By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry growers have resource tools to help them navigate through diseases and pests leading up to harvest time over the next couple of months, says Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. “We’ve got the new 2022 version of the Blueberry IPM guide that’s out. We’ve also got …
Pecan Prices Stay High for Growers
Pecan prices remain high this week for top quality and export quality pecans, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. As supply continues to dwindle in the latter part of the season in Georgia, producers likely headed back out to their orchards Wednesday and Thursday following inclement weather the early part of the week. Prices paid to …
Freeze Protection: Overhead Irrigation Efficient Strategy for Blueberry Growers
By Clint Thompson Frost protection will be an essential management plan for blueberry producers in the Southeast during the upcoming months leading up to harvest. Eric Stafne, a Mississippi State Extension/Research Professor, highlights the benefits and importance of using overhead sprinkler irrigation when temperatures drop below freezing. “The benefit of using that is it’s the most effective way to prevent …
Proclaim Insecticide a Valuable Option for Growers Against Diamondback Moth
By Clint Thompson One of the leading insecticide treatments for diamondback moth could still be vulnerable to overuse and eventual resistance. That’s why John Taylor, agronomic service representative for Syngenta, implores producers to rotate different modes of action so resistance does not develop. “Proclaim® is one of the stalwarts, so to speak, of diamondback moth management. With that being said, …
Pesky Pest: Diamondback Moth Remains Concern for Georgia Growers
By Clint Thompson One pest that Georgia vegetable growers can bank on for the upcoming season is diamondback moth. Its high resistance to insecticides makes it an annual pest that growers need to be wary of, according to Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist. “We have products that when they first come out, they were probably …
Anthracnose Awareness: UF/IFAS Encourages Growers to be Wary of Disease
By Clint Thompson Incidences of anthracnose are on the rise in cucurbits in the Southeast. They’ve already impacted production in Georgia. Experts in Florida want producers to be wary of the disease. While this past season’s dry spring spared Florida production, anthracnose is still a concern for Gary Vallad, professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Florida Institute of …
North Florida Watermelon Growers Depending on Strong ’22 Market
By Clint Thompson There’s never been a question of North Florida watermelon growers being able to produce a crop. The question always lies with what the market is when that crop is ready for harvest. Maybe more than any other year, that market needs to be productive for farmers in 2022, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food …
Analyzing Anthracnose: Cucurbit Disease a Major Issue for Growers
By Clint Thompson One disease that Southeast cucurbit producers need to have on their radar this upcoming season is anthracnose. It is rapidly becoming a major issue for growers, says Bhabesh Dutta, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable plant pathologist. “It’s now a major problem after Pcap (phytophthora capsici). It has been an emerging issue in our cucurbits including …
Strawberry Growers: Scout for Spider Mites
According to the University of Georgia Strawberry blog, it is important for strawberry growers to scout their fields for possible spider mites, especially this early in the production season. “Early detection is important since research has proven that even low numbers of mites can reduce yields,” according to Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent …
Clemson Extension Agents: Cooler Temps Greet South Carolina Growers
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in the The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Zack Snipes reports, “It feels like winter showed up this past week with cold, windy, gloomy days. Most, if not all of our strawberries have been planted. With the cool weather showing up and our later …