By Clint Thompson An extremely dry North Florida region was hit with much-needed rainfall on Monday. That was a welcomed sight for the Suwanee Valley’s watermelon growers who are mostly done planting this year’s crop. “The rain will definitely help in those dry bed areas just to bring more moisture. All of it’s going to go in the hole but …
Vidalia Onion Field Day Scheduled for April 2
Georgia Vidalia onion producers should mark their calendars for Thursday, April 2, for the Vidalia Onion Field Day. It is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University of Georgia (UGA) Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia. Attendees will hear about the latest variety trials, learn about research pertaining to disease management, fertility trials, precision …
Statistical Evidence: Domestic Interest in Farm Jobs Almost Non-Existent
By Clint Thompson A domestic workforce for agricultural work in the Southeast is almost non-existent. Bringing in foreign workers to work on the farm is a necessity but also a costly one. Those are two facts that Ray Starling, general counsel for North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, emphasized at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Georgia, in …
Dieback a Concern in Citrus Trees Following Freeze
The Georgia citrus industry now has a better grasp on the extent of damage to the state’s crop following the recent freeze events in February and January. Dieback is present in both younger and older trees, says Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist. “For most of the older, established trees that have gotten some …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Growers Look at Grafting to Fight Fusarium Wilt in Watermelon
By Clint Thompson One of the most devastating watermelon diseases in the Southeast can be overcome. But it comes with a high cost for growers. Fusarium wilt is an annual problem that North Florida and South Georgia watermelon producers must contend with every year. Some growers are resorting to grafted plants in hopes of overcoming the disease. Grafting is a …
Drought Impacting Southeast Alabama’s Spring Plantings
By Clint Thompson Alabama’s drought-like conditions are the driest in the southeast part of the state. It’s created challenging conditions for vegetable growers who have started the planting process for this season’s crops. Neil Kelly, Alabama regional Extension agent in Southeast Alabama, talked about the current drought. “It’s dry. If you’re on hard, stiff dirt, no we haven’t gotten that …
After Freeze, Ambrosia Beetles Are Potential Threat
Florida citrus growers should be on the lookout for an uncommon citrus pest following the recent freeze events that devastated crops throughout the state. During a recent postfreeze webinar hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Team, Lauren Diepenbrock, associate professor and entomologist, warned growers about the ambrosia beetle. This pest can prey on …
GFVGA Roundtable Discussion: Pleas Made for Permanent Change to AEWR
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) helped host a roundtable discussion with legislators in Washington D.C. on Feb. 24. The issue, which was discussed among members with the Ag Wage Reform Coalition, centered on the H-2A program, specifically the adverse effect wage rate (AEWR). Sam Watson, president of the GFVGA, recapped the meeting and the …
Peach Alert: Be Proactive in Managing San Jose Scale
By Clint Thompson Peach producers need to be proactive in guarding against San Jose scale, an annual pest that becomes a problem once temperatures start to warm up. “Once the insect gets out of control, it’s really hard to bring the populations back down. We just have a great environment for San Jose scale,” said Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at …
Sneak Peek: March 2026 Specialty Crop Grower Magazine
In this month’s sneak peek, the March issue of Specialty Crop Grower Magazine highlights the recent deep freeze event in January and February that devastated various fruits and vegetables in Florida. Freezing temperatures caused significant damage to specialty crops across the state. Those crops included citrus, blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, green beans and watermelons. Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced preliminary …



















