Author: Justin Ballew
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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…
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Weekly Field Update – 6/21/21
Coastal Rob Last reports, “Given the rainfall and humidity levels, we are seeing increases in foliar and fruit diseases on a range of crops. This includes cottony leak in cucumbers, anthracnose in pepper, tomatoes, and cucurbits. Also, please be aware cucurbit downy mildew is very active now. As a result, it is going to be really important…
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Weekly Field Update – 6/14/21
The Coastal Research and Education Center Field Day is coming up this Thursday, June 17 beginning at 8:30. You must have registered to attend this year. Coastal Zack Snipes reports, “We received some welcomed rain but 5+ inches in a day or so was a bit much. Conditions this week will dry things out. I cannot…
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Weekly Field Update – 6/7/21
The Coastal Research and Education Center Field Day is coming up on June 17 beginning at 8:30. You must register to attend this year. Registration may be found here. Statewide Dr. Matt Cutulle reports, “The coastal rain events of the past week resulted in a lot of weeds popping up. For fields not planted yet…