The July issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights the changing landscape in agriculture and the need for policy reform, specifically pertaining to increased imports. Zhengfei Guan, an associate professor, and Kuan-Ming Huang, a postdoctoral research associate, both at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida, discusses …
Keeping Pecans Watered During Dry Weather
Temperatures may be high and dry conditions may be widespread across the Southeast, but pecan growers should not panic and apply too much water, according to the University of Georgia Extension pecan blog. Because pecan trees can adapt in extreme weather conditions, growers can continue on the normal recommended irrigation schedule and nuts will continue to size properly, says Lenny …
UF/IFAS Scientists Finding Grapes to Grow in Florida
Florida farmers and other businesspeople are bubbling with enthusiasm to make wine. There are about 40 wineries around Florida. As of 2017, growers in the Sunshine State were producing more than 1,500 acres of muscadine grapes. That’s a 74% increase in 10 years, and producers will be harvesting in July and August. To meet the increasing market for Florida-grown grapes, Ali Sarkhosh, …
Mating Disruptions for Grape Root Borer
By Clint Thompson Now is the time in the production season that grape root borer adults begin emerging. Growers need to implement mating disruption now as a management tactic, says Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in the UGA Extension Viticulture Blog. Grape root borers tunnel into larger roots and …
UF/IFAS Scientists Finding Grapes to Grow in Florida
Florida farmers and other businesspeople are bubbling with enthusiasm to make wine. There are about 40 wineries around Florida. As of 2017, growers in the Sunshine State were producing more than 1,500 acres of muscadine grapes. That’s a 74% increase in 10 years, and producers will be harvesting in July and August. To meet the increasing market for Florida-grown grapes, …
Heat, Dry Conditions Worsening Across Southeast
The heat and dry conditions intensified last week across the Southeast, especially in Georgia where most of the state is either abnormally dry, moderately dry or severely dry. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, all of North Georgia is at least abnormally dry. A pair of regions in the northeastern part of the state are moderately dry. The worst conditions …
Sweet Onion Growth Responses Under Organic Fertilizers
By Juan Carlos DÃaz-Pérez Vidalia onions are sweet, short-day, low-pungency, yellow Granex-type bulbs popular in the United States because of their mild flavor. These onions are exclusively grown in southeastern Georgia, in a region with mild winters and low-sulfur soils. There is increasing interest in utilizing organic fertilizers because of the growing demand for organic vegetables, including organic sweet onions. …
Alabama Diseases Update: What to Watch for
By Clint Thompson Alabama Extension reminds specialty crop producers that Alabama diseases are prevalent and widespread across the state. Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the department of entomology and plant pathology at Auburn University, highlighted three Alabama diseases that growers should be wary of, especially during the current hot and dry conditions. “One is powdery mildew. I’m …
It is Japanese Beetle Season
The Japanese beetle is showing up in Georgia vineyards, according to the University of Georgia (UGA) Extension Viticulture Blog. In large enough numbers, Japanese beetles can be a severe pest of grapes during the summer, feeding mainly on foliage and rarely on the berries. New plantings are most susceptible. Older, established vines can withstand some feeding damage, but young vines …
Be Careful of Foliar Sulfur Sprays Under High Temperatures
Foliar sulfur sprays applied during June and July can provide multiple benefits for pecan production. They include the suppression of mite populations and increasing nut size. Sulfur may also help suppress some minor foliar diseases and aid in scab suppression on cultivars with moderate scab resistance. While foliar sulfur sprays have proven advantages, though, growers should be wary of applying …