A combination of herbicide and fertilizer can prevent nutsedge from impacting tomatoes, according to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). That should mean more of the vegetable going to the grocery store and your kitchen. An increase or decrease in tomato production is critical because it’s a $400 million-a-year industry in Florida. Growers want to control …
Pecan Trees Need Irrigation for Shuck Split
By Clint Thompson The lingering dry period following Hurricane Helene is impacting pecan production across the Southeast. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, noted in the UGA Extension Pecan Blog that trees need sufficient soil moisture so shuck split can happen properly. “The crop load that was there is going to create a significant demand for water. Most …
Leveling the Playing Field: Ossoff, Bishop Offer Protecting Our Produce Act
By Clint Thompson The Protecting Our Produce Act will help Southeast specialty crop producers impacted by imports from South America. That’s the message shared by Sen. Jon Ossoff and Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02) with Georgia growers on Friday in Camilla, Georgia. Each will introduce the bill in the Senate and the House. The bicameral bill would establish a …
Immediate Response Required When Managing HLB
The first chore for growers in the cold-hardy citrus region when managing citrus greening is scouting for the disease and its vector, the Asian citrus psyllid. The next step is prompt removal of any trees infected with the disease, says Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. “At this point, we think greening is still …
Dry Weather Means Less Scab Pressure for Alabama Pecan Producers
By Clint Thompson Prolonged dry weather conditions across Alabama means minimal scab disease pressure on the state’s pecan crop. That’s positive news for growers who have already begun harvests this season, says Bryan Wilkins, Auburn University research associate. “The scab really didn’t hurt us this year. I’ve got people that didn’t spray at all. But even some of the homeowners, …
South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline: Whitefly Population Levels Vary
Whitefly populations remain concerning throughout central and southern Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Despite low whitefly populations in watermelon in central Florida, virus incidence is in medium to high range. In Southwest Florida, scouting reports indicate low whitefly populations in beans and watermelon. Virus incidence in watermelon is in the medium to high range despite …
Florida Strawberry Producer: There Will Be a Season Following Milton
By Clint Thompson Florida strawberry farmers may be planting this year’s crop, but multiple farms were in Atlanta last week during the Global Produce and Floral Show. The annual event attracted more than 3,000 buyers and attendees from more than 70 countries. A large contingent of Florida’s strawberry producers were in attendance, including Wish Farms and Director of Marketing Amber …
Helene Aftermath: Georgia’s Financial Impact Likely to Increase
By Clint Thompson Hurricane Helene’s financial devastation to Georgia’s agricultural sector is already staggering. Unfortunately, those numbers will likely increase, especially to specialty crops, says Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA). “What we’re looking at now is the immediate crop losses to the fall crop, but we’re just as concerned with problems that …
Dry Weather Impacting Northeast Alabama
By Clint Thompson Northeast Alabama remains considerably dry. Some areas have not received any measurable moisture for more than a month, according to Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama. “We’re going on 42 days at my farm (without rain), and since May 25, I’ve had 2.3 inches of rain,” Schavey said. “It doesn’t look like any rain for …
Hurricane Helene Aftermath: South Carolina Muscadines, Vegetables Impacted
By Clint Thompson Hurricane Helene left its mark on agriculture in the Southeast, impacting farms in South Carolina. Andy Rollins, county Extension agent, said his area’s muscadine production was especially impacted by the major flooding and high winds that accompanied Helen’s trek through the Carolinas. “Our muscadine crop, we only have a few growers, but the ones that grow for …



















