Registration is now open for the Southeast (SE) Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, the south’s premier fruit and vegetable educational conference and trade show for growers, packers, and shippers. Co-sponsored by the South Carolina Peach Council and Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), the 2023 SE Regional Conference will return to the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia, on …
Invest 98L a Threat to Southeast?
By Clint Thompson It is still too early to predict the track that Invest 98L will take, but specialty crop producers in the Southeast should keep an eye on the storm and its potential path into the Gulf of Mexico. It will be a concern for growers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama next week. Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension …
Research Update: Strawberry Variety Options for Alabama Growers
By Clint Thompson Alabama Extension strawberry research trials yielded two viable variety options for growers when compared to Camarosa, the market standard. Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the department of horticulture at Auburn University, led the research, evaluating five different varieties at the Chilton Regional Research and Extension Center. “The objective of this study was to …
USDA to Issue First Pecan Forecast for ’22 Crop
ATHENS, GA – During the last week of September, pecan growers will receive a survey from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Information generated from this survey will be used to forecast pecan production for 2022. “The pecan industry is an important part of U.S. agriculture, especially in southern states and it is crucial for us …
US Drought Monitor: Minimal Dry Conditions Across Southeast
Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor showed minimal drought conditions throughout the Southeast, especially in Georgia and Alabama. Georgia has sufficient moisture with no dry conditions. Alabama’s abnormally dry conditions were restricted to the northwest part of the state including Lauderdale, Colbert, Limestone, Madison, Franklin, Lawrence and Winston counties. Florida’s abnormally dry conditions are isolated to the southeastern part …
Alabama Extension to Host Strawberry Production Meeting
Alabama Extension will hold a strawberry production meeting on Nov. 10 in Jemison, Alabama, beginning at 11 a.m. EST. The meeting will highlight various issues pertinent to strawberry production. Topics include weed management, soil fumigation, disease management, variety selection and budget development. It is a free event and is tailored towards experienced growers as well as beginning farmers. A catered …
Alabama Peach Crop Not as Productive as Could Have Been
By Clint Thompson Alabama’s peach production had similar results to Georgia’s crop. Much of it was impacted by below-freezing temperatures in mid-March. The chilling effect had devastating repercussions for much of the state’s peach varieties, says Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University. “Similar to Georgia, we had a similar outcome …
Rains Spark Disease Fears for Pumpkin Growers in Northeast Alabama
By Clint Thompson Persistent rains in Northeast Alabama have sparked concerns about potential disease pressure among the region’s specialty crop producers, especially those pumpkin farmers. Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama, discussed the impact that potential diseases could have on his area’s pumpkin crop. “That’s one thing we do start to worry about when we start getting rain …
Minimal Dry Conditions in Southeast
Persistent rainfall in early September continues to provide adequate moisture for specialty crop producers planting their fall crops. Georgia is drought free. Alabama has minimal dry conditions in the northwest part of the state. Florida’s abnormally dry conditions are isolated to the southeast area of the state. This is according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Only portions …
Dry Weather Leads to Improved Grape Season
By Clint Thompson There is still a month left of harvest for some grape varieties in the Southeast, but the crop has already shown better results than last year. The better yields are attributed to the dry weather experienced this summer, said University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist Phil Brannen. “I think, overall, it’s a lot better this …