Author: Justin Ballew
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Question of the Week – Carpenter Bee
This week, the question was: What caused the slit in the sides of these blueberry flowers? These slits were made by carpenter bees. Carpenter bees commonly cut through blueberry flowers to access nectar from the side, rather than the open bottom. This practice, known as “nectar robbing,” minimizes contact with the flower’s reproductive parts, reducing…
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Produce Pricing Considerations
From Clemson Agribusiness Associate Kevin Burkett. “How much can I sell this for?” producers often ask. It is an important question and one that is not always easy to answer. Usually, there is a lot to consider in pricing produce. We discuss factors that affect what you want to charge. Pricing for produce can be…
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Weekly Field Update – 3/13/23
Coming up this week we have a Climate-Smart Project Farmer Interest Meeting on Wednesday (3/16) via Zoom. Check out other upcoming meetings on the Upcoming Events tab. Don’t forget to look at our Resources tab for links to crop handbooks, helpful websites, and related blogs. Also, check out the latest episode of the SC Grower…
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Question of the Week – Cope’s Grey Treefrog
This week, the question was: What kind of frog is sitting in this pine tree? This is a Cope’s grey treefrog. I found this little guy while walking through the woods, scoping out turkey hunting spots. This species spends most of the year high in the trees, so finding it down low is likely a…
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Clemson Extension is Hiring
Clemson Extension currently has two fruit and vegetable-related positions open. If you are interested in working with Clemson University while serving the fruit and vegetable farming community, these could be the jobs for you. See the listings below or share with anyone you know that may be interested. Fruit and Vegetable Agent, Pee Dee Region…
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Weekly Field Update – 3/6/23
We have lots of fruit and vegetable meetings coming up over the next couple of months, so check out the Upcoming Events tab for the complete lineup. This week, we have the Midlands Spring Vegetable Meeting, Blueberry Management and Maintenance, the upstate Vegetable Meeting, and the Pea and Butterbean Production Meeting. Don’t miss them! Don’t…
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Question of the Week – Goose Poop
This week, the question was: What kind of caterpillar is this? This week was a trick question. This is no caterpillar. It’s goose poop! Well done to everyone that saw through the B.S., or more appropriately, G.S. Even though this week’s question was for fun, feces on our plants is a serious food safety concern.…
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Weekly Field Update – 2/27/23
We have lots of fruit and vegetable meetings coming up over the next couple of months, so check out the Upcoming Events tab for the complete lineup. This week, we have the Pee Dee Vegetable Growers Meeting in Florence on Thursday (2/28) and a Waste Pesticide Collection event in York on Saturday (3/4). Don’t miss…
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Question of the Week – White Peach Scale
This week, the question was: What is all over this peach tree limb? This is an infestation of white peach scale. White peach scale isn’t terribly common to find, and when you do see it, it is usually concentrated on just a few trees within a much larger block. We don’t always see white peach…
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Cottony Rot on Stored Carrots
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath. Stored carrots can rot if they are infected by one of several different fungi in the field. Among the culprits is Sclerotinia, typically known as white mold on beans, Sclerotinia stem rot and watery soft rot on brassicas, or timber rot on tomato. On carrot, the same disease is…
The South Carolina Grower 