Pre-Harvest Sugarcane Burns Necessary and Safe

Web AdminFlorida, Sugar, Top Posts

The use of pre-harvest burns is necessary for Florida sugarcane farmers and does not endanger the surrounding communities. That is the message members of the U.S. Sugar company are conveying to alleviate any concerns people or special interest groups may have. Pre-harvest burns promote healthy plant regrowth for future crops and improves the quality and efficiency of the harvest. Sugarcane …

Whiteflies Impacting Georgia Blueberries

Web AdminBerries, Georgia, Top Posts

Whiteflies are not just impacting vegetables and cotton this year. According to the University of Georgia Integrated Pest Management blog, whitefly populations are impacting blueberries in Georgia. Since harvest season ended, University of Georgia blueberry entomologist Ash Sial has fielded calls of whitefly infestations in major blueberry-producing counties in Georgia. In the past, UGA blueberry experts have identified heavy infestations …

Producing Pumpkins is Challenging in South Alabama

Web AdminAlabama, pumpkin, Top Posts

Growing pumpkins is popular in South Alabama, but it comes with its challenges. Neil Kelly, Alabama Regional Extension agent, said disease management is a huge concern for any grower interested in producing pumpkins. “The pumpkin crop is a difficult crop to grow in my part of the state. I just throw that out to there to everybody that calls about …

Use Resistant Varieties When Possible to Protect Against Whiteflies

Web AdminDisease, Georgia, Pests, Top Posts, Vegetables

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist Stormy Sparks paints an ominous picture of the potential devastation whiteflies will have on this year’s fall vegetable crop. “We’re probably a month ahead of the last two years. This is going to be challenging fall for whiteflies,” Sparks said. Vegetable producers across the Southeast have either planted or are currently planting their …

Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates

Web AdminSouth Carolina, Top Posts

Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state. Statewide Dr. Matt Cutulle reports, “With all the rain we had in August the weed seed bank is starting to pop. Nutsedge pressure can be really tough in September. For fall cole crop plantings, it is important …

Specialty Crop Producers Urged to Take Another Look at Aid Program

Web AdminCoronavirus, Top Posts

Many specialty crop producers are eligible for aid payments under USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which covers more than 130 types of specialty crops. That was Administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Bruce Summers, who urges specialty crop producers to take another look at CFAP before the Sept. 11 deadline.

Trialing and Developing Blackberries for Florida

Web AdminBerries, Florida, Research, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine

By Zhanao Deng Blackberry has emerged as an alternative crop in Florida. More and more Florida growers are growing or trialing blackberries for commercial production. They have indicated a dire need for suitable blackberry cultivars that can yield well and produce berries of good quality. PAST CULTIVARS AND RESEARCH In the 1950s, University of Florida (UF) released two blackberry cultivars, …

Alabama Pumpkin Growers Be Aware of Downy Mildew Disease

Web AdminAlabama, pumpkin, Top Posts

The hint of fall in the air and the calendar turning to September means pumpkins are growing across Alabama. But producers need to be wary of certain diseases that can be detrimental to the pumpkin growing season, says Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist. “We do have a lot of pumpkins coming in. I was walking around a large patch …

H-2A Process Should Be Smoother Next Season

Web AdminFlorida, Georgia, Top Posts

The H-2A application process had its challenges this spring in getting the farm workers needed from Mexico to Florida and Georgia. Veronica Nigh, economist with American Farm Bureau, believes the process should continue to improve next season amid the coronavirus pandemic, even if a vaccine is not in place. “A good deal of uncertainty was presented both to farmers and …