By Clint Thompson Two of the top blueberry-producing states remain Florida and Georgia. They continue to produce their share of blueberries, according to the USDA 2020 summary. Georgia was third in the country behind Washington and Michigan in harvested areas in 2020 with 16,000 acres, a decrease from 16,200 in 2019. Georgia also produced 4,640 pounds per acre. Florida produced …
North Alabama Producers Weathering Late-Season Freeze, Rains
By Clint Thompson Better now than a month from now. That’s the mindset Alabama vegetable and specialty crop producers must have following a late-season frost that impacted the northern portion of the state two weeks ago. “(The frost) made people wait another week or so to set squash, some of their summer crops. That was one thing. We did see …
Fusarium Wilt on Rise in Watermelons
By Clint Thompson North Florida and South Georgia watermelon producers should not be surprised to see more fusarium wilt disease this spring. Weather has helped the disease be more problematic this year, according to Bhabesh Dutta, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension plant pathologist. “North Florida and South Georgia have the same issue in melons. We are two weeks or three …
Looking to the Future: UF/IFAS Research Focused on New Cultivars
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — New citrus cultivars could be the future for food production, believes one University of Florida/IFAS graduate student. Consider the obstacles that stand in the way of citrus production in Florida: Citrus greening, climate change and devastating insects. Martin Zapien is looking to the future to combat these challenges. Zapien’s research takes place at the Indian River …
Farming’s Future: UF/IFAS to Host Ag-Tech Expo
The future of agriculture is ready to be unleashed today. Between robots, drones, machine learning and plant genetics, growers can use any combination to make crops disease-resistant and, perhaps, tastier. To find out more about innovative technology that includes artificial intelligence, precision agriculture and plant genetics, register for the “Future of Farming.” It’s a two-day virtual Ag-tech Expo that will …
Active Insects: Alabama Producers Be Wary of Pests
Alabama vegetable and specialty crop producers be alert: Insect pests are active across the state. According to Alabama Extension, the state’s Extension System Vegetable IPM program has started monitoring insects across Alabama. A few locations are active right now. Included are moth counts to date from locations using sticky wing pheromone traps: Beet armyworm – 3; fall armyworm – 20; …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates
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-5/3/21 Coastal Rob Last reports, “Botrytis (gray mold) is evident in places following rainfall. Sanitation and removal of the infected berries are critical to reducing inoculum loading. Fungicide applications will also be required to prevent spore …
Georgia Farmer: I Just Hope We Make it Through it
Producers Discuss Impact of Pallet Shortage Never in his many years of farming did Georgia vegetable producer Jaime Patrick ever envision a scenario in which he would lack pallets to ship his produce. It’s never been a problem … until now. “You just call, and they send them to you,” said Patrick, who farms in Omega, Georgia. “I never thought …
Input Costs Rising for Vegetable Farmers
It comes as no surprise to farmers that input prices have increased in recent years. What may be eye-opening is how much expenses like fertilizer costs and gas prices are expected to go up this year. According to the USDA Vegetable and Pulses Outlook: April 2021, growers should expect to pay for most of the inputs required to produce, pack …
Pallet Shortage: Farmers, Industry Leaders Express Concern About Potential Impact
Southeast vegetable growers didn’t need another obstacle to overcome this spring. This latest challenge might be their toughest yet. Growers and industry leaders have confirmed a major pallet shortage across the country. Pallets are instrumental in a grower’s ability to ship their product from the farm to the store. Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers …