By Clint Thompson Part of Georgia’s strawberry crop suffered some damage during sub-freezing temperatures over the past week. Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties, said the crop that was not covered was most susceptible to temperatures that stayed mostly in the 20s and 30s since Christmas Eve morning. “I …
Cold Temperatures Benefit Peach, Grape Producers
By Clint Thompson Consecutive days and nights of cold temperatures were just what the doctor ordered for peach producers and grape growers in the Southeast. They allowed farmers to obtain much needed chill hours. Grape producers also received help in managing Pierce’s Disease. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist Phil Brannen highlights the benefits that this week’s 20-and …
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 …
Vidalia Onion Plants Progressing Amid Dry Weather
By Clint Thompson The current dry spell is having a minimal impact on the growth of this season’s Vidalia onion crop. All seedbeds are grown under irrigation pivots, according to Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension area onion agent. “All our seedbeds are under irrigation so we can give them the water they need. There is something about rainwater when …
USDA ERS: Peach Production Down 15%
The peach production forecast is down for 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). Production is expected to net 583,500 tons, a 15% decrease from the previous season. California, the top peach producing state, is forecast at 430,000 tons, down 15% from the previous year. Frost events and hail decreased production and quality. The …
Importance of Water for Pecan Growers Amid Current Dry Conditions
By Clint Thompson Hurricane Ian’s path around Georgia spared the state’s pecan producers from potentially devastating wind speeds. But it also failed to bring much needed moisture to a region desperately needing some rainfall. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist, noted in the UGA Pecan Extension Blog that the current dry period could be detrimental to the …
Drought Expanding in Southeast
By Clint Thompson Abnormally dry conditions are expanding across the Southeast, especially in southern Alabama, northern Georgia and Florida Panhandle, according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Alabama’s dry conditions range from abnormally dry to moderately dry and are largely concentrated to the southern half of the state, especially in southeast Alabama in counties like Covington, Geneva, Butler, …
Georgia Pecan Growers Association Executive Director: India Market Would be Game Changer
By Clint Thompson The U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) assurance of a “positive outcome” regarding international market access for Georgia’s pecan growers was an encouraging first step for Samantha McLeod. The executive director of the Georgia Pecan Growers Association discussed USTR’s Katharine Tai’s response to Senator Raphael Warnock’s bipartisan letter urging assistance to negotiate with the Indian government for lower tariff …
ERS Report: H-2A Certified Jobs Numbered 275,000 in 2020
Fears of H-2A labor shortages during the onset of COVID-19 were unfounded with no widespread reports of shortages. This is according to a recent study administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). There were, however, reports of lower earnings for farm workers due to fewer hours being offered as a result of reduced demand for …
Sneak Peek: October 2022 Specialty Crop Industry Magazine
The October issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine focuses on strawberries, one of the top fruits produced in the Southeast. Jeff Cook and Garrett Hibbs, county Extension coordinators for University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension, along with Phillip Brannen, UGA Extension fruit disease specialist, provide tips for managing different fungal diseases which pose the biggest threat to production, other than …