Author: Justin Ballew
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Weekly Field Update – 8/2/21
Coastal Region Zack Snipes reports, “Summer crops like okra are still coming in and looking good. We’ve had a lot of rain and some fields are soggy. More rain is coming. Some growers have started planting peppers and tomatoes. Remember to get out in the fields and destroy spring crop residue. Nematodes and other pests…
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SC Farmer Named to Fruit Grower News’ 40 Under 40
From the Fruit Grower News. Corey Harmon of Titan Farms in Ridge Spring, SC has been named to the Fruit Grower News’ 40 under 40 Class of 2021. The Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under 40 Awards honor 40 outstanding individuals making their marks in the industry. Corey has been with Titan Farms since 2015. In…
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Preparing for Gummy Stem Blight in Fall Cucurbit Crops
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath. Gummy stem blight is more common and more severe on fall cucurbit crops than crops grown in the spring. The cooler weather and longer dew periods in the fall provide an ideal environment for the fungal pathogen to grow and spread. Gummy stem blight is most common on watermelon…
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Weekly Field Update – 7/26/21
Statewide The SC Specialty Crop Association is offering a new grant opportunity, the Enhancing Crop Packaging Cost-share Program. With this new cost-share program, growers can receive reimbursement up to $1,800 per grower for packaging needs. All that is required in addition to the application are copies of receipts used for purchasing packaging materials. You will…
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Tony Melton Retires After Long Career with Clemson
Long-time Horticulture Agent Tony Melton retired earlier this month, finishing out a 40-year career with Clemson University. Tony is best known for his passion for working with fruit and vegetable growers in the Pee Dee Region, as well as his frequent appearances on SCETV’s Making It Grow. Tony first began his career with Clemson University…
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Weekly Field Update – 7/19/21
Statewide Dr. Tony Keinath’s remarks on fungicide stewardship: Growers who are applying newer fungicides that are pre-mixes of two active ingredients do not need to add another fungicide to the tank mix. Pre-mixes can easily be identified by the two FRAC Codes on the label in the top right corner. Please consider the following points:…
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Weekly Field Update – 7/12/21
Coastal Rob Last reports, “Crops are generally coming to market with good quality from cucurbits through corn, tomatoes and peppers. Be on your guard for foliar diseases, given the temperatures and humidity there are a large number of diseases present from anthracnose, powdery and downy mildew, and alternaria. Fungicide applications will help.to manage diseases applied in…
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What is NOT Proper Crop Rotation
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath. There seems to be some confusion about what is a proper crop rotation to manage diseases caused both by pathogens that survive a few years in soil and pathogens that survive in soil longer than anyone can measure. Here are some rotations I have heard about that are not…
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Weekly Field Update – 7/6/21
Statewide Dr. Tony Keinath reports, “Basil downy mildew was found in mid-June in Charleston. Symptoms start as faint yellowing of leaves, which eventually show brown spots surrounded by yellow areas. To see the spores, look on the bottom of a symptomatic leaf. Sometimes it helps to hold the leaf up to a light source (but…
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Downy Mildew on Watermelon Found in SC
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath. Downy mildew was found on watermelon this week in Allendale and Barnwell counties. Although downy mildew does not infect fruit, it reduces sugar content once 1 in 4 leaves (25%) are infected. All watermelons should be sprayed with a fungicide effective against downy mildew. See pages 214-215 in the…
The South Carolina Grower 