Recent Posts
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I am monitoring AgroClimate.org (https://agroclimate.org/tools/chill-hours-calculator/) as well as other sources for projected chill as of today 1/2/2018 we are around 500 hours which is nearly 100 hours behind our historic average on chill. If you follow the projected chill probabilities we could be anywhere between 700 and 900 hours by February 1st. This projection line…
Posted in: General -
Based on observations at the Byron USDA station (pathology blocks) and Fort Valley State (Jeff Cook orchards), phony peach appears to be increasing in importance (see photos below; short, squat trees are phony peach trees). I suspect this could be related to two really warm consecutive winters, increased vector numbers (sharpshooters), and less insecticide applications…
Posted in: General -
Hurricane Irma passed through Georgia with strong sustained winds. For our peach trees this meant trouble, especially for younger trees (1-3 years-old). Trees could have been fully uprooted, but in general, you can see them leaning or touching the ground. Younger trees can be salvaged, but this needs to be done in the following days…
Posted in: General -
Unfortunately, it does look like Georgia will experience pretty high winds from hurricane Irma as it passes north. In addition to the direct damage to trees, tree decline and death over time can be a direct result of hurricanes and tropical storms. High winds whip young trees from side-to-side like large pom-poms, since leaves are still present,…
Posted in: General -
This is for sure going to be remembered as one of the most difficult years in peach production in the Southeastern U.S. Lack of chill and a late freeze have done their part. Now, it is time to decide what to do with the trees that are still not coming along as they should. I…
Posted in: Horticulture -
We are now beginning to detect plum curculio and San Jose scale crawlers in Fort Valley…
Posted in: Entomology -
Late frost has hurt many varieties in South Carolina and Georgia this year. The varieties that escaped the frost, the late bloomers with high chill requirements, still may have fruit and will probably go on a regular spray program, even if chill requirements were not met and a reduced crop load may occur. But what…
Posted in: General