By Clint Thompson The current dry weather sweltering Southeast Georgia is not ideal for row crop farmers but just what specialty crop growers prefer this spring season. Even if it involves paying more for to apply water, it’s nothing compared to managing diseases that often accompany increased rainfall, says Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Updates
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Midlands Justin Ballew reports, “Last week was cooler and felt like spring again, but that seems to be gone now. We got a little rain late last week (0.4 inches on our weather station in Lexington), though …
Survey Shows Top Varieties and Rootstocks
By Frank Giles The latest Florida Grower Citrus Industry Pulse survey results again showed Valencia oranges and US-942 rootstock were by far the most popular selections among growers in the past year. The online survey results track closely with the official 2020–21 Citrus Budwood Report, which is compiled and published by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The …
Compost and Cover Crops Improve Soil Health in Citrus
By Tacy Callies Citrus grower Sonny Conner recently hosted a group from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for what he called his “Clint Eastwood tour of the good, the bad and the ugly.” While some of his trees are too far gone from citrus greening (the bad and the ugly) to be resuscitated, many more …
Potential Diesel Shortage: ‘What’s Next?’
By Clint Thompson Diesel prices spiked to an all-time high this week. A potential shortage could soon spike fears among specialty crop producers who utilize diesel every day. Some farmers are flabbergasted by the prospect of not having enough diesel to operate normal day-to-day operations on the farm. Drew Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms in Alto, Georgia, and president of …
Georgia’s Peach Harvest is Underway
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s producers have begun peach harvest of this year’s crop. However, increased volume is not expected until early-to-mid June, according to Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties. “This is about our normal start time. It wasn’t necessarily expected to be our normal start time after March …
Watermelon Production: Preventative Sprays Needed for Rindworms
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon producers should be applying insecticides on a preventative basis when targeting rindworms. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, advises growers that an economical program consists of adding a Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray now and continue weekly until pest pressure gets …
What’s Happening? Alabama Extension Plant Pathologist Provides Disease Update
By Clint Thompson There have been no signs of downy mildew disease in Alabama vegetable crops, while tomato spotted wilt has been observed in one tomato field. Those are observations shared by Ed Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the department of entomology and plant pathology at Auburn University. One of the main points so far this season is …
Florida Tomato Leader: Not a Formula for Success
By Clint Thompson South Florida tomatoes appear destined for an earlier finish to the harvest season this year. Bob Spencer, president of West Coast Tomato in Palmetto, Florida, discusses how much longer consumers can expect to see Florida-grown tomatoes fresh from the field. “I would say the Manatee Ruskin area, which normally goes until the 5th of June will probably …
Botrytis Resistance Testing Key for Strawberry, Grape Producers
By Clint Thompson A University of Georgia Extension fruit disease specialist encourages grape and strawberry producers who are concerned that botrytis resistance is developing to their fungicides to comply with testing procedures at Clemson University. Phil Brannen stresses that growers should be concerned with potential resistance forming to the botrytis disease. “Botrytis as a fungus is more adept at developing …