AgNet DEMO

Author: Clint

  • Less Efficacy: UGA Onion Trials Show Reduced Impact on Botrytis Leaf Blight

    Photo by Chris Tyson/UGA: Here is a large botrytis leaf blight lesion that has sporulated and the “cloudy halo” appears around the initial spot on the leaf. The development of these symptoms increases during periods when leaves stay wet for several hours at a time.

    University of Georgia research trials show that two fungicides may be losing their efficacy in the control of Botrytis Leaf Blight of Vidalia onions.

    Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension Area Onion Agent at the Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia, informed onion producers and industry leaders during a webinar last week that Scala and Luna Tranquility have shown reduced efficacy in controlling Botrytis, a disease onion producers contend with every year.

    “Most of this information has not changed but (Bhabesh Dutta) did stress and wanted me to mention to you about Scala and Luna. Within the last year or so, he says they have started to slip a little bit in how well they worked for Botrytis,” Tyson said. “Don’t misunderstand us. He’s not saying not to use these products. But we just want to make you aware we may take them off this list. We may rearrange them in the future to reflect that. They’re still good products. We still want you to use them.”

    Disease Symptoms

    Botrytis Leaf Blight infects onion foliage. Initial symptoms include white, necrotic spots surrounded by pale halos. Leaves with severe symptoms may lead to reduced bulb size.

    The most updated list of effective fungicides includes Omega 500 and Miravis Prime, both of which provide high-to-moderate control. Scala provides high-to-moderate control as well, and Luna provides moderate control. But if the trend continues, UGA may adjust their recommendations to reflect the diminished efficacy of those two options.

    “Keep in mind the only change in Botrytis control from last year is that those (two treatments) haven’t looked quite as good. They’re still providing control, just not at the level we thought they might be,” Tyson said.

    Omega 500 is a valuable option since it controls Downy Mildew as well.

  • Snowball Effect: Wet Weather Could Impact Fall Plantings

    Weather forecasts call for sunshine every day but Monday this week in South Georgia. It’s not a moment too soon for vegetable farmers itching to get in the field.

    Picture by Chris Tyson/UGA: Shows an onion field flooded.

    Unfortunately, the excessive winter rains have delayed work for producers. It could have a snowball effect heading into next fall, says Sam Watson, managing partner of Chill C Farms in Colquitt County, Georgia.

    “We’re still not through planting cabbage, so we’re going to kind of have a mess there with that. We’re behind on planting cabbage,” said Watson, who hopes to plant the rest of his cabbage during the middle of this week. There are still plants in the greenhouse that should have been planted Feb. 1.

    “Of course, we haven’t laid any plastic yet. We usually start planting about the second week in March. We’ve got a lot of decisions to make when we get to the point where we can lay plastic.”

    Key Decision Forthcoming

    Watson and other producers face a key decision moving forward. Normally a fumigant like Telone is applied before plastic is laid. The fumigant is trapped under the plastic, and farmers normally wait three to four weeks before planting.

    However, that may not be ideal with growers who want to stick to their planting schedule – which for Watson is around March 15. If it stays sunny most of this week , it won’t be until next weekend before Watson can start the process. If he utilizes a fumigant at pre-plant, it wouldn’t be until the end of March before plants get put in the ground.

    “Timing is pretty critical because you’ve got certain things that need to happen before you can even put the plant in the ground. Not being able to lay plastic is going to cause a lot of delays,” said Watson who has about 100 acres that need plastic applied. “If you plant two weeks late in March, that means it’s going to come off two weeks late, which means you’ll go two weeks later in July. It just starts snowballing on you. Timing is critical with these vegetables. If you’re late in the summer with your vegetable crop, then you feel like you’ve got to pick it later but then that gets you behind on your fall crop.”

    Telone’s Importance

    Telone provides control of nematodes. If growers bypass applying it in their first vegetable plantings, there are other management options they can use during the growing season, but none are ideal, Watson said. But that may be the route he has to use if he wants to stay on schedule.

    “We need to be harrowing. We’ve got to get everything harrowed and get the dirt ready and then you’ve got to get fertilizer spread and be locked, loaded and ready to go laying plastic,” Watson said. “Of course, everybody’s going to be doing it at the same time, so you’ve got to get your fertilizer man there. There’s going to be more equipment go to running here next weekend and the week after than you can shake a stick at.”

    According to the UGA Weather Network, Moultrie, Georgia received 15.75 inches of rain from Jan. 1 to Feb. 18; compared to 6.51 in 2020 and 6.61 in 2019.

  • Need to Know: Alabama Hemp Production Facts

    hemp program
    File photo of a hemp field.

    Alabama producers who plan to produce hemp in the future need to have a clue about what their production is intended for, says Gail Ellis, hemp program manager at the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI).

    “What I’ve tried to tell everybody that gets in hemp, the more you know about what you want to do in hemp is better known before you put in a license application. A lot of people get in here and just want to grow hemp. They don’t even know if they want to grow for any of the oils or fiber, grain; they have no idea,” Ellis said. “They’re at a disadvantage immediately upon getting their application approved.”

    She said that growers should have already researched a seed source or a plant source, whether they’re from Alabama or out-of-state, before applying for a license.

    “That’s not something that we tell you. We don’t give you a list of seed dealers or plant nursery growers. That’s stuff you guys, unfortunately, have to find out from yourself, other growers or maybe Katelyn (Kesheimer) with the Extension Service; maybe they know of people in those counties that they deal with,” Ellis said. “That’s just information that you guys have to glean yourself.”

    ADAI Approval

    Each grower must also wait until they receive an ADAI approval email for the sources and varieties they intend to purchase.

    “The reason we do this is we first make sure that source is a licensed hemp person in whatever state they’re operating in. They also have to have a seed dealer permit in Alabama if they’re selling seeds,” Ellis said.

    Growers are also required to submit an online seed acquisition form for each source they intend to purchase from. A new source and/or variety requires submission of another form.

  • Defeating Disease: What Can be Done About Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot?

    Photo by Natalia Peres/UF: Shows the effect of Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot on strawberries.

    Neopestalotiopsis Fruit Rot has emerged as a significant disease of Florida strawberry production. Instances have increased over the last three years, to the point this year the disease was discovered in fields that had it the prior season.

    But what can producers do to manage this destructive disease? Natalia Peres, a Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Florida/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, offered a few suggestions during the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Field Day, to growers who are struggling with the disease year after year.

    “Avoid harvesting and moving equipment through the fields when the plants are wet. That’s one of the ways the pathogen can move in the fields. I realize it is much easier to do early in the season when you don’t have a lot of fruit than once we get into the peak, which is coming soon,” Peres said.

    Other Suggestions

    Peres also advises producers to rotate fungicides that are found to be effective during periods of favorable conditions. Farmers also need to start planning strategies for crop inoculum termination and removal.

    “I do suspect that a lot of the inoculum is surviving in the crop residue that we are incorporating in our fields,” Peres said.

    Producers also have a better chance to manage the disease if they start with clean transplants.

    “We do need to continue to work with our nurseries so the ones that don’t have it can stay clean,” Peres said.

    Disease Instances Increasing

    The disease was first discovered during the 2018-19 season in five farms and was attributed to one nursery source in North Carolina. More than 20 farms experienced the disease during the 2019-20 season, and the disease was attributed to two nursery sources early in the season in North Carolina and Canada. More than 20 farms had the disease this year.

    Disease Symptoms

    Neopestalotiopsis causes leaf spots on strawberry plants. It develops quickly and produces spores on the leaves. It can cause severe leaf spotting and fruit rot under favorable weather conditions.

    Unfortunately, it can be hard to detect because of other similar leaf spot diseases that growers must contend with like leaf scorch, leaf blotch and Cercospora leaf spot.

  • National Watermelon Association to Hold Annual Membership Meeting

    Watermelons on display at a farm on the UGA Tifton campus. 6-14-19

    The annual membership meeting of the National Watermelon Association is scheduled to be held via conference call on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 11 a.m. (eastern).

    The agenda will focus solely on the election of officers and executive committee members for 2021.

    Stay tuned to future updates, including the conference call information.

  • Frozen: Peach Producers Have Limited Options Against Late Freeze

    Some things are inevitable every year for Southeast peach producers. That late-season frost event that could damage peach production for the upcoming season unfortunately tops the list.

    Pictured are peach blossoms.

    Even though chill hours are no longer a concern, peach farmers are worried that if temperatures warm up in the next several weeks their crop would be vulnerable to a late freeze.

    “Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens every year to a different extent. How bad it’s going to be is going to depend on two major factors. What exact temperatures we’re going to experience and what is going to be the phenological stage of flower and development at this point of time,” said Elina Coneva, an Extension specialist in the Horticulture Department at Auburn University.

    Management Options

    Producers have limited options if they encounter a late-season freeze. Coneva said the best protection against high wind speeds is to establish barriers. When establishing orchards, try to plant near wooded species like pine trees. These serve as wind breaks against high winds.

    If a freeze event occurs and temperatures are higher during the day and diminish during the evening, heaters can be used. Producers can also utilize wind machines that provide air inversion, taking warm air from higher elevations and pushing it down to the trees.

    Growers can also protect against future frost events by planting orchards near water sources, like a pond or lake. Water retains higher temperatures longer. During such events, it can radiate some of those temperatures, added Coneva.

    “If the trees are dormant, we can expect some damage, if it’s 5 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. But if they’re in the next stage of calyx green or calyx red, temperatures of 21 to 23 degrees Fahrenheit can cause some damage,” she said. “If the trees have already experienced some temperature fluctuation, like cold temperatures followed by warming periods of time and then experiencing some cold again and then warm-up events, this is pre-disposing the trees to advancing their development… we can expect more damage to occur.”

  • Be Prepared: Vidalia Onion Producers Need to be Ready for Downy Mildew Disease

    Visible Sporulation of Downy Mildew on Vidalia Onion Leaf. Photo Credit: Chris Tyson

    It was March 23 in 2020. In the prior season it was Feb. 28. In 2018 it was March 19. All were dates that Downy Mildew disease was initially discovered in Georgia Vidalia onions. If past seasons are any indication, the disease could soon be ripe for a problem for Vidalia onion producers.

    “Downy is always on our minds this time of year and going to the end of the season,” said Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension Area Onion Agent at the Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia. “It can be bad, and I want you to be prepared for it and make sure you’ve got the tools you need to fight it. As growers you know this is a tough disease. Sometimes when the weather conditions are right, sometimes it seems like there’s nothing we can do to stop this.”

    Effective Products?

    The most effective products available for protection are only moderately successful. Omega 500 and Orondis Ultra provide moderate control. Bravo and Zampro provide moderate-to-low efficacy. Growers are encouraged to incorporate Bravo and Phosphites into their spray program now for added protection.

    “We’re recommending that everybody, if they haven’t already, start including products like Bravo and Phosphites … these are good protective products and they’re economical to use. We just need to be putting those in spray program as much as we can,” Tyson said.

    Disease Impact

    According to the UGA Extension Vegetable Blog, Downy Mildew can be a devastating disease to onion producers. It can cause losses in yield and bulb quality. Though the disease does not survive year-round in the Southeast Georgia region where Vidalia onions are produced, it moves into the area from wind currents from warmer areas.

    In a prior VSCNews article, UGA Extension Plant Pathologist Bhabesh Dutta said the disease’s first symptoms occur on older leaves as light green to pale yellow, which turn to tan or brown as the lesion ages. Lesions may girdle the entire leaf. In severe cases, 100% yield losses have been reported.

    “We’re already watching the weather conditions to look for conditions that are favorable for disease development,” Tyson said. “It’s time to be watching out for it. I would urge you to go ahead and consider stocking up on some Omega or Orondis or calling your retailer and seeing if they have some on hand or whatever you need to do.

    “If we find Downy, there’s no time to go around and hunt for chemicals if you need one. Just be ready.”

  • Winter Weather: What to do When Storms Bring Ice, Potential for Damaged Trees Across North Carolina

    RALEIGH – Ice and freezing rain can be common weather events during the winter months. These types of weather events can severely impact trees and forested areas across the state. The N.C. Forest Service urges property owners and anyone preparing for or cleaning up after a storm to be cautious and think safety first.

    Troxler

    “If you’re out preparing trees for a winter storm or cleaning up after one, be extra cautious,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “If you’re a landowner with concerns about your woodlands, you have resources available to help you with a plan for managing damaged trees and timber. Contact your county ranger or a consulting forester.”

    If you are a property owner preparing for a winter storm or cleaning up after one, here are some helpful tips and guidelines:

    Before the Storm

    • Prevention is key. Properly pruned trees with strong branch attachments will hold up better in an ice storm.
    • Prune branches with weak attachments, co-dominant trunks and other defects. Hire a qualified arborist to ensure trees are pruned properly. Look for tree service companies with a certified arborist on staff and/or Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) accreditation.
    • Do not top your tree. Topped trees will quickly regrow new branches which are weakly attached and more likely to break during storms.

    During the Storm

    • Safety first! Stay indoors in a safe place. Your safety is most important.
    • Do not attempt to knock ice or snow from branches. This will likely cause the branch to break, possibly injuring you. Branches are designed to bend and stretch. Quick shocks or instant bends will cause them to break more easily rather than bending slowly.
    • Do not spray water on a tree, attempting to melt ice or snow, as it will likely add more weight to the tree.
    • Do not try to prop up bending or sagging limbs.
    • Do not touch limbs that may be in contact with power lines.

    After the Storm

    • Wait until ice or snow has melted before cleaning up.
    • Cleaning up downed debris presents many safety risks. First, assess safety conditions of your family, home and neighborhood. There may be a debris field, making for poor footing. There may be potentially downed power lines. If electrical wires are an issue, do not attempt tree work. Contact your utility company and let them remove the electrical wires.
    • Only attempt to clean up minor tree debris.
    • Operating a chainsaw on storm-damaged trees is dangerous. Historically, more people are injured by chainsaws than the storm that caused the tree damage. Never operate a chainsaw alone and always use it in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Work only on the ground, and always wear personal protective equipment such as a hard hat, a full-face shield or safety goggles, and hearing protection. Be aware of cutting any branches under tension or pressure.
    • Avoid leaving broken limbs on your tree. All broken or torn parts of the tree should be properly pruned. A proper pruning cut will promote sealing off the wound and reduce further threat of decay or excessive sprouting.
    • Hire an arborist with experience in storm restoration pruning.
    • Consider hiring an arborist with Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) to fully evaluate the condition of your tree(s) after a damaging storm.

    Choose a qualified and insured tree service or consulting arborist. To find qualified arborists in your area, visit www.treesaregood.com, www.asca-consultants.org, or the www.treecareindustry.org.

    For more information and advice on proper tree care and tree assessment following a storm, visit www.ncforestservice.gov/Managing_your_forest/damage_recovery.htm. Additional advice on proper tree care can be found at www.ncforestservice.gov/Urban/Urban_Forestry.htm  or by calling 919-857-4842. To find contact information for your local NCFS county ranger, visit www.ncforestservice.gov/contacts.

  • Sweet Grown Alabama Receives Grant to Increase Locally Grown Grocery Purchases

    MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Sweet Grown Alabama has been awarded a grant to track locally grown products purchased by five grocery store and distribution partners.

    This specialty crop block grant, awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, provides financial incentives to the stores in exchange for local procurement data. Sweet Grown Alabama’s goal is to motivate stores and distributors to boost the amount of locally grown products purchased, which in turn will make Alabama grown products more readily available for consumers. 

    “We are so grateful to local grocery stores and distributors who value Alabama grown products and already support so many of our local farmers,” said Sweet Grown Alabama Director Ellie Watson. “Through this grant program, we hope to make buying local products even easier for our grocery members. We know buying local takes a bit more money and e ffort, but the economic benefit it brings to our state outweighs the challenges.”

    Grant partners include Greer’s Markets in South Alabama with 17 Alabama stores; Piggly Wiggly Birmingham Group with 13 stores; Renfroe’s Markets in Central Alabama with six stores; WM Grocery in East Alabama with four stores; and Mitchell Grocery Corporation in North Alabama with 30 corporate stores and nearly 200 distribution partners.

    “Mitchell Grocery strives to supply the freshest top-quality produce available. We also want to support the families in our communities across the state,” said Robin Hayes of Mitchell Grocery. “We are grateful for the grant program and hope by forming this partnership with Sweet Grown Alabama we can connect with more local farmers. Really what can be fresher than local grown?”

    In addition to data tracking, these stores also joined the Sweet Grown Alabama branding program. Stores are listed in Sweet Grown Alabama’s online searchable database where consumers can find locally grown products. Members also receive the rights to use the Sweet Grown Alabama logo on point-of-sale materials and advertisements.

    To learn more about Sweet Grown Alabama and find locally grown products near you, visit SweetGrownAlabama.org.

  • Agricultural Trade: USDA Updates Outlook

    According to the USDA Economic Research Service, horticultural product exports for fiscal year (FY) 2021 remain the same from November’s forecast at $34.5 billion. Whole and processed tree nuts are unchanged at $9.0 billion. Most exports are bound for Europe and Asia.

    Fresh fruit and vegetables also remain the same at $6.9 billion on stable shipments to top markets like Canada and Mexico. Processed fruits and vegetables are unchanged at $6.5 billion on steady shipments to Canada.

    Imports

    The FY 2021 forecast for horticultural product imports also did not change. It’s still projected at $70.2 billion, which is $3.3 billion more than FY 2020. Fresh and processed fruit import values are unchanged from the November forecast.

    The forecast for fresh vegetable imports remains the same. The $200-million increase to the processed vegetable forecast offsets the $200-million decrease in for the forecast for whole and processed nuts based on a downward trend in nut imports since FY 2019.

    This forecast of increasing horticultural imports through FY 2021 continues a trend of yearly increases since 2009.

    It was also reported that U.S. imports of sugar and tropical products are forecast to reach $23.3 billion in FY 2021, a $100 million upward adjustment from the previous forecast and $300 million above FY 2020.

    Information taken from the USDA Economic Research Service.