January remains a busy time of year for Florida blueberry farmers managing this year’s crop. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) reminds growers that it is essential to monitor for disease development, especially with Botrytis flower blight. Once bloom occurs, growers need to monitor for the disease during cool and wet periods. Producers need to …
Blooming Problem: Warmer Temps Leading to Early Blueberry Blooms
By Clint Thompson Warmer temperatures in previous months led to earlier blooms for blueberry plants in the Southeast. That’s not good news for farmers, says Georgia producer Russ Goodman, co-owner of Cogdell Berry Farm in Clinch and Lanier counties. “We’ve got a lot more bloom right now than we would want I can tell you that. It’s not a good …
Looking Ahead: UF/IFAS’ Resources Help Blueberry Growers Navigate Season
By Clint Thompson Florida blueberry growers have resource tools to help them navigate through diseases and pests leading up to harvest time over the next couple of months, says Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. “We’ve got the new 2022 version of the Blueberry IPM guide that’s out. We’ve also got …
Sneak Peek: January 2021 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
By Clint Thompson A new year brings a new name to VSCNews Magazine. That’s right, the leader in specialty crop news will now be known as Specialty Crop Industry. The January issue of Specialty Crop Industry highlights the name change and what it means for its parent company, AgNet Media. The issue also focuses on blueberries and highlights different aspects …
Fertilization of Blueberries in Pine Bark Beds
By Doug Phillips and Jeffrey G. Williamson Blueberries have specific nutrient requirements that differ from other horticultural crops. They have shallow root systems and no root hairs, which limits the ability to take up nutrients. Blueberries grow best in acidic soils (ideal pH range of 4.5 to 5.5) with at least 3% organic matter and prefer the ammonium form of …
Christmas Tree Sales: It’s Unreal
By Clint Thompson Christmas tree sales started early and ended earlier for one South Georgia farmer. “The sales were unreal,” said Jerry Hubbard, owner of Hubbard Christmas Tree Farm in Thomasville, Georgia. Hubbard’s ‘unreal’ year of Christmas tree sales started in mid-November and ended in mid-December. People visited from all over the Southeast to cut a tree. Hubbard even had …
Farmer Testimonial: Georgia Producer Laments High Input Costs
By Clint Thompson Ricky Powe’s fall vegetable production generated positive yields. Combine that with an advantageous market for farmers and it should have produced a content farmer. So why wasn’t this South Georgia farmer more pleased with his cropping situation? It is the exorbitant amount of spending he and other specialty crop farmers are paying for input costs. “That’s going …
Fundamentals of Plant Production: pH, Irrigation and Nutrient Management
By Craig Frey Sustainability of agricultural operations involves good stewardship of resources. Since at least the 1980s, sustainable nutrient management has been closely associated with the 4Rs — right source, right rate, right placement and right timing of nutrient applications. Over the last several decades, the grower, industry and research communities have continued to identify ways to reduce inputs while …
Lingering Drought? U.S. Drought Monitor to Show How Recent Rains Have Helped
By Clint Thompson Regions across the Southeast have received much-needed rainfall in recent days. But will it be enough to alleviate some of the drought conditions being felt in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and other Southeastern states? Growers will know more when the next U.S. Drought Monitor is released on Thursday. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist, believes the …
AFBF, Other Groups Send Letter Requesting Ag Workers Be Exempt From Travel Restrictions
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), along with more than 60 agricultural groups, including the Alabama Farmers Federation, Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Georgia Agribusiness Council, Georgia Farm Bureau and Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, sent a letter to the Biden Administration requesting that agricultural workers from South Africa be exempt from travel restrictions. The “Proclamation on Suspension of Entry …