Crops
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This week farmers and extension agents were hard at work across Georgia and other Southeastern states assessing the damage from the frost on Sunday, March 13. Here is a brief summary of the comments I have received from my colleagues and friends on what they have seen. Keep in mind that some frost damage, particularly…
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The recent snow and rain that fell on Texas provided needed rain for the drought-stricken farmers and ranchers there, although it also caused problems with power outages and road closures. But the drought in Texas is so bad that it may only provide limited relief going into the next growing season. You can read more…
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It may not feel like it this weekend, but spring planting is not that far away. Ethan Carter of UF-IFAS writes that corn is one of the earliest crops planted, and notes that three consecutive days with morning soil temperature of 55° at a two-inch depth is preferential for optimum germination. Much of Florida and…
Posted in: Crops -
The strong winds that blew through Georgia earlier in January caused a lot of bruising on Vidalia onion plants. If it happened late in the season, it could cause big impacts on the maturing onions, but grower say that since it is quite early in the season, damage will be limited and the onions should…
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The recent dry weather has not been all bad. Clint Thompson of Vegetable and Specialty Crop News reports that onion planters in Georgia are ahead of usual in getting their onion sets in the ground due to the dry and sunny conditions. Usually, they start around November 1 and end around Christmas, but this year,…
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The incredible rainfall that they have had in the Pacific Northwest has cut off parts of British Columbia, leaving dairy farms having to deal with lack of transportation for milk and supplies. Many animals also had to be rescued from the flood water, leaving farmers exhausted. The floods have also stopped the transportation of wheat…
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Farmers know that climate variability can affect their crop yields and health from one year to the next. Long-term changes in climate are also expected to affect crops by changing the length of the growing season, changing the temperature and precipitation their fields receive, and potentially changing the amount of sunlight that gets to the…