Bleckley County Ag

When I talk to young kids about the importance of water, I ask, “how would your lives change if you woke up tomorrow and had no access to water?” Their expression is always a puzzled one. Looking back over this summer, I think to myself, “how could agriculture survive without…
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Corn Corn harvest has started in the county, and there are a lot more fields that are physiologically mature (black layer) that is just waiting to dry down. The yield numbers I have heard have been very good so far. I am hearing a lot of irrigated fields doing better…
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Corn I have looked at corn this week that is almost at black layer and some that was planted in the last couple of weeks. For the older corn, it is important that we continue to water until maturity to ensure we do not lose any yield. David Hall put…
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I have been observing aphids on cotton in the fields and getting a lot of calls as well. Generally, we do not have to spray for them, but there are some exceptions to that rule. I have spoken with Extension Entomologist, Phillip Roberts, about this issue. Here are some things…
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CORN The big news in corn this week is that Southern Corn Rust has shown up in the state. There are several fields in Baker County and a confirmed field in Coffee County. This tells us that the pathogen is spread throughout South Georgia and also conditions continue to be…
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We are in late June now which means our cotton and peanut water demands are increasing rapidly on a weekly basis. Some areas have received rainfall but many others have not. It is very important that we assess and apply water according to our crop needs. If our weather pattern…
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Corn We have a lot of older corn in the county that has put on a nice ear and we’re starting to see a lot of silks turning brown. The rain and cool weather this week has certainly been a relief for all our crops, especially corn. I have been…
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I have received calls this week about weed control options in peanuts, especially dry land peanuts. Some have been concerned that we might add too much stress by applying certain herbicides to an already struggling plant due to the heat and drought. UGA Weed Scientist, Dr. Eric Prostko: 1) Cracking/EPOST…
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The USDA has released the following report about trade assistance. We do not know yet what payment rates will be or how farmers can receive them. More information should be out soon….   (Washington, D.C., May 23, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department…
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Our earliest planted corn in the county is tasseling, and a lot more will reach that point in the next few week. Pollination is a critical period in corn growth and will dictate what kind of crop we will have. Interim grain agronomist, Rome Ethredge, goes into detail here: Boy,…
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