Author: Justin Ballew
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Question of the Week – Parasitized Aphid
What is the bloated tan thing found on the underside of this strawberry leaf? This is an aphid “mummy,” the lifeless body of an aphid that has been parasitized by a parasitoid wasp. Typically, the adult wasps are tiny, at only 0.08-0.12 inches long. The female wasp lays its eggs inside of the aphid. The…
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Weekly Field Update – 4/1/24
Our Spring meeting season is starting to wind down, but keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically, so you don’t miss anything. Coming up this week is the Upstate Vegetable Production Meeting in Spartanburg. The EPA recently published an updated list of chlorpyrifos products allowed for use on food crops. See that list…
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Question of the Week – Giant Leopard Moth
What is this critter that was found resting on a grill cover near the coast? This Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) was found on my grill cover as I went to cook some dinner one-night last week. This is by far my favorite moth due to its striking appearance. These moths are common across South Carolina and…
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Stem Rot on Transplanted Tomato in March 2024
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath and Food Crops Agent Zack Snipes “Stem and root rot” is the term used to describe a disease on recently transplanted vegetable crops, like tomato, pepper, watermelon, cantaloupe, and cucumber. Tomato transplants with stem rot were observed last week along the coast of South Carolina. A proper diagnosis of…
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Weekly Field Update – 3/25/24
We have lots of meetings coming up over the next few months, so be sure to keep a close eye on the Upcoming Events tab so you don’t miss anything. Coming up this week is the Pea and Butterbean meeting in Manning. Our recent Question of the Week post about the latrine from the War…
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Question of the Week – Shothole borer
What caused the damage found on a dead branch of this peach tree? This damage was caused by a shothole borer. Shothole borers typically find a way into the wood through damage initially caused by sunburn or bark injury. Adult females bore into the bark and lay their eggs in the cambium layer of the…
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SC Tax Credit for Purchase and Installation of Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Production Measures
From Extension Agribusiness Associate Kevin Burkett This time of year, farmers are completing and submitting their tax return information. With that in mind, we wanted to mention a state tax credit that may be of interest. SC TC – 1 is a nonrefundable state tax credit available to farms for installing conservation tillage equipment, drip…
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Weekly Field Update – 3/18/24
We have lots of meetings coming up over the next few months, so be sure to keep a close eye on the Upcoming Events tab so you don’t miss anything. Also, check out the latest episode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast below. Don’t forget to look at our Resources tab for links to crop…
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Question of the Week – War of 1812 Artifact
What is this that was found while subsoiling a field on John’s Island in Charleston recently? Sidi Limehouse was bottom plowing a field at the end of Johns Island a few weeks ago when he hit something, made another pass, and hit it again. They had been farming the field for years; another local farmer…
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Weekly Field Update – 3/11/24
We have lots of meetings coming up over the next few months, so be sure to keep a close eye on the Upcoming Events tab so you don’t miss anything. Coming up this week we have the Upstate Apple Meeting in Walhalla and the Midlands Strawberry Meeting in Saluda. Also, check out the latest episode…
The South Carolina Grower 