The thrips parvispinus species that was first detected in the United States in 2020 is wreaking havoc on pepper plantings in eastern Palm Beach County, Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Scouts have observed that the species is causing substantial damage in young and mature plantings in the region. Other fields have experienced low levels of …
Strawberry Grower Rolls Dice, Opts Not to Apply Water During Christmas Freeze
By Clint Thompson One Florida strawberry producer rolled the dice and did not apply water during the Christmas freeze event. Dustin Grooms should soon have an idea soon whether that gamble paid off. “We sat there and watched the thermometer, and the wind was blowing. We’re feeling leaves, looking at blooms, doing all of this stuff all night long, waiting …
UGA Specialist Cautions Strawberry Growers Against Neopestalotiopsis
By Clint Thompson Neopestalotiopsis has been confirmed in Florida strawberries this season. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, cautions growers to be on the lookout for the disease. “It mimics just about every disease that we’ve ever known in strawberries. People are looking at some of these things and wondering, ‘Is this it?’ I tell them …
North Alabama Strawberry Plants Impacted by Cold, Deer
By Clint Thompson The cold weather experienced over Christmas weekend wreaked havoc on strawberry plants in North Alabama. Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama, described the impact his growers’ plants incurred during the multiple days of below-freezing temperatures. “What I’m hearing from some of my strawberry growers is they got out there to put row covers on just …
Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference Offers Up Comprehensive Education Program
Registration is ongoing for the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference scheduled for Jan. 5-8, 2023, in Savannah, Georgia. The annual meeting brings together farmers and industry leaders from across the Southeast as well as provide educational sessions that cover commodities across the entire gamut of the specialty crop industry. These include blueberries, caneberries, citrus, muscadines, peaches, strawberries, vegetables, Vidalia …
Multiple Days of Sub-Freezing Temps Devastating for Southeast Specialty Crops
By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers can usually stomach one day of sub-freezing temperatures. But four days? That was not the ideal scenario for growers across the Southeast this past weekend. It was disastrous for vegetable farmers, citrus growers and potentially strawberry producers. Prolonged temperatures in 20s over parts of the region, including South Georgia and North Florida, have been …
Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference to Highlight Issues Growers Are Facing
Registration is ongoing for the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference scheduled for Jan. 5-8, 2023, in Savannah, Georgia. The annual meeting brings together farmers and industry leaders from across the Southeast as well as provide educational sessions that cover commodities across the entire gamut of the specialty crop industry. These include blueberries, caneberries, citrus, muscadines, peaches, strawberries, vegetables, Vidalia …
Freeze Effect: Sub-Freezing Temperatures Impact Southeast Specialty Crops
By Clint Thompson Consecutive nights of sub-freezing temperatures has Southeast specialty crop producers concerned moving forward this year. Vegetable growers are worried about potential injury to their fruit that were vulnerable in the ground. Strawberry farmers are concerned about wind damage to their crop. Georgia’s Vidalia onion producers are concerned now about the long-term ramifications for their young plantings that …
Florida Sweet Corn Volume Back to Normal
By Clint Thompson Hurricane Ian did more than just flood parts of Florida and spark damage with its high winds when it moved across the state on Sept. 28. It also delayed plantings of multiple crops, including strawberries. Sweet corn was another crop impacted, according to Tori Rumenik, commodity services and supply chain manager for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable …
How Low Will We Go? Wintry Conditions Expected Over the Holidays
By Pam Knox I’m talking about temperature, folks! A lot of my social media feed for the last couple of days has been related to one or more cold outbreaks that could affect the U.S. over the next couple of weeks or even into January. On Twitter, the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center posted an infographic about bitterly cold …