Author: Justin Ballew
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Weekly Field Update – 11/20/23
From the SC Grower crew, we hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving later this week! Be sure to eat lots of fresh SC grown collard greens and sweetpotatoes! Check out upcoming meetings on the Upcoming Events tab, and don’t forget to look at our Resources tab for links to crop handbooks, helpful websites,…
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Question of the Week – Armyworm Egg Mass
This week, the question was: What is this on this tomato leaf? This is an armyworm egg mass, possibly from the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua). The beet armyworm is a pest of vegetables across the Southern US. In warm weather, these eggs will hatch in only 2-3 days. Young caterpillars are slow to disperse and…
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Weekly Field Update – 11/13/23
This week, we have a couple field days coming up: Alternaria Management in Kale Field Tour on 11/15 and the Citrus and Small Fruits Field Day on 11/17. And don’t forget about the Southeast Citrus Expo going on 11/17 and 11/18. View more details for these events here. Check out upcoming meetings on the Upcoming…
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Question of the Week – Corn Earworm
This week, the question was: What caterpillar is this that was found boring into a tomato? This is a corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea). This common caterpillar pest is known by other names, including tomato fruitworm, cotton bollworm, and soybean podworm. Corn earworms are considered to be one of the most economically important insect pests in…
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Weekly Field Update – 11/6/23
Southern SARE is encouraging growers to submit proposals for the Producer Grant Program. “The maximum funding amount for a Producer Grant is $20,000 for individual farmers/ranchers and $25,000 for farmer/rancher organizations. Producer Grants are used to conduct sustainable agriculture research projects that solve agricultural production challenges farmers face and to develop information on what works…
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Question of the Week – Vetch
This week, the question was: What is this weed that is starting to show now up in vegetable fields? This is common vetch (Vicia sativa). Vetch is a cool-season weed that begins germinating in the fall and begins blooming in the winter, peaking in the spring. Vetch is in the legume family, making it capable…
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Happy Halloween!
We hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween! Some of our fruit and vegetable agents had a great time last night dressing up their children (including fur babies) and themselves for some trick-or-treating. Take a look while you enjoy the candy you stole from your kids/grandkids!
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Weekly Field Update – 10/30/23
The final installment of the Strawberry Webinar Series will be available until next Monday (11/6). Don’t miss this presentation about managing cold events. NC State University is looking for cucumber growers to participate in a survey about experiences with common cucumber diseases and growers’ opinions about cucumber plant characteristics. The aim of this study is…
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Question of the Week – Pineapple Guava
This week, the question was: What is this that was found growing on a bush in Charleston this past week? This is a pineapple guava. Pineapple guava is an incredibly tasty fruit that comes from an evergreen shrub, native to South America. The shrub grows well along the coast and is a great choice as…
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Weekly Field Update – 10/23/23
Our Strawberry Webinar Series is still live. The second presentation will be available until 10/27, so don’t let this opportunity to earn pesticide credits slip away. Check out upcoming meetings on the Upcoming Events tab, and don’t forget to look at our Resources tab for links to crop handbooks, helpful websites, and related blogs. Also,…
The South Carolina Grower 