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Clint Thompson of the University of Georgia pointed out in a recent article in Growing Georgia that irrigated corn has done less well this year in terms of expected yield than dryland corn. The combination of conditions that may be too wet for corn coupled with the lack of sunlight due to the cloud and…
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NOAA released their latest global climate summary today for July 2017. Their analysis shows that for the earth as a whole, it was the 2nd warmest July on record just barely behind 2016 by 0.09 degrees F since records began in 1880. The total for the year to date from January to July was also…
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In my meetings this week I was reminded that many farmers use USDA planting zones to determine what varieties of trees and crops to plant. Hardiness zones are related to the average coldest day of the year. Here is an interesting comparison of how these zones have changed over time due to the warming trend…
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One of the issues that this wetter weather has had on crops in the Southeast is an increase in fungal diseases of both leaves and roots. This article from Growing Produce shows the consequences of wet soils on young apple trees, which grow in cooler areas of the Southeast like the Appalachians although it is…
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The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks for the US were released today by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. The images below show that September is leaning towards above normal temperatures in coastal areas of the Southeast, including the Florida peninsula and especially south Florida. Most of the region except for Florida is also leaning slightly towards…
Posted in: Climate outlooks -
The latest Drought Monitor shows that rain has caused minor improvements in the abnormally dry conditions found in North Carolina and Virginia this week. The rest of the Southeast remains free of any drought or abnormally dry conditions.
Posted in: Drought -
I’ve been busy this week attending meetings of nut and fruit growers in Tifton and near Young Harris, GA. In Tifton I sat in on the annual meeting of the Northern Nut Growers Association and listened to talks on chestnuts, walnuts, and hazelnuts as well as olives, mulberries, persimmons, and other potential new crops for…