By Clint Thompson Predictions of neutral or La Niña weather conditions from July through September could transition into an active Atlantic tropical season. According to the University of Georgia (UGA) Extension Climate and Agriculture Blog, Pam Knox, UGA Extension agricultural climatologist, said the likelihood of increased storm activity this summer is stronger if the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico …
Heavy Scab Pressure Not Impactful on This Year’s Pecan Crop
By Clint Thompson This year’s pecan season endured the worst scab disease pressure in 20 years according to one industry expert. However, this year’s crop survived and thrived thanks to better available fungicides, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. “As far as scab pressure goes, the worst I’ve ever seen was 2003. We had an enormous amount …
Senator Warnock Highlights Support for Georgia Pecan Producers During Farm Visit in Albany
Lee County, Georgia — U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), a member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture committee, visited Albany last Friday and joined local growers on a pecan farm damaged by severe storms. The trip highlighted his commitment to South Georgia farmers — including his focus on securing federal disaster assistance to Georgia farmers impacted by these storms and protecting permanent disaster assistance to …
Georgia Ag Commissioner: New Farm Bill Needs to Get Across Finish Line
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture is focused on educating congressional leaders about the importance of passing a new farm bill sooner rather than later. Speaking at the Georgia Farm Bureau meeting last week, Tyler Harper talked about the significance a new farm bill will have on specialty crop production throughout the Southeast. “We were all hoping that they …
FAE General Session Covers Wide Range of Topics
By Frank Giles The Florida Ag Expo (FAE) kicked off its educational program with a welcome from Rob Gilbert, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) dean of research and interim head. Gilbert said the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), where the Expo is held, embodies the university’s commitment toward investing in technological advancements. GCREC …
Looking to the Future: Georgia Ag Commissioner Speaks at Georgia Farm Bureau
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture understands the obstacles Georgia’s farmers were challenged with during the 2023 season. But Tyler Harper also believes the resiliency of his state’s producers will carry them through to 2024. Harper spoke about the future of agriculture, Georgia’s No. 1 industry, during Monday’s Georgia Farm Bureau meeting in Jekyll Island. “2023 has been a …
Pecan Producers Contemplating Farming Futures Amid Discouraging Season
By Clint Thompson While input expenses remain high, pecan prices are staggeringly low. That has forced some growers to contemplate their farming future, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. “There’s a lot of discouragement out there right now. The costs of production have gone up. The prices have dropped. Even in the face of a short crop, …
Reality Setting In: Pecan Crop Much Shorter Than Expected
By Clint Thompson Georgia pecan growers must realize this year’s crop might not be all it was cracked up to be heading into the season. Even after Hurricane Idalia impacted acreage in Southeast Georgia, growers were hopeful to still produce a bountiful harvest this season. Most believed the crop was later than expected, but that is not the case this …
Season’s Expectations for Cold-Hardy Citrus
High quality and low quantity are in store for this year’s cold-hardy citrus crop in eastern Alabama, southern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. Too many natural disasters negated the volume of this year’s crop load, according to Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association and member of the Georgia Citrus Commission. “We had a freeze, and then we had another freeze, and …
Quality, Quantity ‘Off’ with Georgia’s Pecan Crop
By Clint Thompson The quality and quantity of Georgia’s pecan crop is “off” compared to previous years, according to one industry expert. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, attributes some of the quality issues to the percent kernel being lower compared to previous years. “We’re actually seeing all over the state, even when the kernel looks good, we’re …