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 Zack Snipes Midlands Rob Last Daniel Lyon Upstate Andy Rollins Sponsored ContentNew Syngenta Varieties Offer Grower SolutionsFebruary 1, 2026Attribute® II Technology Adds More Flexibility and Strength to Sweet Corn Pest ManagementJanuary 1, 2026Nuseed Carinata Covers …
Christmas Come Early: Tree Farms Sell Out Quickly
By Clint Thompson Christmas season starts earlier and earlier. No longer are people waiting until after Thanksgiving to decorate their homes for Christmas. And as we saw this year, no longer are some stores waiting until November to offer Christmas lights and decorations for sale. That mindset can also be seen on Christmas tree farms as well. While Thanksgiving Day …
GFVGA Issues Letter to USTR
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) submitted a letter to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) amid the USMCA review. It highlighted the continued surge of imported fruits and vegetables into the U.S. “We encourage you to consider any trade policies that will protect U.S. fruit and vegetable growers from unfair foreign competitors, …
Cold-Hardy Citrus Spared From Sub-Freezing Temperatures
The short timeframe when temperatures dipped below freezing this week in the cold-hardy citrus region appears to have not been problematic for trees. That’s the preliminary assessment shared by Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist. Sutton emphasized that the few hours that temperatures dropped into the 20s early Tuesday morning was a lot better …
Dry Conditions Benefit Vidalia Onion Seedbeds
By Clint Thompson Vidalia onion transplanting is either underway or about to be across Southeast Georgia, according to Chris Tyson, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension area onion agent. Tyson said the prolonged dry spell this fall has allowed seedbeds to avoid disease buildup, a common concern if rains were persistent. “All of our seedbeds that we’re growing right now for …
Early Bird Registration Underway for 2026 AFVGA Conference and Tradeshow
By Clint Thompson Early bird registration is underway for next year’s Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) annual conference and tradeshow, scheduled for Feb. 4-6, 2026, in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The cost for early bird registration is $175 and closes Dec. 31. Regular registration is $225. The conference will be held at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in …
Florida Blueberry Survey Summarizes 2025 Season
The Florida Blueberry Growers Association recently hosted its annual meeting in Lakeland. The event drew a good crowd, and speakers addressed pest management, new varieties, labor issues and more. One highlight of the event was Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, presenting the results of his annual survey of Florida blueberry …
Cold-Hardy Citrus Harvest Begins Early
The anticipated disappointment has become a reality for cold-hardy citrus growers; satsuma mandarins are in short supply. The predominant citrus variety grown in the region will not have much of a crop this season as harvests have already begun across the cold-hardy region of North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. As expected, citrus volume will be short, mostly due …
Freeze Event Dooms North Florida’s Remaining Fall Vegetable Crop
By Clint Thompson Back-to-back nights of sub-freezing temperatures this week ended North Florida’s fall vegetable season for all practical purposes. While some growers may scavenge their fields for any surviving fruit, most of the remaining crop was devastated by plummeting temperatures. “The temperature on Tuesday morning was probably in the range of 31 (degrees Fahrenheit), plus or minus. There was …
Minimal, Scattered Freeze Injury Expected on Southeast Alabama Crops
By Clint Thompson Fruit and vegetable growers in Southeast Alabama were subjected to sub-freezing temperatures earlier this week. Neil Kelly, Alabama regional Extension agent in Southeast Alabama, expects minimal damage from the few hours of low temperatures, which varied from field to field. “I don’t think the freeze (this week) is going to be terribly rough on us. It dipped …



















