AgNet DEMO

Category: Alabama

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • Planting and Pruning Ornamental Plants

    Alabama Extension photo

    According to Alabama Extension, colder temperatures means that it is time to begin planting and pruning certain ornamental plants. These plants, grown primarily for their aesthetic value, benefit greatly from selective cutting. Pruning keeps the plants in shape and growing successfully. Also known as trimming, pruning is a necessary strategy for gardeners and landscapers alike.

    Planting Ornamentals

    Different times of year are optimal for planting different ornamentals. Paying attention to which plants grow best in colder months is crucial. Note that these do not include semi-hardy and marginal plants that benefit from spring planting.

    “Know the plants you are working with to avoid mistakes,” said Hayes Jackson, an Alabama Extension home grounds, gardens and home pests urban regional agent.

    The ideal soil for most plants is rich, well-drained garden loam. When planting, it is important to keep in mind not to dig the hole too deep. Taper the planting hole with a wider opening and a large enough bottom to hold the entire root system. Adding a ring of soil around the edge of the plant can help hold moisture when the area is filling with water.

    “Planting the right plant in the right place is crucial to avoid unnecessary pruning or maintenance issues,” Jackson said.

    Pruning Ornamentals

    According to Jackson, pruning ornamentals creates better plant shape, discourages diseases and increases fruiting and flowering. During the pruning process, cutting or trimming overgrown stems or branches is key for optimal plant growth. The time of year to prune is specific to each plant, so researching the proper pruning time for each plant is crucial.

    “Some plants need to be pruned after flowering to avoid removing flower buds, such as hydrangeas and azaleas,” Jackson said.

    Gardeners and landscapers alike often use a variety of tools for pruning, including hedge shears, floral scissors, hand pruners and pruning saws.

    “A proper pruning cut utilizes proper pruning methods and proper tools,” Jackson said. “Proper methods and tools are important because any new growth stimulated by the pruning will develop close to where the cut is made.”

    More Information

    More information is available in the Alabama Extension content piece Pruning Ornamental Trees. For further information on planting and pruning ornamental plants, visit the Lawn and Garden section of the Alabama Extension website www.aces.edu. People can also contact the home grounds, gardens and home pests regional agent serving their area.

  • Chilly December Aiding Southeast Fruit Farmers

    Knox

    A chilly December should have alleviated some concerns of Southeast fruit farmers worried about chill hours in a La Nina winter, according to Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist.

    “If you look at the plot of chill hours over this year, November was quite warm. I think they were running way below normal in the number of chill hours. That was a real concern for the fruit farmers,” Knox said. “But with the cold outbreaks we’ve had in December and the one we saw (over Christmas), that’s really going to bring up the chill hours. I’m sure the fruit farmers are going to be happy. You always wonder about that in a La Nina year.”

    Previous Concerns

    It was a concern for Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University. He was worried about peach producers lagging in chill hours as he projected they only had about 172 in mid-December. But with cold outbreaks, the most recent of which came last week over the Christmas holidays, it should have increased those chill hours needed to produce a crop.  

    Knox said that while a La Nina weather pattern is characterized by warmer temperatures and drier conditions, cold outbreaks are not uncommon.

    “The thing about La Nina is, even though the winter as a whole may be warmer than normal, we’re still going to get these cold outbreaks. This definitely is not the kind of weather we expect in a La Nina, but it goes up and down a lot in the winter,” Knox said.

    “Every La Nina is different, too. Even though statistically we expect it to be warmer and drier than usual, there still are outliers. It’s possible we could have a colder winter than usual, even in a La Nina, although it would be unlikely.

    “It’s winter, we expect some cold weather. It’s not surprising that we should have this cold outbreak. The weather depends on what’s going on in other parts of the world. It’s not just La Nina, it’s what is going on in the Arctic and what’s going on in the oceans. It’s part of a big puzzle and we have to try to put that together. A La Nina is certainly one factor but it’s not the only factor.”

  • Drip Irrigation Efficient Means to Deliver Water to Plants

    File photo shows drip irrigation in a tomato field.

    Drip irrigation vs. overhead irrigation? That truly is the question for vegetable and specialty crop producers in Alabama who are poised to produce a crop in 2021.

    Eric Schavey, Regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama, advises producers to choose drip irrigation. It is more efficient in delivering water to the plant roots.

    “As far as a production standpoint, the drip irrigation is more efficient. You’re actually putting the water where it needs to be,” Schavey said. “Drip irrigation puts it there at the plant where it can go into the ground where the roots can take it up. You don’t get any of that splash from an overhead droplet like you get during a rain. If we have any fungus or anything that is on our soil surface and it splashes up, it gets on the lower leaves, especially tomatoes.

    “When you’re looking at early blight (disease), it’s naturally in our soil. When we get rainfall or overhead irrigation it splashes up and starts on the bottom leaves first and moves its way up the plant.”

    Water Lost Using Overhead Irrigation

    There is also a misconception that if farmers are using overhead irrigation, all of that water is getting to to the plants. However, much of that water evaporates before hitting the soil.

    “Depending on how our weather has been, you take a July day here in Alabama, 90 degrees and you go to water and that air is dry with overhead, you’re probably losing 40% of it, at least,” Schavey said. “And it’s not on target. I know water is cheap. In Alabama, we have an abundance of water, but we’re two weeks away from a drought at any time.”

    Why is Drip Irrigation so Efficient?

    Sub-surface drip irrigation is primarily used for vegetable production. Most commercial farmers grow vegetables on a plastic covering that lies above the drip irrigation system. The water is applied directly to the plants’ roots. It is thereby more efficient.

    “Once it starts dripping, that emitter or that drip tape is dripping it out right on that soil surface, then it actually fans out in a ‘V’ in that soil column. It’s really narrow to the plant at first and then widens out,” Schavey said. “It’s good, because you want those roots going deeper. If you’ve got a triangle and it’s inverted down in the ground, those roots that ran left and right, they’re going to run down to that water and you’re going to have a deeper root system.”

  • Risks Come With Hemp Production

    File photo shows industrial hemp.

    Risks come with any crop farmers attempt to produce in the Southeast. Between diseases, pests, input costs, unpredictable weather and instability in the marketplace, producing a crop and making a profit is not a guarantee.

    Hemp production is no different. Producers need to do the appropriate research before planting their crop next spring. This is especially important since hemp is a newer crop that is trying to find its footing.

    Adam Rabinowitz, Assistant Professor and Extension Economist at Auburn University, implores interested producers to do their homework. They need to know who they are contracting with before seeds are planted.

    “It is important that if you are going to get involved in hemp production that you not just understand the production risks involved, how difficult it is to grow and the labor needed to grow in this region but make sure that you’re contracting with a reputable company for the inputs,” Rabinowitz said.

    “Whether it be for your seed or your transplants but also for your finished product, most of that product in this area is going to CBD oil; for that oil production, you need to have a reputable company. We know where there have been contracts where even though a contract existed, processors have gone out of business or just didn’t honor it. That is a concern making sure you know who you’re dealing with.”

    Applications for new Georgia Hemp Grower Licenses and Hemp Processor Permits will be accepted beginning in January, 2021. Hemp applications and registrations are closed for Alabama.

  • Heavy Rainfall Expected in South and East

    NOAA graphic shows rainfall for Southeast on Thursday.

    Heavy rainfall is expected in the southern and eastern parts of the country on Christmas Eve. Stephanie Ho has the report with USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.

  • Foundation Applications Open for Hurricane Zeta Assistance

    According to the Alabama Farmers Federation website, the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation (AFAF) is accepting applications through Jan. 15 from farmers who suffered losses related to Hurricane Zeta. 

    The Hurricane Relief Fund was established in response to calls from farmers and businesses who wanted to help their neighbors. It was utilized earlier this year for Hurricane Sally after it made landfall on Sept. 16.

    Applications are now being extended to victims of a second major storm. 

    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.

    Hurricane Zeta struck near harvest time, devastating cotton and other crops. It also uprooted trees on a swath from southwest Alabama to the northeast part of the state. Farmers are still clearing debris and rebuilding fences damaged by the storm.

    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. 

  • Plan Now to Keep Workers Safe During Next Harvest Season

    Growers take steps to protect farmworkers’ health so they can continue to ensure an abundant, safe food supply is available to U.S. consumers. Image source: The Pajaronian

    It is likely the coronavirus pandemic will be a threat for most of the country next year, even as vaccines have begun to be administered. Vegetable and specialty crop producers are encouraged to be prepared when planning for next season’s harvest, specifically for how to keep their H-2A workers healthy.

    Allison Crittenden, Director of Congressional Relations at the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the time is now to make those preparations.

    “I think now that employers and farmers realize what steps they need to be taking to provide a safe workplace that hopefully mitigates the spread of the COVID. It’s the last thing anybody wants is an outbreak on their operation. I think if I were a grower going into my next season I would certainly be trying to stock up on masks and sanitizer; taking this time in the offseason to come up with a plan,” Crittenden said.

    Knowing What to Expect

    Farmers at least now know what to expect. It is a much different feeling than last spring when producers had to adjust on the go to keep their workforce healthy.

    “I think when we all first heard about the pandemic, we thought this might be a short-term thing, but I think what we’ve learned is that it’s very long-term and likely will have long-term impacts on how businesses operate moving forward,” Crittenden said.

    “I think I would take this time to learn from last season and the quick adaptations that growers had to put in place and use this time to plan accordingly, knowing that we’re still not out of the woods.”