By Clint Thompson August is the make-or-break month for pecan growers yearning to produce a crop this year and next season as well. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist, discussed in Tuesday’s UGA Extension Pecan Blog various factors producers should consider. Irrigation applications should be at 100% by mid-August, which equates to between 3,600 and 4,000 gallons …
Freeze Events Impacted Southeast Blueberry Producers
By Clint Thompson Florida’s conventional blueberry growers dodged the proverbial disease bullet this past season following a late January freeze event that impacted the Southeast. Georgia’s producers were not so fortunate with a mid-March freeze event, says Phil Harmon, professor and Extension plant pathologist at the University of Florida. “The big story early in the year was the late freeze. …
GFVGA Executive Vice President: Price Challenges are Still There
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s specialty crop producers are in the process of planting this year’s fall crops. It comes on the heels of one of the most challenging spring/summer seasons they have ever experienced. The changing weather patterns of persistent rains to hot and dry conditions were a small part of this year’s challenge. The biggest hurdle remains diminished market …
Weekly Updates: Clemson Extension Agents Discuss Crops
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 …
Recognizing Leadership in a Critical Time
By Peter Chaires It is hard to believe that it has been eight years since Brian Scully returned to Florida as lab director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, Florida. Scully was certainly no stranger to Florida or its citrus industry at the time of his return. However, he accepted the USDA position at …
Too Much Rain Versus Not Enough
By Clint Thompson South Georgia’s specialty crop farmers will soon be planting their fall crops. Weather will once again factor in what growers will have to be concerned with over the next couple of months. Will it rain too much and sprout diseases? Will it suddenly turn dry and lead to increased insect pressure? Bhabesh Dutta, University of Georgia Cooperative …
U.S. Drought Monitor: Dry Conditions in Southeast
Abnormally dry conditions persist in various areas in Georgia, while north Alabama remains abnormally dry as well. Only a couple of counties in Florida are abnormally dry, according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Northwest Georgia and southwest Georgia are abnormally dry. There is also a small portion of Calhoun, Dougherty, Baker and Terrell counties in the southwestern …
Southeast Alabama Specialty Crops Fizzle Under High Temperatures
By Clint Thompson Southeast Alabama specialty crops prefer dry weather conditions. This season’s prolonged drought was not detrimental to production season. However, they don’t like it extremely hot at the peak of harvest season. But that was the scenario farmers faced in the Southeast in June. It significantly impacted fruits and vegetables in the Wiregrass region of Alabama, said Neil …
Recent Rains Could Delay Fumigation Process
By Clint Thompson Persistent rainfall across the Southeast in recent weeks could delay fumigation progress from specialty crop farmers preparing to plant their fall crops. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, discusses how heavy rain events could keep producers from getting into their fields at a key point in the season. …
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 …