By Clint Thompson Vegetable and specialty crop producers are bracing for a potential tropical storm this weekend as Tropical Storm Fred churns towards the Gulf of Mexico. As University of Florida/IFAS Associate Professor in Horticultural Science Josh Freeman says, “ It’s part of doing business,” in Florida this time of year. “I think depending on where the track goes, it’s …
Clemson Extension Agents Provide Updates Across the State
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in the The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Weekly Field Update-8/9/21 Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “Generally speaking, we are in the change-over period from spring to fall crops, with some fumigants being applied to next year’s strawberry plantings. If fumigants are to be used, …
South Carolina Rains: Clemson Extension Reports Weather Impacting Crops
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in the The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Weekly Field Update 8-2-21 Coastal Region Zack Snipes reports, “Summer crops like okra are still coming in and looking good. We’ve had a lot of rain, and some fields are soggy. More rain is coming. Some …
Florida Tomato Conference in September
By Clint Thompson Registration is under way for the Florida Tomato Conference, scheduled for Sept. 8 at the LaBelle Civic Center in LaBelle, Florida. The annual format will feature industry and research updates in the morning session. Michael Schadler with the Florida Tomato Committee will speak about the state of the industry. Scientists from the University of Florida/IFAS will share …
Tomato Producers Be Wary of Fall Diseases
By Clint Thompson Tomato season is here for producers in Florida. Diseases like bacterial leaf spot and target spot should be on the mind of growers preparing their fungicide programs, says Josh Freeman, University of Florida/IFAS Associate Professor in Horticultural Science. “In the fall season we really worry about bacterial leaf spot getting established early just because we’re in a …
Update on Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus in Florida
By Ozgur Batuman and Salih Yilmaz Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is a highly contagious, devastating and economically important plant virus. It mainly threatens greenhouse-grown vegetable crops worldwide, especially tomatoes and peppers. ToBRFV is very similar to other tobamoviruses, such as tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), two tomato-infecting viruses common to most Florida growers. Although …
Tomato, Pepper Listening Sessions Scheduled with USDA RMA
Florida and Georgia tomato and pepper producers are invited to listening sessions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA). Feedback about potential production and revenue history policy is wanted for both commodities. The fresh market tomato sessions are for growers in South Florida, industry members and regional insurance representatives. The pepper sessions are for fresh market growers …
Seeking Sunshine: North Alabama Feeling Impact of Persistent Rains
By Clint Thompson Unless you’ve been asleep for the last two months, you know how wet it has been across the Southeast. Persistent rains have been the story for farmers across the region, especially in north Alabama. Fortunately, the wet weather has slowed in recent days, according to Eric Schavey, Regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama. “Rain’s kind of backed …
What’s Happening? Fruit, Vegetable Crop Updates in South Carolina
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in the The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide The SC Specialty Crop Association is offering a new grant opportunity, the Enhancing Crop Packaging Cost Share Program. With this new cost share program, growers can receive reimbursement up to $1,800 per grower for packaging …
Fall Season Means Increased Risk for Florida Vegetable Producers
By Clint Thompson The dawn of another fall vegetable season in Florida means increased risk for producers, especially when compared to spring production. “The fall generally has more risk exposure than the spring does,” says Josh Freeman, University of Florida/IFAS Associate Professor in Horticultural Science. “You worry about whiteflies, you worry about tropical weather. You have all these things to …