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  • Making Sense of Biologicals: Biologicals Meet Grower Needs

    Sponsored Content

    The use of biological crop protection products or “biologicals” in vegetable and specialty crops is not a new idea, just one that is increasing in popularity.

    The name sells itself. Biologicals represent a group of products derived from living organisms. Growers utilize environmentally friendly biologicals in combination with appropriate chemical applications to provide added protection against pests, diseases and weeds.

    THE OLD WITH THE NEW
    “These products have been around for a long time, before the chemical age, if you will. This is how farmers farmed,” says Dean Craine, ag market business development manager with Douglas Plant Health. “This is how growers grew crops and learned how to do it well, whether with manures or compost or whatever resource they had that they turned into something useful. We call it our grandfathers’ way of farming.”

    Craine says teaming today’s technology — including precision agriculture, NDVI photography and satellite imagery — with these old and very safe biologicals makes for a successful combination. “It’s where we need to head,” he says.

    GROWER CHALLENGES
    The agricultural biological market has increased in importance due to various reasons. The world’s population continues to skyrocket. There are approximately 7.8 billion people in the world, up from 6.1 billion in 2000. A growing world population means more mouths to feed and increased dependence on farmers to be more innovative in trying to meet demand.

    Sustainability is always an issue of importance as growers in the Southeast contend with pests, diseases, decreased market prices and imports from Mexico.

    GETTING IT RIGHT
    Biologicals help meet those needs, but they need to be the right situation for the right farmer in the right region. Due to an overabundance of supplies being offered, growers need to be aware of what product is right for their farming operation.

    “There have been many solutions that don’t stand up over time. They all probably worked somewhere once, but when you run across products said to work everywhere, obviously, you need to be skeptical,” Craine advises. “Look for products with a track record, some history, some data and sound science. This must be the way the grower comes at it. As a grower, it can be very frustrating to sort through all the noise.”

    PAIRING PRODUCTS
    Industry experts classify biologicals into three categories: Biostimulants (liquid manure compost and seaweed extracts, for example), biopesticides (including Bacillus thuringiensis and mineral oil) and biofertility products (such as Rhizobium and Azotobacter bacteria).

    When biofertility products get established in the soil, they can increase nutrient availability. Some of these products are synergistic, which allows for greater success when used in combination with each other.

    “Those biofertilizers require the right biostimulants with them,” Craine says. “We generally define biostimulants as carbon products that feed biofertilizers and biopesticides. Biopesticides are products that have been studied carefully and can specifically target pests, whether they are diseases, insects or weeds. A lot of new work is pairing the right biostimulant with the right biofertilizer or biopesticide. This increases the biofertilizer or biopesticide’s adaptability and gives it a better shot at establishing in the soil or on a plant to do what it’s good at.

    “If we’re going to replace some of the harsher chemistries, that’s how it’s going to be done, by pairing the right products to maximize their effectiveness.”

  • Virtual Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference Underway

    This week’s conference is being held virtually.

    The 2021 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference is underway. The conference, which is normally held in January in Savannah, is being held virtually this year due to COVID-19 concerns. The three-day event will be held through Thursday, Jan. 7.

    For more information, or to register for the event, click here.

  • Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates

    Clemson Extension agents provide updates in the The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state.

    Weekly Field Update-1/4/21

    Posted on by Justin Ballew

    Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a great holiday season and is off to a good start in 2021. We have several virtual grower meetings coming up over the next two months, so keep an eye on the “Upcoming Events” page for info. Also, don’t forget the Southeastern Regional Fruit and Vegetable conference kicks off virtually this week and it’s not too late to register.

    Coastal

    Rob Last reports, “Firstly, I would like to wish everyone a happy ,and successful 2021. Crops in the area have slowed down with the cooler weather, and we are seeing a reduction in caterpillar activity. Strawberries look good, however, it would be advisable in advanced crops to remove any flowers to reduce the botrytis pressure later in the season. Winter vegetables are looking very good with low levels of Alternaria leaf spot in some crops. If in doubt scout.

    Zack Snipes reports, “One of my New Year’s Resolutions this year is to be more proactive rather than reactive. I would like to extend that mentality to my field work as well. This year I really want to help growers nip problems in the bud before they become problems. Weekly calls, texts, check-ups, and regular visits can help both of us achieve our goals. Give me a shout in 2021.”

    Let’s work together before this happens. Photo from Zack Snipes.

    Midlands

    Justin Ballew reports, “We’ve had a lot of rain to start off the new year. A day or so after Christmas we saw temperatures down in the low 20’s and ended up with some cold damage on greens. They should grow out of it just fine. Strawberries are coming along. We are seeing spider mites build up in places, requiring treatment. Keep scouting regularly, even though it’s cool outside. Let me know if you need a second pair of eyes. On another note, I noticed daffodils starting to come up in my yard a few days before Christmas. Can’t ever remember seeing them emerge that early.”

    Cold damage on mustard greens from the recent dip into the low 20s. Photo from Justin Ballew.
    The view of spider mites on the underside of strawberry leaf through a 10X hand lens. Photo from Justin Ballew.

    Sarah Scott reports, “Field preparation for new peach tree plantings is underway along the Ridge. Some growers are using a plow to make berms to plant trees on to aid in disease management issues such as armillaria root rot. Lots of rain in the past week has made for muddy conditions.”

    Freshly plowed peach field with berms for planting. Photo from Sarah Scott.

    Pee Dee

    Tony Melton reports, “Very few greens undamaged after the cold if they weren’t either covered or protected in some way. Strawberries are doing well. I hope there is not, and I have not seen any cold damage of the crowns in the Pee Dee. I had one account where coyotes were biting through the row-covers to eat ripe strawberries.”

  • UGA Researching Organic Onion Fertilizers

    Organic onion production in Georgia is nothing new. But the data is lacking for farmers who are trying to expand and be more efficient in their operations.

    That is why Tim Coolong, associate professor in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is studying organic onion production.

    “Onions have been grown conventionally for decades. That system, I feel like we’ve got it down pretty well, although, we still have issues,” Coolong said.

    “Organic onions have also been grown for a little while, but the body of knowledge is so much less. Growers are constantly trying new things. As researchers, we’re trying new things. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. But it’s just trying to build that body of knowledge to draw upon.”

    Fertilizer Applications

    That knowledge consists of fertilizer applications, which are essential in the development of onions throughout the growing season. Growers who utilize organic fertilizer sources, typically use poultry-litter based. But farmers must apply high levels of organic fertilizer prior to planting to ensure onions have adequate fertilizer levels when they start putting on growth in mid-winter.

    Unlike conventional soluble fertilizers, many organic sources continue a slow and steady release of nitrogen throughout the growing season, even later in the year when growers often try to reduce available nitrogen prior to harvest. 

    “We’re looking at standard poultry litter, which is used a lot less now than it used to be. Then we’re going to be looking at other organic fertilizers that, based on information from folks up here, they found that they have very different release rates,” Coolong said. “With the conventional fertilizer, if you put it out, it’s there. It’s readily available. But with some of these organics, they may take several weeks to release, they may take longer. What we’re hoping to do is evaluate some of these so that our onion growers can be able to time their fertilizer applications better.”

    Unfortunately, higher nitrogen levels near harvest may predispose some onions to bacterial diseases if the weather is warm, which is not uncommon in southeast Georgia.

    “We’ve done some preliminary work, so we’ve got a little bit of data. We’re hoping to really dial it in this year,” Coolong said.

  • Beware of Fungicide Resistance When Managing Downy Mildew Disease

    File photo shows downy mildew disease on a cucurbit plant.

    Fungicide resistance remains a concern for Florida vegetable farmers trying to manage downy mildew disease.

    Scientists like Gary Vallad, a Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Florida/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, implore producers not to be too reliant on one specific fungicide. It can lead to resistance issues.

    “Orondis is one that is kind of the industry standard. It’s probably the most effective product available. But it also is in that category of being high risk for resistance,” Vallad said.

    “What we’re trying to do here is show growers there are a number of other products that are very effective and would be very good to rotate them in with your Orondis program. What we want to do is make sure the industry is not just relying on Orondis that they are utilizing these other tools they have in the toolbox as well.”

    Consequences of Misdiagnosis

    Vallad also cautions growers about the consequences of misdiagnosing downy mildew.

    “The symptoms can vary based on the cucurbit host itself. Symptoms on cucumber are very classic, but if you get some of the other cucurbit species, the symptoms can vary. A great example is there were some watermelon samples that came in the lab where folks thought it was gummy stem blight and it actually was downy mildew,” Vallad added.

    “If you’re not careful, you can misdiagnose. The bad thing is, a lot of things we use for gummy stem blight, fungicides for that management, are not going to work very well on downy mildew, and vice versa. Like all diseases, getting a proper diagnosis is very critical to properly managing it.”

    Downy Mildew Background

    Downy mildew disease can destroy plant foliage and cause the leaves to curl and die. Without healthy leaves and vines, a plant is vulnerable to blisters and sunscald during hot days. The pathogen thrives in wet, humid conditions and needs moisture on the surface of the plant for successful spore germination and further infection.

    “It is an extremely aggressive pathogen, especially under the growing conditions in Florida. A big reason why we have so many big issues here in Florida is because of our environmental conditions. Most of our varieties don’t have any type of resistance to it, which means we’re highly reliant on fungicides for management,” Vallad said.

    “We’re sub-tropical so we always have warm weather. Our relative humidity is really high. Of course, it’s Florida so we get lots of rainfall as well. These are very ideal conditions for this fungus.”

    The disease is favored by a temperature range of between 41 degrees F and 86 degrees F; relative humidity greater than 90%; period of near-saturated relative humidity for sporangia formation, which includes heavy morning dew, foggy mornings and rain. Spores are easily dispersed by wind and rain.

  • Natural Habitat for Birds, Safe Produce Co-exist?

    File photo shows a vegetable field.

    With an interest in wildlife while possessing an expertise in food safety, Kristin Woods is concerned about risks bird populations have on fruit and vegetable production in the Southeast.

    “It is possible to do both, have safe produce and maintain habitat for birds and other wildlife. But it really is an area we need more research in to know how to do that safely,” said Woods, Alabama Regional Extension agent, who specializes in food safety.

    Does clearing habitat around produce fields put vegetable and specialty crops more at risks of birds potentially carrying deadly pathogens? On the other hand, if the natural habitat is left alone, are crops less at risk to be impacted? Those are questions Woods hopes to answer and will talk about further during the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference on Thursday at 4 p.m.

    “I’m interested in ways that our commercial produce growers can maintain habitat for wildlife, as well as pollinators that they need for their produce without increasing food safety risks. There has been some line of thinking that clearing habitat is safer. Some of the emerging research is indicating that is not the case. When you clear habitat … you shift the species of birds into species that are more likely to carry pathogens,” Woods said.

    “If we can maintain woody areas and habitats around our growing areas, then we attract native species of birds that have lower pathogen prevalence. They’re also species that are less likely to be visiting areas that have livestock. They’re less likely to be carrying things like E. coli and salmonella.”

    IPM Strategy

    Organic producers can also potentially incorporate birds into their integrated pest management (IPM) strategy if a natural habitat is maintained. It’s similar to how insects are used in an IPM system.

  • Chilli Thrips: An Increasing Threat for Blueberry Growers

    Figure 1. Chilli thrips cause leaf bronzing.

    By Oscar Liburd

    Chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis, was first detected in southern highbush blueberries in Florida in Orange, Sumter and Hernando counties during the summer of 2008. It is a major pest of many host plants, including vegetable, ornamental and fruit crops.

    Figure 2. Deformed leaves are the result of chilli thrips feeding.
    FEEDING DAMAGE

    In blueberry, chilli thrips feed on young leaves, causing leaf bronzing (Figure 1) and shoot dieback in late spring to early summer shortly after the bushes are pruned. Some infestation symptoms include the edges around younger leaves and stems are eaten, and bushes become pale green with deformed leaves (Figure 2). During a heavy infestation, blueberry cupped leaves are quite noticeable, with larger leaves curving inward (Figure 3).

    Overall, chilli thrips affect plant vigor and reduce the number of berries the following season.

    IDENTIFICATION AND LIFE STAGES
    Figure 3. Blueberry cupped leaves are a symptom of chilli thrips infestation.

    Chilli thrips are smaller than flower thrips and are approximately 0.04 of an inch long. They have dark fringed wings and dark spots across the back of the abdomen (Figure 4).

    Chilli thrips have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult, including two actively feeding larval instars and two non-feeding pupal instars. Female thripsinsert their eggs into blueberry tissues, and the eggs hatch in about six to eight days. Females are capable of laying between 60 to 200 eggs.

    Newly hatched larvae pass through two larval stages (first instar and second instar). These larval instars last for about six to eight days, during which time they feed on blueberry tissues. They then pass through a prepupal and a pupal stage, during which time they do not feed. Chilli thrips complete their life cycle in 17 to 21 days under ideal conditions.

    In Florida, most of the chilli thrips outbreaks in blueberries were recorded from late May to September on new growth. 

    Figure 4. Adult chilli thrips have fringed wings. Photo by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida
    MANAGEMENT METHODS

    Chemical insecticides including the use of Delegate® (spinetoram), Apta® (tolfenpyrad), Rimon® (novaluron), Assail® (acetamiprid) and Sivanto® (flupyradifurone) are the primary means to manage chilli thrips populations in blueberries.

    Delegate® is effective in controlling larvae and adult chilli thrips. Apta® inhibits feeding of larval and adult thrips. Rimon® affects egg and larval development due to its growth regulator characteristics. Assail® is a neonicotinoid insecticide that can control larvae and adults due to systemic qualities. Sivanto® also controls larval and adult thrips and behaves similarly to neonicotinoids.

    In organic production, Entrust® (spinosad) is the primary insecticide tactic. However, Azera® (pyrethrins + azadirachtin) and PyGanic (pyrethrins) can also be used in organic production.

    Management for chilli thrips includes eliminating host plants, including weeds, that support their growth and development. Beneficial insect predators such as Geocoris spp. and Orius insidiosus feed on thrips and need to be considered when using chemical pesticides.

  • Know What Sanitizers to Use and How to Apply Them

    In the age of COVID-19, sanitizer applications are essential for producers to keep their workforce healthy.

    Laurel Dunn, Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Georgia, offers several guidelines for using sanitizers and other cleaning products in facilities where vegetable and specialty crops are cleaned and packaged.

    Not All Sanitizers are Appropriate

    Dunn

    The first step is to realize not all sanitizers are appropriate for equipment or other areas where produce is being handled.

    “Sanitizers in general are a bit trickier because it depends on where you’re using them. If you’re using them to clean your floors or your bathrooms or things like that, you can use whatever,” Dunn said.

    “If you’re using anything that’ll contact your food contact surfaces; your conveyors, packing equipment and stuff like that, then you have to go through your EPA registrations and make sure you’re using something that’s appropriate and approved for use on the food and is also adequate to inactivate something like the coronavirus.

    “You might be trying to deal with your microbial concerns by using that sanitizer, and in doing so, put a chemical hazard right in your food product.”

    Other Tips

    Another tip to remember is that sanitizers work better on surfaces that are free of dirt. Also, remember that sanitizers need time to work so don’t spray and then wipe off immediately.

    “Another thing we see a lot too, and I’m guilty in my own house, is using a sanitizer and spraying it on dirt, which, that doesn’t do a lot of good. You need to have it pretty clean,” Dunn said.

    “Then also spraying a sanitizer and wiping it off immediately. A lot of our sanitizers need like 30 seconds to a couple of minutes to work. You have to make sure you’re using the right thing, but also make sure you’re using it correctly.”

    Dunn said COVID-19 is a “relatively puny virus” compared to others so it will react quickly to the various sanitizers available.

  • S.C. Farmers Can Apply Jan. 1 to Grow Hemp in 2021

    Industrial hemp. Photo taken 06-12-19.

    COLUMBIA — The South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) will accept applications for hemp farming permits for the 2021 growing season from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28, 2021.

    The state’s Hemp Farming Program has grown from 20 farmers in 2018 to 265 farmers in 2020 – and each year, the program has changed as state and federal laws changed. When the federal government approved South Carolina’s State Hemp Plan in April 2020, the program entered a new period of regulatory stability, one that SCDA expects to continue in 2021. The agency now has six full-time staffers devoted to hemp regulation.

    Requirements to receive a hemp farming permit include:

    • Proof of South Carolina residency
    • Criminal background check (A new check is required each permit year.)
    • FSA (Farm Service Agency) farm number
    • $100 nonrefundable application fee and $1,000 permit fee
    • GPS coordinates of all locations on which hemp will be grown
    • Submitting application and all required materials by the February 28, 2021 deadline
    • Attending an SCDA orientation and signing a Hemp Farming Agreement before possessing any hemp, including clones and seeds

    Online Portal

    All farmers must apply through SCDA’s online portal at agriculture.sc.gov/hemp. There are no paper or printable applications. Because it may take several weeks for farmers to obtain FSA farm numbers and background checks, applicants should review requirements and begin the process as soon as possible.

    Permits are only good for the current year, so 2020 permit holders who wish to farm in 2021 must apply for a new permit. SCDA will not award a 2020 farmer a 2021 permit unless he or she has reported his or her 2020 hemp acreage to the FSA by the 2021 application deadline.

    For information about the South Carolina Hemp Farming Program, visit agriculture.sc.gov/hemp or email hempstaff@scda.sc.gov.

    SCDA is tasked with regulating hemp farming. At present, our agency cannot provide training, information or grants for growing or processing hemp. Those with questions about hemp farming practices should contact their Clemson Cooperative Extension agent.

  • Deadline Looming for Financial Assistance from Zeta

    National Weather Service graphic shows Zeta’s path through Alabama.

    The deadline is less than two weeks away for Alabama vegetable and specialty crop farmers seeking financial assistance from Hurricane Zeta.

    Producers who suffered losses related to Hurricane Zeta have until Jan. 15 to submit an application to the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation for assistance from a Hurricane Relief Fund.

    According to the alfafarmers.org, the relief fund is designed to help offset farmer losses not covered by a farmowner policy, crop insurance or disaster relief programs. An independent committee will evaluate the applications based on need and award grants in February.

    The application for Hurricane Zeta assistance and a link for contributions to the fund are available at AlabamaFarmersFoundation.org.

    Hurricane Zeta made landfall in Louisiana as a strong Category 2 storm on Oct. 28 and maintained tropical storm winds as it raced across Alabama. 

    According to the southeastagnet.com, the USDA designated 13 Alabama counties as primary disaster areas, due to damage and losses caused by Zeta that occurred from Oct. 28 to Oct. 29.  

    A similar Hurricane Relief Fund was extended to victims of Hurricane Sally earlier this year, and applications are now being extended to victims of a second major storm.