CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 07/15/10

Summer weather treats Georgia row-crops well

By Brad Haire

Rain has hit on target and temperatures have been reasonable. So far, Georgia row-crops like what they’ve been getting.

The tobacco harvest is under way in south Georgia. Tobacco companies continue to offer fewer contracts to Georgia farmers, about 20 percent less this year than last. Farmers planted between 10,000 acres and 12,000 acres this spring. The crop looks good, though, said J. Michael Moore, a tobacco specialist with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.

“This is the most excellent growing season we’ve had in years,” he said.

Plenty of soil moisture in spring helped the young plants in fields. Temperatures were good for growth. Rain through the season remained consistent, but not excessive, allowing for fieldwork to keep the crop cared for, he said. Damage from tomato spotted wilt virus, tobacco’s top nemesis, was low this year.

Farmers will start delivering their crop to companies later this month.

Eighty-six percent of the corn crop is in fair to good condition, according to a July 11 Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service report based on weekly surveys of UGA Extension county agents.

“Overall, I expect it to be a good year for our corn producers,” said Dewey Lee, a UGA Extension grains specialist.

Unusually high temperatures in early June (some as high 100 degrees) hit some areas during crucial kernel development, he said. This will hamper yields. Georgia’s average corn yield last year was 140 bushels per acre, tying the state record set the year before.

The wet, humid weather increased diseases. Farmers, he said, spent a lot of money trying to stay ahead of them. Corn harvest will get under way in the next few weeks.

According to GASS, 90 percent or more of the peanut, cotton and soybean crops are in fair to excellent condition. Harvest for these crops will start in the fall.

Brad Haire is the former news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Authors:
Brad Haire
Experts/Sources:
Dewey Lee
J. Michael Moore
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
At the 2024 Georgia Life Sciences Summit held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta, Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences received the Golden Helix Innovation Award for his research in technologies to mitigate “forever chemicals” in water resources. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker) CAES News
Nothing lasts forever: CAES professor finds solutions to break down ‘forever chemicals’ 12/05/24 Carson McAfee
University of Georgia Professor Qingguo “Jack” Huang always wanted to do one thing: solve problems. Growing up in a small city in central China, Huang’s favorite subject in elementary school was math, granting him the opportunity to work on many problems. In high school, his passion transitioned to science, where he learned he could feed those same interests in a way that benefited others. He was finishing high school in the 1980s when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring made its way to Chinese newspapers, capturing Huang’s attention.
Georgia Simmons at the office of U.S. Sen. Warnock CAES News
Georgia 4-H alum, CAES student spends semester serving at the nation's Capitol 12/03/24 Josie Smith, Cooper Hardy
Third-year University of Georgia student and Banks County 4-H alum Georgia Simmons has been in the center of the political action this fall with the Georgia 4-H Washington DC Intern Program. Simmons, an environmental resource science major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, works in the office of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. As an intern on his staff, she interacts directly with policy experts and lawmakers, participating in the legislative process while earning a semester of credit hours.
Longtime faculty member George Vellidis was named the first permanent director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture. IIPA was launched in 2022 and has grown to include more than 70 faculty members. (Photo by Paul Privette for UGA CAES) CAES News
Vellidis named director of Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture 12/02/24 David Mitchell
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Professor George Vellidis has been named director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture (IIPA). His term began on Nov. 1, and he will serve as the unit’s first permanent director. “Dr. Vellidis has been a vital member of our UGA faculty for years and played a key role in launching IIPA,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “Whether it’s his impact as a first-class researcher and educator or the work he does behind the scenes to elevate our reputation in the field abroad, his presence has made UGA a hub for precision agriculture research.”
Mergoum at Creature Comforts CAES News
That's the spirit! 11/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras, Claire S. Kinnard
Wheat breeders spend years meticulously crossing varieties to coax the best traits out of each species, carefully propagating plant varieties that are healthier, heartier and better suited for the environments where they are grown. Professional brewmasters are equally painstaking when choosing the components that will give their beers a specific flavor profile.
TiftonCampusSunset2 CAES News
CAES Transfer Pathways Program expands enrollment access for rural students 11/12/24 Emily Cabrera
The Transfer Pathways Program is opening new doors for rural students who dream of attending the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). In partnership with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Southern Regional Technical College, students who complete required coursework at these institutions can transfer to CAES to complete bachelor’s degrees in one of three majors — agribusiness, agricultural education, and agriscience and environmental systems.