Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Midlands Phillip Carnley Rob Last Sarah Scott Pee Dee Brittney King Upstate Andy Rollins Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and Strength to Sweet Corn Pest ManagementJanuary 1, 2026Nuseed …
Vidalia Onion Plants Progressing Following Recent Cold Snap
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s Vidalia onion crop is progressing this season despite a potentially devastating cold snap in late January. Cliff Riner, chairman of the Vidalia Onion Committee, said multiple days of sub-freezing temperatures stalled the plants but failed to have a catastrophic impact. “We’re doing okay. We’ve had weather, but we’ve come through the weather surprisingly well,” Riner said. …
Not Going Away: UGA Entomologist Cautions Blueberry Producers Against SWD
By Clint Thompson Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) remains a threat to Georgia blueberry production. If growers stray from their spray programs, it could have devastating results, believes Ash Sial, University of Georgia (UGA) entomologist. “Some growers, if they don’t see populations or don’t see activity in the field, especially when the weather is hot and dry, (they think) these flies …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Keeping Competitive in the Modern Marketplace
By Frank Giles Specialty crop farms across the Southeast have faced myriad challenges over the past few decades, but many farms have embraced new market opportunities and enjoyed growth. One of those operations is L&M. The farm was founded in 1964 by Joe McGee in Johnston County, North Carolina. In the years since its founding, L&M has grown into a …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Four Things to Watch in 2024
By Mike Joyner In agriculture, there is never a shortage of challenges, and 2024 will present its share. At the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA), we work every day to effectively advocate for our members to assure their voice is heard and that outcomes reflect their input. Here is a look at how that work will come to life …
Pecan Producers Should Decrease Input Costs
By Clint Thompson Pecan producers need to either decrease their costs of production or increase their yields to improve their sustainability. University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells believes the best option for producers, especially in the short term, is to reduce costs. “We can increase yields, but that’s going to require having the varieties that have …
Planting Season for North Florida Watermelons
By Clint Thompson The calendar may say Feb. 20 but for some watermelon growers in North Florida, it says it is planting time. “I believe that there are some that intend on starting around (Feb. 20) if the weather looks good during that period of time,” said Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional …
Georgia Vegetable Producer: We Can’t Give Up
By Clint Thompson Sam Watson wears multiple hats in his role as a Georgia vegetable producer. Not only does Watson farm in Colquitt County, he also serves as president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association along with being a state senator. Watson is in position to implore legislative leaders to provide assistance against the numerous obstacles challenging the …
Weather Challenges for Strawberry Producers in North Alabama
By Clint Thompson Fluctuating temperatures have made strawberry production a challenge in North Alabama, according Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama. “Right now, everyone is focused on strawberries. We get these days where I believe it was 71 degrees (Fahrenheit), but it was 31 that morning. It’s like you’re scraping frost in the evening and then thinking about …
UF Tomato Breeder Discuss New Role at GCREC
Jessica Chitwood-Brown is the new tomato breeder at the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC). Chitwood-Brown coordinates the lab where she earned Ph.D. and conducted her post-doctoral research, in the northern end of Florida tomato country. She’s taken the position of her doctoral adviser, Sam Hutton, at the GCREC. “I really admire Sam, so I have a …



















