By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon producers are expected to start planting this week in the Suwanee Valley area. Warmer temperatures and the potential for high market prices early in the season are enticing growers to go ahead and start planting earlier than normal, said Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) regional specialized Extension agent …
Irrigation Tips for Florida Farmers
By Ajia Paolillo As the season moves from winter to spring, the irrigation requirements of citrus trees change. Typically, February through May is the drier time of year in Florida with low rainfall amounts in most areas. However, during this period, the trees are actively producing leaves and flowers, setting fruit, and pumping resources to the growing fruit during cell …
Pecan Producers Prepare for Ambrosia Beetles
By Clint Thompson Pecan producers should be wary of the first flight of ambrosia beetles in orchards across the Southeast. That means growers with young trees are susceptible to attacks. Beetles live in wooded areas and respond to stress chemicals released from newly planted trees. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, believes trees are especially vulnerable following the …
North Florida Watermelon Producers Could Start Planting This Week
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon producers are expected to start planting this week in the Suwanee Valley area. Warmer temperatures and the potential for high market prices early in the season are enticing growers to go ahead and start planting earlier than normal, said Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) regional specialized Extension …
Minor Crop Farm Alliance: EPA’s Endangered Species Act Proposals Big Challenge for Specialty Crops
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Southeast specialty crop farmers will be challenged to comply with new proposals from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overhauling how it implements the Endangered Species Act (ESA), warns the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance. “Of course, growers are in favor of protecting endangered and threatened species and their habitats. But the average specialty crop grower is going to …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Tom Bilbo reports, “If you’re growing strawberries in the warmest parts of the state and you haven’t been checking and/or spraying your fields for spider mites, you’re going to want to. Last week …
Rectify Injection Available for HLB in Florida
FEBRUARY 21, 2023 HLB MANAGEMENT, INDUSTRY NEWS RELEASE, PESTICIDES Rectify, AgroSource, Inc.’s 95% oxytetracycline hydrochloride-based tree-injection product, is expected to be available for use against HLB in Florida citrus as early as Feb. 24. The product will be available to growers through existing commercial agricultural product distributors. AgroSource petitioned and received a Special Local Needs (SLN) approval for Rectify by the Florida Department of Agriculture …
Getting Started in Precision Ag
By Frank Giles The Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference, held in Savannah, Georgia, in early January, drew specialty crop growers to learn about what’s new in production, products and technology. While precision agriculture in specialty crops has generally lagged behind traditional row crops in terms of adoption, new applications and advancements are catching on. During the conference, a precision …
The Push for Produce Prescriptions
By Clint Thompson The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) aims to see Medicare and Medicaid use produce prescriptions as a covered health insurance benefit. The hope is to help people reduce obesity and health-related concerns by consuming more fruits and vegetables. The domino effect would result in a healthier America and increase demand for produce grown in the United States. …
UGA Peach Specialist Confident Despite Chill Hour Shortage
By Clint Thompson One University of Georgia (UGA) peach specialist is confident about this year’s crop despite falling short of chill hour accumulation. Dario Chavez, UGA assistant professor with an emphasis in peach physiology and breeding, discussed Georgia’s crop at the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association annual meeting on Thursday, Feb. 9 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. “In Georgia we’re …