By Clint Thompson A new thrips species is wreaking havoc on pepper plants in Florida. Its impact in Georgia remains an unknown. Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension vegetable specialist, discussed Thrips (T.) parvispinus during the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in January “It’s going to be a wait and see. It’s like Thrips palmi when it showed …
Additional Acres Help Georgia Pecan Farmers Produce ‘Good’ Crop
By Clint Thompson The pecan harvest season is mostly in the books for Georgia producers. While market prices did not cooperate for the growers, production was good, according to Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. He said additional acreage coming into production offset some of the missed projections by producers at the beginning of the season. “It wasn’t …
Georgia and North Florida Citrus Endures Second Freeze
Another freeze event last weekend could spell doom for some citrus trees produced in the cold-hardy citrus region. Kim Jones, president of the Cold Hardy Citrus Association, discussed the dire situation facing growers in the region. “I think we had some damage to some new growth that had come out from the last freeze. I can’t tell how much, but we’ve …
All Georgia Citrus Saw Impacts from Christmas Freeze
By Clint Thompson This winter season provided the first cold challenge for Georgia-produced citrus. With multiple days of sub-freezing temperatures during Christmas week, the impact was not good for trees produced throughout the state. Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) Lowndes County Extension coordinator, discussed the situation during the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Georgia. “Pretty much every variety …
Christmas Freeze Effect: ‘Every Variety’ of Georgia Citrus Suffered Damage
By Clint Thompson This winter season provided the first cold challenge for Georgia-produced citrus. With multiple days of sub-freezing temperatures during Christmas week, the impact was not good for trees produced throughout the state. Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) Lowndes County Extension coordinator, discussed the situation during the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Georgia. “Pretty much …
Georgia Ag Commissioner Discusses Role, Specialty Crops
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s newly sworn-in Commissioner of Agriculture has made it clear; his top priority is ensuring the state’s family farms remain sustainable now and into the future. Tyler Harper, who was sworn into office on Thursday, discussed his main objectives will be in office while attending the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference last week. To no surprise …
Christmas Freeze Not Too Impactful on Georgia Blueberries
By Clint Thompson Though rattled by sub-freezing temperatures during the Christmas holidays, Georgia’s blueberry crop was not severely impacted by prolonged temperatures in the 20s. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, says freeze events that occur later in the season are much more impactful. “For the vast majority, this freeze was not as big …
Registration open for 2023 Georgia Ag Forecast
By Jordan Powers Registration is now open for the 2023 Georgia Ag Forecast, which will be held Jan. 27 at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. A live virtual option will also be available. The annual seminar, offered by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and UGA Extension, shares the latest research …
Georgia Pecan Production Meetings Scheduled
By Clint Thompson Georgia pecan producers can mark their calendars for the upcoming county production meetings scheduled over the next couple of months. The scheduled meetings include stops in Appling County (Jan. 31), Grady County (Feb. 1), Toombs, Treutlen and Montgomery counties (Feb. 7), Tattnall County (Feb. 13), Colquitt County (Feb. 16), Cook County (March 1), Irwin County (breakfast meeting …
Uncovered Georgia Strawberries Likely Suffered ‘Moderate’ Damage
By Clint Thompson Part of Georgia’s strawberry crop suffered some damage during sub-freezing temperatures over the past week. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, said the crop that was not covered was most susceptible to temperatures that stayed mostly in the 20s and 30s since Christmas Eve morning. “I …