Sometimes a farmer’s best laid plans go awry. Just ask Georgia vegetable producer Ricky Powe. “I was going to have plastic laid and ready to go by Feb. 10 and be waiting on the plants. But with farming, the best laid plan isn’t always what it is,” said the Grady County grower. What stopped this Georgia vegetable producer? How about …
COVID Pandemic Forces Farmers to Diversify
The COVID-19 pandemic forever changed how businesses are conducted across the country. Just as much as any other industry, agriculture suffered from the pandemic’s impact. As restaurants closed their doors and schools’ closures kept children at home, farmers lost a significant portion of their clientele. A year later, they have had to adjust to stay afloat. They will have to …
Feeling Peachy: Florida Crop Nearing Harvest
Domestic options will soon be available for consumers yearning for that sweet, delicious peach. The first of Florida’s peach crop will be ready in late March, according to Jose Chaparro, UF/IFAS Associate Professor in the Horticultural Sciences Department. He said the peach trees have produced their strongest bloom in the last five years. It is due in large part to …
Sweet Delivery: GDA Announces Vidalia Onions Will Ship April 19
2021 is the 35th Anniversary of the Passage of the Vidalia Onion Act by the State’s Legislature ATLANTA, Ga. – The pack date for Georgia’s Vidalia onions will be April 19. The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and the Vidalia Onion Committee (VOC) made the announcement. The organizations are also celebrating the 35th anniversary of legislation that helped make Vidalia …
Mighty Mites: UGA Extension Encourages Scouting for Strawberry pests
It won’t be long before strawberries will be ready for harvest in South Georgia. University of Georgia Extension encourages producers to scout for spider mites, especially as strawberries begin to ripen and bloom across the state. The two-spotted spider mites are typically light yellow in appearance with a spot on either side of their abdomen. Their piercing-sucking mouthparts can cause …
Crop Updates From the Palmetto State
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in the The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Weekly Field Update Coastal Rob Last reports, “Strawberry crops in the area are developing well with good fruit set. I am seeing a little gray mold around, so sanitation is going to be key as well …
Taking its Toll: Strawberry Imports Creating Strain on Farmers
The International Trade Committee’s (ITC) decision regarding blueberry imports was shocking to Florida’s blueberry producers. It was no less surprising to the state’s strawberry farmers who have their own ITC investigation under way. “Our jaws dropped. We know how bad the blueberry deal is and they said they were 5-0 voting against it,” said Matt Parke, farm manager of Parkesdale …
Insect Report: Pests Currently Light for Georgia Vegetable Producers
It is planting season for Georgia vegetable producers. They can take solace in knowing that insect pressure appears to be light right now, minus some pepper weevils. This is according to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist Stormy Sparks. “There’s concerns about pepper weevil as we’re getting peppers in the ground. We’re running traps in various counties, got county …
Another Tool in the Toolbox for Citrus Producers?
LAKE ALFRED, FLA — University of Florida researchers continue to study ways to combat Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease. One discovery brings the potential of another tool for citrus growers to control Asian citrus psyllid, the insect that transmits the disease-causing bacterium, and protect infected trees from further damage. Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski, an associate professor of entomology and nematology at …
Regenerative Agriculture on the Rise
By Sarah Bostick Regenerative agriculture is fast becoming a buzz phrase in America. You may have heard about it on the news, in feature films or in farmer forums online. You may have seen the words “regeneratively grown” on a box of mac and cheese, a tub of yogurt, a container of oatmeal or even a case of beer. …