Fruit
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With all the cold weather in the central part of the country, it is no surprise that agriculture is taking a big hit in addition to all of problems that consumers are experiencing from loss of power, heat, and sometimes water. Here are a few of the stories I have read today. This is an…
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Citrus is one of the new crops that farmers are experimenting with in Georgia. Cold-hardy varieties like satsuma are being planted in warmer parts of the state as a way to take advantage of the warming climate as well as to take advantage of local food markets. One of the issues with growing citrus is…
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While things feel cold to me here, and I even saw a little sleet today, air temperatures are expected to be much colder in Michigan where I grew up in the fruit belt in western Lower Michigan. The split in the polar vortex caused by the Sudden Stratospheric Warming event earlier in January is bringing…
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In another Vegetable and Specialty Crop News story, watermelon producers in South Florida are watching to see how recent cool and windy conditions will affect their newly planted seedlings. Rapid temperature changes and windy conditions can lead to more diseases which can affect the strength of the stems, leading to yield losses. Farmers in South…
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The colder temperatures this winter have made fruit producers happy as the accumulated chill hours have been very good for peach and blueberry production. Continued cold conditions for the next couple of weeks should help make most varieties meet their needed chill hours this year without too much trouble. The biggest concern at this point…
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At this time of year, fruit farmers are anxiously watching their chill hours to see if they have received enough cold weather to help their plants produce a good set of flower buds for spring bloom. In the past few years, some winters have been touch or go with having enough. Early this year, it…
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Here is a really interesting story about how citrus was brought back to Georgia as temperatures have increased over time. The crop was brought back by producers one by one, but is now growing rapidly as the climate becomes more suitable for citrus trees due to the rising temperatures. Citrus produced in Georgia can be…