Blogs and Related Links

Here are some timely updates for growers as we try to continue and finish up planting for the 2024 growing season. Southern Corn Rust was confirmed in Decatur County a couple of days ago, but there is no need for us to panic. Southern corn rust (SCR) is a potentially devastating disease in southeastern corn. […]

Houston County Cooperative Extension is hosting the GrassMaster’s series in March. This is a 7 week series focusing on forage production in Georgia. Topics include: Introduction to Forages, Grazing Management, Hay Production, Forage Quality, Fertilization, Pest Management, Rainfall Simulation, Precision Ag in Forages. If you are interested contact the Houston County Extension office at 478-987-2028. […]

Flint Energies is inviting its agricultural members to its first-ever Agicultural Forum and Breakfast on March 13th, 2024 in Reynolds at the Co-op’s Headquarters. Doors open at 7:30 am for networking, with breakfast beginning at 8 am. Flint employees will cover the Co-op’s Load Management Program as well as Solar and Grant Opportunities. This opportunity […]

Unfortunately, after a year of limited yield, yet minor pest activity, this season is already becoming an interesting one. I have had several reports of thrips causing considerable “silvering” damage (see example below). With the severity and extent of the damage we have seen in certain places, I just wanted to alert everyone to this […]

With the relatively cool spring weather we have been having, the first large peak of San Jose scale crawler activity is delayed this year compared to last year. Crawlers have already been observed this season and with the consistently warmer weather we have been having, the SJS development will speed up, so I anticipate the […]

These above 50°F weather makes for a lovely day, but the scale insects enjoy it too, becoming developmentally active above 51°F. That means it is a good time to nip these guys in the bud. For delayed dormant timing, apply dormant horticultural oil at a rate of 1.5% oil to water. It is recommended to apply […]

I was seeing water split on Pawnee over the weekend, which is a sign they will soon be at shell hardening. I suspect that will occur possibly by the end of next week. This means we are looking at probably one more fungicide spray on Pawnee to get them through. Most other varieties will need […]

Since late May, I’ve seen a number of trees between the ages of 2nd and 4th leaf suddenly crash. The leaves remain on the tree after turning completely brown. All of this is during the dry and hot spell. It is essentially as if something is clogging the vascular system in which the leaves starve […]

Last week, the Tri-State Meeting estimated the current Georgia crop at 130 million lbs. I don’t know if that is wrong or right. It is nearly impossible to put a number on Georgia’s crop because the calibration of its size is in such a state of flux. We have acres of trees coming into and […]

An updated Southern Regional Strawberry Production Guide has been provided by Mark Hoffman (NC State) and several other authors and editors. This is a good reference for strawberry production, and it can be found at the link below. A PDF will also be developed and should be available soon. This is a good reference for […]

Many strawberry sites are now suffering substantial plant mortality as the season progresses.  Losses are not uniform, and some sites look pretty good. But unfortunately, many do not.  If diseases continue to increase, this may be one of our worst production years ever.  However, I hope that producers can still pull out some profits. From […]

In south Georgia growers have started picking and in middle Georgia ripe berries will be here soon. Growers need to be on the lookout for a few different insect pests as they walk their fields. So far this season, I have not heard of too many growers with spider mite problems. Early-season detection of mites […]