Author: Justin Ballew
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Weekly Field Update – 8/19/24
The Coastal and Pee Dee regions have been drying out from Tropical Storm Debby. Fall crops are being planted in many areas. Peach harvest is coming to a close and muscadine harvest will begin soon. Disease pressure has really kicked up. See details below. Growers may continue document any crop or infrastructure impacts from Tropical…
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Question of the Week – Carolina Mantid
What insect is hiding in plain sight in this photo. The insect right in the middle of the photo that looks like a woody stem is a Carolina mantid (Stagmomantis carolina). The Carolina mantid is a native to South Carolina and is our official state insect. A few recognizable features of mantids include the long…
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2023 Crop Stats: Cantaloupe, Green Onions, Tomatoes(Beefsteak)
In fall of 2023, Extension Agents throughout South Carolina surveyed growers on specialty crop acreage for the year. The goal was to identify the counties of production, acreage, and observable market prices for the year. In this round of surveys, data was collected for 14 fruit and vegetable crops. Cantaloupe, green onions, and beefsteak tomatoes…
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Weekly Field Update – 8/12/24
The coastal region and Pee Dee saw lots of rain and flooding in places from Tropical Storm Debby last week. As field conditions improve this week, please document any crop or infrastructure impacts from the storm by using the ESF-17 form. The information collected will be used to estimate the statewide agricultural impact of TS…
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Question of the Week – Wood Boring Beetle
What caused the oval-shaped holes in this young pecan tree? These oval-shaped holes were created by a wood boring beetle from either the Buprestidae or Cerambycidae families. Without seeing the beetle or larvae, it is impossible to say which. These beetles commonly attack stressed trees. Eggs are usually laid in cracks or crevices in the…
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Tropical Storm Debby Preparation Considerations for Fruit and Vegetable Crops
Tropical Storm Debby made landfall in Florida this morning as a category 1 hurricane and is expected to bring significant amounts of rain and winds to South Carolina this week. The latest forecast shows Debby making landfall near Georgetown, SC and traveling north through the Pee Dee region. In preparation for the storm, please be…
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Weekly Field Update – 8/5/24
We’re forecast to get lots of rain this week from Tropical Storm Debby. This comes as growers are finishing up summer crops and are making preparations for fall crops. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss anything. Also, check out the latest episode of the SC…
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Question of the Week – Kiwi
What kind of fruit is this? These little fuzzy fruit are kiwis of the genus Actinidia, and were found growing on a hobby farm on Johns Island, SC. Kiwi hails from the grasslands of China and Russia. We normally think about kiwi being an Australian or New Zealand crop, as most of the production occurs there,…
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Fruit Rots on Pumpkins, Gourds, and Winter Squashes
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath As part of a new grant on cucurbit anthracnose with the University of Georgia, we sampled 68 pumpkins, gourds, and winter squash from “cull piles” at 7 pumpkin patches and small farms in South Carolina in October, November, and December 2023. Two-thirds of the 10 types of cucurbits sampled…
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Weekly Field Update – 7/29/24
Lots of rain fell over parts of the state last week. Keep a close eye out for potential disease progression following all the moisture. Insect pressure remains high as growers make preparations for fall crops. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss anything. Also, check out…
The South Carolina Grower 