By Ashley N Biles for CAES News Industry professionals, homeowners and researchers will soon get a firsthand look at new irrigation technologies in action at a demonstration irrigation site being constructed on the University of Georgia’s Griffin campus. On March 28, workers broke ground on the project, which is a collaboration between the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture, UGA Cooperative …
Potential Solution for Grape Root Borers?
By Clint Thompson There could be another tool in the toolbox for producers in the management of grape root borers. Brett Blaauw, assistant professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has one year of research in studying entomopathogenic nematodes. He discussed the positive impact the nematodes had on the grape pests. “At least the …
Ambrosia Beetle Management Key for Young Pecan Trees
By Clint Thompson University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells reminds producers about the susceptibility that young trees have to ambrosia beetle damage. “This is the time that they’re out, with the warm weather that we’ve had. They’re out flying. We’ve had reports of some out and hitting trees already. It’s not surprising,” Wells said. “This is when they …
Grape Producers Looking for Rain, Just Not as Much as 2021
By Clint Thompson Grape producers need some rain. They just don’t need a repeat of last season, said University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Fruit Disease Specialist Phil Brannen. “As far as grape production, (last year) was very difficult,” Brannen said. “It’d be a lot nicer for us again this year, we don’t necessarily need a completely dry year because I …
Blueberry Production: Protect Against Root Rot Disease
By Clint Thompson Blueberry growers who utilized overhead freeze protection to protect their crop from the freeze event during the weekend of March 12, need to guard against the development of root rot disease. Growers used overhead irrigation to protect against sub-freezing temperatures. In doing so, however, a large amount of water was utilized, resulting in saturated root zones. This …
Disease Management Vital for Blueberry Producers Following Freeze
By Clint Thompson A dire situation could get worse for blueberry growers impacted by the freeze event during the weekend of March 12. The crop is susceptible to potential disease pathogens that require immediate action, says Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. “The blueberries were at green fruit stage for the highbush. If they …
Neglecting Weeds Can Lead to Late-Season Disease in Organic Onions
By Bhabesh Dutta, Timothy Grey and Jason Schmidt Georgia is known for many crops, and onion is one of the major vegetables produced. Organic onions are a developing commodity in the Vidalia region, but growers experience multiple pest and pathogen challenges. A multidisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Georgia (UGA) is working to improve sustainable, high-quality organic Vidalia …
Machine Harvest Development Key to Sustainability of Specialty Crops
By Clint Thompson Machine harvesters are a key to Southeast farming operations remaining sustainable for the foreseeable future. More research funding is needed so scientists like Changying (Charlie) Li, professor in the University of Georgia School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, can develop advancements for specialty crop producers. “Imagine if we don’t need any labor, just deploy the robots and …
Georgia Economist: Farmers Will Get Through This
By Clint Thompson The great author Charles Dickens once wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” in his famous novel, A Tale of Two Cities. The current state of affairs can best be described as challenging times for Georgia’s specialty crop producers. Consider how input costs have skyrocketed since last spring; how labor availability …
‘Smart’ Greenhouses Could Cut Power Expenses
An internet-connected lighting system for greenhouses could reduce a farmer’s power bill, according to University of Georgia research. The study showed that a predictive lighting control system could optimize lighting for plants by predicting sunlight and only utilizing lights when necessary. Farmers could reduce their greenhouse electrical costs by as much as 33% by optimizing their lights. Plants are given …