By Clint Thompson There is still a month left of harvest for some grape varieties in the Southeast, but the crop has already shown better results than last year. The better yields are attributed to the dry weather experienced this summer, said University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist Phil Brannen. “I think, overall, it’s a lot better this …
Florida Tomato Leader Optimistic Amid Plethora of Challenges
By Clint Thompson One tomato industry expert voiced his optimism Wednesday about the upcoming season despite numerous challenges facing Florida growers this year. Speaking Wednesday at the Florida Tomato Conference in Labelle, Florida, Michael Schadler, manager of the Florida Tomato Committee and executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, highlighted the strengths and challenges of Florida’s tomato industry ahead …
Increased Rainfall Problematic for South Georgia’s Fall Crops
By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers prefer dry conditions so they can be the ones applying water and not worry about disease pressure. They are not getting their wish with their fall crops, however. Increased rainfall across southern Georgia in recent weeks has led to intense disease pressure on fall vegetable crops. Ty Torrance, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable …
Alabama Extension Part of Upcoming Food Safety Webinar
By Clint Thompson Alabama Extension will be part of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) webinar on Thursday highlighting food safety. Kristin Woods, Alabama Regional Extension agent, who specializes in commercial horticulture and food safety, will join Michelle Danyluk, from the University of Florida, and Dawanna James-Holly from USDA National Agricultural Library (NAL), to discuss the implementation of the Food Safety …
UGA Research: Weed Control in Organics
By Clint Thompson University of Georgia research may have yielded a new way for growers to manage weeds in organic production. Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is researching the effect of irrigation combined with different cultivation tactics to control weeds. He is studying shallow sub-surface drip tape placement for …
UF/IFAS Seeking the Next Breakthrough Crop
By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP Danny Johns is growing the same crop on the same land as his great grandfather did when he started farming in Hastings a century ago. PURPLE SWEET POTATOESBut Johns was immediately interested when University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agent Wendy Mussoline invited him to look at purple sweet …
Reduce SWD to Protect Against Sour Rot
By Clint Thompson The ripening of grapes around the Southeast means producers need to be managing drosophila flies. As grapes near veraison or 15 degrees brix, they become more attractive, especially for spotted wing drosophila (SWD). As Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, points out in the UGA Extension Viticulture …
Kernel Filling Stage: Sunshine Needed for Pecan Crop
By Clint Thompson The pecan crop is loaded in orchards across the Southeast. But if the crop is to reach its full potential, it needs more sunshine over the next couple of weeks. Cloudy weather helped doom the crop last year, as sunshine was lacking during the most critical stage of development. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan …
Nematode Management: Know the Species Impacting Your Field
By Clint Thompson Before Florida specialty crop producers begin treating for guava root-knot nematodes, they need to understand what kind of nematodes species is impacting their fields. Not all nematode species can be treated the same, says Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and …
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Issues Statement of Principles Ahead of 2023 Farm Bill
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing producers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, released its statement of principles for consideration of the 2023 Farm Bill. The SCFBA is led by co-chairs Mike Joyner, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Dave …