By Beth Gavrilles for UGA CAES News Chances are, if you live in northeast Georgia you’ve come across an East Asian Joro spider this fall. At almost 3 inches across when their legs are fully extended, they’re hard to miss. While they’re roughly the same size as banana spiders and yellow garden spiders, the distinctive yellow and blue-black stripes on …
Various Varieties to Choose from When Planting Pecan Trees
The time to plant pecan trees is nearing for Georgia producers. Shane Curry, University of Georgia Appling County Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent, offers a plethora of options for growers to choose from. According to Appling County Crop E News, there are multiple varieties that are very popular and viable options for any farmer in Georgia. Avalon is one …
Sneak Peek: November 2020 VSCNews Magazine
By Ashley Robinson The November issue of VSCNews magazine touches on a variety of topics, including an improved method to detect phytophthora in irrigation water, smart irrigation tools for blueberry growers and new findings on growing hemp in Florida. One of the most serious diseases in Georgia vegetable production is phytophthora blight, a water mold that attacks the roots, foliage …
Agricultural Acres Down Significantly Over Last 100 Years
Agricultural acres have dropped dramatically over the last 100 years throughout the Southeast. According to stacker.com, Georgia and Alabama were two of the top four states to see their farm land decrease the most. Based on numbers from the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, Alabama, ranked No. 4 in decreased acres, had 256,099 farms in 1920 …
2021 Alabama Hemp Grower Applications Now Available
By Katie Nichols AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala.— Alabama hemp grower applications and processor/handler applications are available for the 2021 growing season through Nov. 30. Applications can be found on the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) website. Applications Full applications, including supporting documents, must be complete before the Nov. 30 deadline to receive approval consideration. Seasoned and new growers alike must …
Award-Winning Documentary Guides Conversation About Growing Plants, Community and Inclusion
By Sean Montgomery for UGA CAES News The University of Georgia (UGA) Department of Horticulture, together with UGA’s Institute on Human Development and Disability, Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program, Office of Sustainability, Sustainable Food Systems Initiative, and UGArden, are excited to stream the award-winning “Hearts of Glass” documentary for the university community beginning today, Oct. 23. “Hearts of Glass” gives an in-depth …
Alabama Extension Economist Tries to Clear Up Misconception about Hemp
A misconception between hemp and marijuana has Adam Rabinowitz concerned about how consumers view an up-and-coming agricultural commodity in the Southeast. Rabinowitz worked as an Extension economist at the University of Georgia before he moved to Alabama this summer to become an Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension economist. At UGA, Rabinowitz helped conduct a survey to gauge consumer knowledge …
Climate Outlook for the Southeast
University of Georgia Agricultural (UGA) Climatologist Pam Knox provided a climate outlook during a recent Georgia Citrus Update webinar. According to Knox, a strong La Niña is in place in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and the winds are now in sync with the ocean conditions. This signifies that La Niña is likely to continue through the winter months and into …
Alabama Hemp Growers Dealing With Low Quality Crop
Hemp harvest is under way in Alabama, but quality may not be what farmers had hoped for in their second year of production. It’s understandable, though, considering the challenges that producers dealt with during the growing season, says Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist. “It’s not fantastic. I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of good quality hemp …
UGA Research Aimed at Protecting Produce Packing Plants from Listeria
One University of Georgia (UGA) research project in 2021 will be aimed at protecting produce packing plants from Listeria, according to Francisco Diez, Director and Professor at the UGA Center for Food Safety in Griffin, Georgia. The lead investigator is Diez. The grant project is funded by the Center for Produce Safety and covers the entire 2021 year. His objective …