By Clint Thompson The first peak of San Jose scale activity is occurring now in Georgia peach orchards. Growers should be proactive in beginning their insecticide applications, says Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences “We’re just at the beginning of the first real activity period,” Blaauw said. “Most of the …
Sneak Peek: May 2022 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
By Clint Thompson The May issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights management options available for blueberry farmers in combating anthracnose fruit rot (AFR). Philip Harmon, professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), and Doug Phillips, UF/IFAS blueberry Extension coordinator, discuss the different options available for blueberry farmers. These include minimizing the use of …
Powdery Mildew Detected in North Florida Watermelon
By Clint Thompson Lab testing has confirmed powdery mildew disease in watermelon in the Suwanee Valley region of Florida. Growers should be proactive in beginning their fungicide spray programs, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “We got the first confirmation, and it was very good …
Starting in Strawberries? Input Expenses Costly but Reward is Potentially Great
By Clint Thompson Strawberries have the potential to be a lucrative commodity for interested specialty crop producers. But they can also be extremely expensive to grow. Farmers need to understand the investment before diving head first into the industry next season, says Jessie Rowan, Alabama regional Extension agent, who specializes in commercial horticulture and farm and agribusiness management. “To me, …
#EveryBiteCounts: New Marketing Campaign Highlights Domestically Grown Produce
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association’s new consumer-focused social media marketing campaign, #EveryBiteCounts, continues the organization’s effort to educate consumers about the importance of supporting local farmers. With the hashtag #EveryBiteCounts, the goal is to educate consumers about the impact of purchasing in-season domestically grown fruits and vegetables, says Chris Butts, executive vice president of the …
Controlled Environment Agriculture: Future Growth Expected in Industry
By Eric Butterman for CAES News Next time you partake of a crisp, green salad, think about where your leafy greens come from. Many producers of high-value crops are shifting from field production to controlled environment agriculture. That is where the University of Georgia’s Marc van Iersel comes in. Van Iersel, the Vincent J. Dooley professor of horticultural physiology in …
Irrigation Showcase: UGA-Griffin Breaks Ground on Site
By Ashley N Biles for CAES News Industry professionals, homeowners and researchers will soon get a firsthand look at new irrigation technologies in action at a demonstration irrigation site being constructed on the University of Georgia’s Griffin campus. On March 28, workers broke ground on the project, which is a collaboration between the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture, UGA Cooperative …
U.S. Drought Monitor: Florida’s Dry Conditions Isolated to Southern Area of State
By Clint Thompson Rainfall has alleviated much of the drought in the Southeast. Dry conditions still persist in South Florida, while the bulk of drought in Georgia is isolated to the south-central and southeast regions of the state. This is according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Florida’s dry conditions stretch to Monroe and Miami-Dade counties and as …
Vidalia Onions Could Be Impacted by Rain at Harvest
By Clint Thompson Farmers of Georgia’s Vidalia onions are crossing their fingers and hoping for minimal impact from the rains the Southeast Georgia region has experienced in recent weeks. Onions are vulnerable to secondary pathogens during weather events, especially as the crop is being harvested. Bhabesh Dutta, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension plant pathologist, believes the impact could be felt …
Pecan Scab Spray Management Tips
By Clint Thompson Fungicide spray programs to protect pecan trees from scab disease vary from variety to variety. Growers in Alabama and Georgia should never consider a blanket program, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. “We grow so many different varieties in Georgia that it’s really counter-productive that we come out with a blanket program. It really …