Author: Justin Ballew
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Weekly Field Update – 9/19/22
Coming up this week, there are a couple waste pesticide collection events: St. Matthews on 9/20 and Hollywood on 9/21. See more details on the Upcoming Events page. Also, join Clemson’s Agribusiness team at noon on 9/21 as they discuss Southern Dairy Business (SDBII) Grants and evaluating business ventures. Register here. Be sure to scroll…
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Question of the Week – Bee Fly
This week, the question was: What is foraging in this cantaloupe flower? This little critter looks a lot like a bee (it’s yellow, fuzzy, and foraging flowers), but if you look closely, you’ll see it has only one pair of wings (bees have two). This feature distinguishes this as a fly, specifically a bee fly…
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Weekly Field Update – 9/12/22
For anyone growing leafy greens and brassica crops, please take a moment to fill out this survey from weed specialist Dr. Matt Cutulle gauging interest in developing non-herbicide weed management techniques: CLICK HERE For strawberry growers making last-minute variety selections, check out the NC Strawberry Association’s latest newsletter. There is some really good info on…
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Question of the Week – Paraquat Drift
This week, the question was: What are the spots on this squash leaf? These spots are from a small amount of paraquat drift that occurred while the adjacent field was being sprayed in preparation for planting. Paraquat is a contact-only herbicide, so this damage will not spread to new growth. This small amount of damage…
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Weekly Field Update – 9/6/22
Coming up this Friday (9/9) is the 2022 SC Farmer Resource Rodeo from 9 am-4:30. This will be a good opportunity for newer farmers to connect with organizations that provide resources to farmers in SC. Visit scnewfarmer.org to register. For anyone growing leafy greens and brassica crops, please take a moment to fill out this…
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Fusarium Wilt on Okra
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath. Late summer is the time of year when Fusarium wilt shows up on okra. Because the fungus travels in the xylem, external symptoms are visible on all above-ground plant parts. Although the main stem may remain partially green, side branches turn brown, and pods dry completely. To diagnose Fusarium…
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Question of the Week – Unmanaged Apple Issues
This week, the question was: Can you name one problem with this apple? A quick glance at this ‘Gala’ apple shows signs of bitter rot, sooty blotch, and fly speck to name a few. The point of this question of the week is not really to name specific pests or pathogens but to talk about…
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Question of the Week – Hickory Horned Devil
This week, the question was: What is this wild-looking critter? This is a caterpillar known as the hickory horned devil. The adult is a beautiful moth known as the regal moth (Citheronia regalis), but it is rarely seen due to its nocturnal habit. The hickory horned devil commonly feeds on the leaves of walnut, hickory,…
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Cercospora Leaf Spot on Okra Looks Different than Other Cercospora Leaf Spots
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath and USDA Plant Pathologist Gabriel Rennberger. August is the time of the year when Cercospora leaf spot appears on okra. This Cercospora leaf spot doesn’t look like Cercospora leaf spots on other crops, such as beet. Most of the disease is on the leaf underside. On the top of…
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Weekly Field Update – 8/22/22
Coming up this week the SC Dept. of Agriculture is hosting a couple Waste Pesticide Collection Events (8/23 in Kingstree and 8/24 in Dillon). If you have any old materials sitting around, take advantage of these free events. See more details on the Upcoming Events page. Be sure to scroll all the way to the…
The South Carolina Grower 