Temperatures in the teens walloped the South Georgia-North Florida citrus region over the Christmas weekend, destroying fruit still on trees and damaging trees to some extent. “We got as low as 15, but most places it hovered around 18 degrees,” reported Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association. “All fruit left on trees appears to have turned to mush and …
Looming Freeze in North Florida and Georgia Has Citrus Growers Concerned
Looming below-freezing temperatures in the cold-hardy citrus region have growers on high alert regarding their remaining crop. Forecasts call for temperatures to drop to the 20s in Tifton, Georgia, on Dec. 23, according to Weather.com. Growers will have to decide on how to handle their remaining fruit, said Kim Jones, citrus producer and packinghouse owner. Jones is president of the Cold Hardy …
Georgia Ag Forecast Meeting Set for Jan. 27, 2023
By Clint Thompson Georgia specialty crop producers and industry leaders should mark their calendars for the annual Georgia Ag Forecast meeting, scheduled for Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. Amanda Smith, senior public service associate in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), discussed what attendees can expect …
GFVGA Issues Letter to Georgia Congressional Delegation Following AEWR Announcement
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association issued a letter on Dec. 5 to the entire Georgia Congressional Delegation. The letter was in response to the 14% increase in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, which would increase from $11.99 per hour in 2022 to $13.68 per hour in 2023. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia …
Georgia Strawberry Production: What Producers Should Plan For
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s strawberry crop emerged unscathed last week amid low temperatures, according to Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties. “Everything looks fine. Nothing really got burnt. It doesn’t even look like anything happened,” Cook said. He discussed what growers should be mindful of right now at this …
Georgia Hemp Applications Underway for Current Growers, Permitted Processors
By Clint Thompson Georgia hemp producers should be mindful that as of Nov. 1, renewal applications are open for currently licensed growers and permitted processors. The 2022 applications will close on Tuesday, Nov. 15. That is the final day to apply for a 2022 grower license or processor permit. The 2023 window will reopen to new applicants on Jan. 1, …
Dry Weather Aids North Florida/South Georgia Tomato Production
By Clint Thompson The prolonged dry period sweeping across the Southeast benefited tomato producers in the North Florida/South Georgia region. Growers welcomed the dry conditions that helped save the crop from bacterial spot disease. Josh Freeman, an agronomist and regional manager with TriEst Ag Group, discussed the impact that minimal rainfall had on tomato production. “Everything started off really bad. …
South Georgia Producer: I’m Okay with the Dry Weather
By Clint Thompson Specialty crop growers prefer the current dry weather conditions when producing their crops. They want to apply the water needed which helps avert the buildup of disease pressure. It is especially true during the fall season says South Georgia vegetable farmer Sam Watson. “I grow vegetables, so I’m okay with the dry weather. We get to put …
Georgia Pumpkin Producer: We Had Phenomenal Yields
By Clint Thompson Pumpkin season has come and gone for one Georgia farmer. Yields exceeded expectations. Disease pressure was low. Demand was high. Drew Echols couldn’t have asked for a better year this season. “We did really well, couldn’t have asked for any better. We had phenomenal yields. We picked over 3,000 bins,” said Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms in …
Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum Scheduled for Nov. 9-10
By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers in the Southeast are reminded that registration is ongoing for the annual Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum. The event is scheduled for Nov. 9-10 at ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture in Tifton, Georgia. The event is scheduled the day after the Nov. 8 mid-term elections and provides an opportunity for lobbyist Bob Redding to …