm bill to be completed in 2024 rather than rolling over into 2025. He said the likelihood of that happening hinges on a little bit of luck with less than half the year remaining. “The lay of the land is changing, …

Dry Weather Update: Extreme Drought Observed in North Alabama

Clint ThompsonDrought

Extreme drought is spreading in two areas in North Alabama. Most of Georgia is either abnormally dry or moderately dry, while Northeast Florida is abnormally dry. These are the latest conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Extreme drought is seen in Alabama counties like Lamar, Fayette, Marion and Walker, in the northwest part of the state; along with Lauderdale, …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: State Funding Tackles Wildlife Troubles in Agriculture

Clint ThompsonSpecialty Crop Grower Magazine

By Clint Thompson Agricultural pests are sometimes not just bugs and diseases but include animals looking for a food source. Unfortunately, for Georgia’s specialty crop producers, that food source is often their crops. Georgia’s legislative leaders are arming state agencies with substantial funding in next year’s budget to tackle this problem. Included in the budget was $150,000 directed to the …

Most of Southeast Observing Drought-Like Conditions

Clint ThompsonDrought

Dry conditions continue to persist across the Southeast with certain areas intensifying in North Florida, Georgia and Alabama. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, abnormally dry conditions concentrate most of Northeast Florida. The drought starts as far west as Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty and Franklin counties and extends eastward to Duval, Saint Johns and Flagler counties and southward to Volusia, Marion …

grape producers

Disease Management: Grape Producers Must Be Timely with Fungicide Sprays

Dan CooperAgri-business, Disease, Grapes

A saturated spring has North Georgia grape producers concerned about disease management with harvest season on the horizon. Sarah Lowder, University of Georgia viticulture Extension specialist, discussed some of the diseases growers have dealt with over the past few months. “Especially with how wet this year has been, we’re trying to keep on top of our downy mildew management,” Lowder …