By Clint Thompson Powdery mildew disease has been confirmed in watermelon in the Suwannee Valley region of North Florida. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, noted in a weekly email that as a result of having low disease incidence, growers should “keep things simple.” “Perhaps a …
Drought Monitor Update: Dry Conditions Worsening in Southeast
The lack of rainfall in recent weeks has led to drought conditions worsening across the Southeast. This is according to the latest release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Most of Florida is experiencing some level of drought conditions. The Panhandle and Northeast Florida are abnormally dry, starting as far west as Okaloosa County and stretching eastward to Nassau, Duval and …
Dry Weather Preferred for Georgia Watermelon Producers
By Clint Thompson South Georgia’s dry weather conditions are not a bad thing for the region’s watermelon production. In fact, it is what specialty crop producers prefer. They want to be the ones applying the water, says Ty Torrance, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable agent for Colquitt, Tift and Worth counties. “As far as vegetables go for sure, we’d …
Suspension Agreement Impact: Tomato Leader Insists Market Will Not Stop
By Clint Thompson The end to the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement will not disrupt the current market access to tomatoes nor will it impact prices consumers are paying. That’s the belief shared by Robert Guenther, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange. “We’re going to see this hyperbole as I like to call it, or false narrative that tomatoes …
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a Florida Avocado Tree
With Cinco de Mayo approaching, now’s the time to dig into guacamole and even plant the tree that produces it. Florida avocados offer a fresh, tropical twist on this fan-favorite fruit that stars in so many recipes. Did you know Florida avocados have less fat than the popular Hass variety, making them the lean, green star of your fiesta spread? …
Alabama Strawberry Grower Switching Nursery Sources: It’s a Business Decision
By Clint Thompson The impact of Neopestalotiopsis (Neo) in Jeremy Calvert’s strawberry production this year is leading the Alabama grower to consider other nursery sources next year. “We’re definitely looking at California nurseries. I truly hate it for those nurseries in Canada, because they’re family operations just like we are,” Calvert said. “I spent a couple of days in Plant …
Georgia Pecan Grower: No. 1 Issue is Capital
By Clint Thompson The grower panel at this year’s Georgia Pecan Growers Association meeting in March allowed the state’s producers to address trending issues like low prices and potential export markets like India. One of the main topics highlighted were current concerns felt by growers. Low prices were one, and the lack of working capital was another. It was addressed …
Nitrogen Reduction Needed in Cold-Hardy Citrus Region
Growers in the cold-hardy citrus region are applying too much nitrogen to their groves. Muhammad Shahid, assistant professor of horticulture at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), discovered that unfortunate reality while conducting a research project in North Florida. Most citrus growers were following recommendations in the UF/IFAS Florida Citrus Production Guide, which are mostly …
Minimal Disease Pressure in North Florida Watermelons
By Clint Thompson There is minimal disease pressure in watermelons across the Suwanee Valley region of North Florida. With dry weather conditions expected in the near future, risk of new infections of bacterial or fungal diseases is currently low, according to Bob Hochmuth, UF/IFAS Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. Hochmuth noted in his weekly email what watermelon …
USDA Designates 20 Alabama Counties As Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate announced earlier this month that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins has designated 20 Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas due to a recent drought. There were 18 additional counties listed as contiguous disaster counties. “The drought affected over half of the counties in Alabama,” said Commissioner Pate. “We …



















