Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates

Clint ThompsonSouth Carolina

Weekly Field Update Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Coastal Region Anna Sara Hill Zack Snipes Midlands Rob Last Sarah Scott Pee Dee Brittney King Upstate Andy Rollins Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundNovember 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024SECURE …

Pecan Fall Field Day Scheduled for Sept. 4

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Pecan production will be highlighted during the Georgia Pecan Growers Association (GPGA) Fall Field Day at the University of Georgia Ponder Farm in Tifton, Georgia, on Thursday, Sept. 4. Scheduled topics include cultural practices, water use, pest and disease management and sustainably grown farming. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist, highlighted the field day …

Expo Coverage: Bamboo’s Many Uses Make It Potential Alternative Crop in Florida

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson Florida specialty crop growers are always searching for that next alternative crop. Bamboo could be it. Bamboo has great potential as an alternative crop in Florida, according to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers. The subject of extended discussion during last week’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, bamboo was highlighted as a …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Addressing Farm Labor in a Divided Political Environment

Clint ThompsonSpecialty Crop Grower Magazine

By Frank Giles It has been busy on the ag labor front recently. There have been several announcements at the federal level amid continued deportation efforts by the Trump administration. In late June, Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez DeRemer gave comments regarding the agency’s H-2A program during the Western Governors Association meeting in New Mexico. She acknowledged the …

Cotton Jassid Impacting Georgia Vegetable Crops

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Georgia vegetable growers must be wary of a new insect pest that could impact a couple of crops this fall. Stormy Sparks, UGA Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist, discussed the Cotton Jassid. “The other thing that has shown up is the cotton two-spotted leaf hopper or Cotton Jassid. (About a month ago) we didn’t even know if it …

snail

Snail Update: Impacts and Abamectin

Dan CooperPests

Snail impacts on Southeast citrus production can be devastating. A big part of the problem is not the damage to citrus trees but the harm the pest inflicts on irrigation systems. Lauren Diepenbrock, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor and entomologist, conveyed this message to cold-hardy producers during the Citrus Grower’s Summer Update meeting on …

Looking Ahead: Vidalia Onion Seedbeds to Be Planted in September

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Vidalia onion growers are a few weeks away from planting this year’s seedbeds. Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension area onion agent at the Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia, said plantings will commence in September, with some seed going in the ground during the first couple of weeks. “We’ll probably start the very …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Now Is a Good Time to Give Food-Safety Plan a Checkup

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Frank Giles Recent salmonella outbreaks and recalls in the Southeast are a good reminder for all specialty crop growers to evaluate their food-safety protocols and practices. That’s the message from Michelle Danyluk, a professor of food biology and safety with the University of Florida Institute of Food Agricultural Sciences. “It has been a busy year on the food Danyluk …

Industry Leader Provides Hope During Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo

Clint ThompsonFlorida

By Clint Thompson This week’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo was again a sweet success as farmers and industry leaders flocked to Tampa, Florida, for the two-day show on Wednesday and Thursday. The Florida State Fairgrounds hosted the event for the third straight year, as more than 1,100 pre-registered. Seminar sessions were held for citrus and specialty crop growers, discussing …

Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Methods for Managing Watermelon Disease

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Frank Giles In watermelon, diseases can spread fast. In fields where diseases have a history of establishment, outbreaks can arise quickly when conditions are favorable. Most production guides recommend a lengthy rotation of watermelon in fields to help reduce disease inoculum. According to Bhabesh Dutta, professor of plant pathology and Extension vegetable disease specialist for the University of Georgia …