The SC Grower Exchange Podcast: Recent Episodes
Zack Snipes
Join Clemson Extension Horticulture Agents for a weekly chat about what is going on in the fruit and vegetable fields around the state of South Carolina. Agents will discuss crops, weather, insects, diseases, weeds, and anything related to fruit and vegetable production. These timely updates will keep growers abreast and ahead of the game.
In this week’s episode, agents from the Midlands and PeeDee area give updates from the field. It seems across the board we could use some rain and relief from the heat… It’s not even officially Summer yet?! Agents encourage growers to scout fields closely as insect pressure is high, and there are plenty of them out in the fields. Disease pressure will likely rise a bit if temperatures stay hot and humid. Justin shares with us a “Question of the Week” pic sent in by Rob. Tune in to find out about his interesting find on a pecan leaf.
In this deep dive episode, Commercial Horticulture Agent Rob Last talks with Professor of Plant Pathology Research and Extension Vegetable Pathologist Dr. Anthony Keinath and discusses recent observations and tips for dealing with fusarium wilt in watermelons.
In this episode, Zack, Anna Sara, Andy, Sarah and Justin share an update on what’s happening in the fields across the state. We are entering into the peak season for many fruits and vegetables, and with that comes plenty of pest and disease issues to talk about. The group discusses potential virus issues on squash plants, fertility concerns, crops coming to harvest and cover a pest that has been causing some big issues in peaches. Justin shares with us the answer for our “Question of the Week” from last week. Tune in to learn more about the issues we are seeing in the fields as well as what the latest Q W photo is.
In this episode of SC Grower Exchange, Clemson Extension agent Zack Snipes interviews Clemson’s new post-harvest handling specialist, Dr. Karin Albornoz. They discuss easy ways to improve post-harvest handling of produce, for any size farm or garden and what that can mean for the environment and your bottom line. Dr. Albornoz also casts her vision for her research path and how she, along with growers, can reduce food loss and optimize profitability for decades to come.
Tune in as Zack, Andy, Brittney, Philip, and Sarah share crop updates from around the state. Zack shares with us that cucurbit downy mildew has been found and confirmed in the coastal region of the state. If you suspect you have downy mildew, please reach out to your extension agent so we can get confirmation and report any outbreaks. The peach crop is heavy this year, and harvest has begun. Strawberries are still being harvested, but production has slowed as pest and disease pressure rises. Vegetable crops are looking good with just a few issues so far. Justin discusses our pick for “Question of the Week,” which was the periodical cicada.
Brittany, Ann Sara, Rob, Philip and Sarah share agent field updates. Overall, crops are looking good, but we cover a few pests that are starting to emerge that growers will want to keep an eye out for. The group mentions the importance of using selective insecticides when beneficial or predatory insects are present, as well as being mindful of proper pest ID to determine whether treatment is necessary. Justin shares an update on diamondback moth, pecan and citrus trials and shares with us the question of the week pick, which was hoverfly larvae.
In addition to today's field update, tune into this month’s deep dive as Clemson Extension Agent Zack Snipes interviews Dr. Gilbert Miller, a Clemson researcher at Edisto Research and Education Center. Dr. Miller will give insight on how to irrigate crops properly, how soil type impacts irrigation frequency and duration, and how to properly fertigate fields.
As temperatures warm up, we are seeing an increase in disease and insect pressure. Agents from the Midlands, Coastal and Upstate Regions share what’s happening in the fields this week. Wet weather has led to an increase in gray mold throughout some strawberry fields, and we have seen an uptick in spider mite populations. Peaches are loaded and gearing up for a busy season. The coastal region is moving right along with crops including tomatoes that are already being strung. Justin gives us an update on trials and introduces the question of the week which was a submission from Rob.
It’s a full house today on the SC Grower Exchange. Our agents give reports from all regions of the state. Strawberries are looking good, but we continue to see mite infestations. As new crops are going in, don’t forget to check them for mites as well. Vegetable transplants are in the ground, so now is the time to scout those fields and keep a close eye on any issues that may pop up. It looks like we will have a good peach year if we can escape a cold snap in the next two weeks. The crop is heavy, so thinning will be necessary. Also, agents are seeing diamondback moths around the state, so caterpillar trials will be underway soon. Justin and Sarah discuss the pick for “Question of the Week” which was the shothole borer.
This week we introduce our newest fruit and vegetable agent, Anna Sara Hill, who covers Allendale, Hampton, Barnwell and Bamberg Counties. Agents give updates on the strawberry crop as well as peaches and greens. A frost/freeze warning is in effect for tonight for the midlands and upstate. Lacy Barnette gives a climate smart update.
This week, Justin Ballew takes a deep dive with Extension Vegetable Pathologist Dr. Anthony Keinath on Sclerotinia White Mold, its effect on different crops across South Carolina, and much more.
Many agents join this week's podcast to share observations and recommendations on topics like the incoming strawberry bloom, blueberries and peaches, leafy greens transplants, and much more. This episode also features an introduction from Commercial Horticulture Agent, Brittney King, questions and answers on wildflowers, and more dad jokes from Zack.
Be sure to also visit scgrower.com to view upcoming meetings, events, and additional field updates.
Agents and specialists this week discuss fertilizer tips for the upcoming strawberry crop, liquid fertilizer crystallization, and recent peach updates. We also get some answers from the past week's blog Q&A from Tom Bilbo and Justin Ballew on blueberry pruning and fava beans.
Rob Last is joined by Jhessye Moore-Thomas and Lacy Barnette, who work for Clemson Extension on the Climate-Smart Grown in SC project. Listen to this new interview series to learn more about the work they do to support leafy greens farmers, the role of Climate-Smart in South Carolina, and much more. To learn more about the Climate-Smart Grown in SC project, visit climatesmartsc.org.
The SC Grower Exchange Podcast is back for 2024, and agents this week dive into a variety of topics, including the current spring plantings across the state and strawberry, peach, blueberry, and brassica field updates. Tune in for fertigation and plant hygiene tips, updates on the citrus cold tolerance trials at Sandhills REC, and much more.
Tune in this week as we wrap up the year and discuss the impacts of colder weather, crop preparations, some holiday traditions, and more.
Tune in this week for updates on Thanksgiving crops across the state. Agents also discuss the drier weather, timely spray recommendations for pests, prepping for peaches and blackberries, research trials at Sandhills REC, their green of choice for Thanksgiving, and more.
Be sure to visit scgrower.com to check out our upcoming fall events. This week, agents give field updates regarding the cooler, drier weather, pests seen out in the field, testing at the Sandhills REC, and much more.
Join us this week as agents discuss fall crop updates, the impacts of recent warm weather, and some Halloween plans.
This week, agents discuss the Fall crop transition around the state, pest identification, the current muscadine crop, herbicide updates, and much more.
Tune in this week the hear agents discuss various nutrient deficiencies seen in fruit and vegetables, the incoming muscadine crop, caterpillar pests, updates on insecticide trials, and research at the Coastal Research and Education Center.
Tune in this week to hear agents discuss the summer season wrapping up, hot weather and spotty rain, phytophthora observations, the incoming muscadine crop, blackberry and tomato diseases, and much more.
This week, agents give field crop updates and discuss early and late summer crops, the impacts of the hot and humid weather across the state, drip recommendations, muscadine observations, and much more.
This week, Dr. Anthony Keinath joins the podcast to discuss his field research on downy mildew in cucurbits and other plant and vegetable pathology work with Justin Ballew.
The summer season is in full swing, and agents discuss peach improvements, state-wide summer crop updates, effects of upcoming weather, trials and tests for various pests, and much more.
Be sure to visit scgrower.com to register for upcoming Field Days! Field updates discussed by agents this week include an outlook on the slower peach season, diseases seen around the upstate, effects of the cold damage from earlier this year, protecting berries from birds, shifting weather, and much more.
This week, agents from around the state discuss the summer crops starting up, more recommendations for controlling diseases in strawberries, the upcoming peach crop, and much more. We also welcome a new area Horticulture agent, Briana Naumuk, and hear about some of the research at the Charleston REC from Tom Bilbo, and potential abiotic factors causing scorching and scarring on fruit and vegetable leaves from Rob Last.
This week, agents from around the state discuss the Spring crop season, including peach production, strawberry updates and disease prevention, leafy greens, corn, blueberries, watermelon transplanting, and much more.
This week, agents discuss the rain and freeze damage on various fruits and what they've seen in grower's fields around the state.
This week, agents discuss the quick cold weather shift and its effect on fruit and vegetable production. Matt Cutulle and Brian Ward also join to discuss weed science in the coastal region. Be sure to also check out the blog this week with detailed field reports from around the state.
This week, agents from around the state discuss the effects of February’s above-average temperatures, fungicide rotation recommendations, field samples from local growers, scouting for spider mites in strawberries, and much more.
Tune in this week to hear Sarah, Justin, Zack, and Bruce discuss chill hours for peaches, tips for the upcoming strawberry crop, and more. Dr. Tim Bilbo, Clemson Research & Extension Specialist for Vegetable & Strawberry Entomology, also joins the podcast to talk about what he's working on and seeing out in the field.
The SC Grower Exchange Podcast is back for 2023! Tune in this week to hear Sarah, Zack, Rob and Philip discuss a relatively new disease of strawberries for SC, neopestalotiopsis, as well as field conditions following a rainy week around the state.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, collards, turnip greens, kale, and brassicas look good across the state. Agents also discuss the cooler weather, citrus growing, their green of choice for Thanksgiving, and more.
This week, agents discuss the cooler weather around the state, strawberry plantings, tips for low-potassium soil, robotics for weed control, and much more.
This week, agents provide field updates with regard to Hurricane Ian's impact on fall crops and discuss spray management, irrigation schedules, and more.
Fall crops are here, and agents from around the state give updates from the field. Gilbert Miller also joins to talk about his role as an Extension Vegetable Specialist at the Edisto Research and Education Center, pumpkin production in the midlands, and much more.
This week, agents give field updates on the mid-August fruit and vegetable crop. Peach season has begun to wrap up, and agents discuss Fall season crops including pecans, muscadines, butterbeans, okra, and more. Be sure to register for Clemson & UGA Extension's Joint Strawberry Preplant Meeting on scgrower.com
It's the dog days of summer, and crops across the state are feeling the heat. Agents give some quick updates on the recent weather and the approaching end of the summer season. Don't forget to register for the Clemson & UGA Extension Joint Strawberry Preplant Meeting at scgrower.com.
This week, Kevin Burkett from Clemson Extension's Agribusiness Team joins to discuss the work and projects his team provides. Agents also give field crop updates regarding peach varieties, trials with grafted peppers, diseases in cucurbits, and last week's Watermelon Field Day.
Tune in this week for a quick field update from agents around the state. Summer fruit and vegetable production is in full swing, and preparation for fall crops will begin soon.
The mid-June field updates are in, and agents from around the state discuss diseases currently being found in summer fruit and vegetable crops, the impacts of recent weather, herbicide carryover issues in soil, and more.
Agents give field updates from around the state for the beginning of June, discussing wilt in tomatoes, staying vigilant on field checks with variable weather, and much more.
Agents from around the state give field updates on late May fruit and vegetable crops. Agents also discuss how the warm and dry weather has impacted crops, pest and disease spread, and the potential for more rain this week.
This week, Sarah and Rob give updates on the current peach, strawberry, and blueberry crops. Dr. Matt Cutulle also joins to discuss spring weed control.
Agents from around the state discuss the effects of the inconsistent spring weather and the soon-to-be-planted summer crops. Guinn Wallover also joins the call this week to discuss her role as a Water Resources Extension Agent for the coastal district, and how she helps growers, communities, and municipalities with water resource management.
This week, agents discuss the extent of cold-weather damage from earlier this month on the peach, strawberry, and vegetable crops around the state.
This week, agents from around the state assess damage from the previous weekend's freezing temperatures. Fruit trees and berries are likely to sustain damage at these temperatures and time will tell to what extent. Dr. Juan Carlos Melgar joins in to tell us how cold weather can cause damage to a crop.
This week, agents discuss late February weather changes, tissue testing the upcoming Lowcountry strawberry crop, Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium, and spraying and pruning peaches around the upstate.
Bruce McLean hosts Clemson, Georgia, and NC State Extension agents from across the southeast to talk about small fruit production. Gerard Krewer, Mark Hoffmann, Karen Blaedow, and Andy Rollins present on blueberry, blackberry, muscadine, and bunch grape production for 2022.
Agents from around the state give mid-February updates on SC crops. Warm temperatures mean it's time to start applying those Boron applications to strawberries. Strawberry plants don't seem to be establishing as well this year for some. Will our season be a good one? Also, Bruce Mclean talks to us about pruning blueberries and shares some resources for pruning videos online.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_fglEl9mVo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkFhMwoiUDQ
The SC Grower Exchange is back for 2022! Agents from around the state provide crop and growing updates for late January. White peach scale, cold damage to brassica crops and nutrient uptake, strawberry progression are all covered in this episode. Will Lever from the SCDA gives us an update on the new Produce Safety Rule and shares with us how farmers can connect with SCDA for more information.
Bruce McLean hosts a presentation covering Clemson's Heat-tolerant Butterbean Project, and answers grower's questions as part of the CUltivate SC Grower Series.
Bruce McLean hosts Zack Snipes, Clemson Extension Area Horticulture for the Lowcountry, for a presentation on all things cover crop-related in South Carolina, as part of the CUltivate SC Grower Series.
Vegetable Weed Science professor, Dr. Matt Cutulle, discusses Fall weed management and proactive tips for growers across the state.
Bruce McLean hosts Dr. Guido Schnabel, Clemson Professor of Plant Pathology for Fruit Crops, for a presentation on early-season disease management for strawberries in South Carolina, as part of the CUltivate SC Grower Series.
Dr. Matt Cutulle gives the Fall Weed Management update for South Carolina, as part of the CUltivate SC Grower Series.
Bruce McLean gives the 2021 Muscadine Crop Update and Muscadine Insect Talk for South Carolina, as part of the CUltivate SC Grower Series.
Listen in on the weekly round-up of what is happening across the state of SC with fruit and vegetable production, hear each agent's most obscure diagnostic problem from this season, and find out the latest information from Clemson Vegetable Specialist, Dr. Brian Ward's, most recent research projects.
Agents give field updates around the state for the middle of August. Kerrie Roach also talks to Multi-County Extension Agent Andy Rollins to hear what he's been working on.
Unfortunately, a new insect pest has been found on blackberry and blueberry in SC. Agents discuss this pest and how growers can be proactive in its management. We also find out about how Justin manages an unpopular pest in pecan orchards.
This week Dr. Matt Cutulle discusses one of the worst weeds in the world, literally. He shines some light on the management of yellow nutsedge with techniques that can be utilized by both conventional and organic growers. Agents give the weekly crop update and we learn what new agent Phillip Carnley’s favorite crop is.
This week Zack and Bruce chat about how to be proactive in pest management based on last season's crops. They discuss scenarios where improper management post-season has hurt growers the following season.
This week the Food Crop Hort Team welcomes the newest member Phillip Carnley, to the team. Phillip will be covering Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties. Dr. Guido Schnabel will be talking about a new unwanted pest in strawberries, and we find out if Kerrie Roach liked the mayo dog on her vacation.
Following the consumption of many “mayo dogs” from the July 4th holiday, the Clemson Food Crop Hort Agents discuss all that’s happening in the field this week. Zack and Rob take a deep dive into proper bedding, soil compaction, and other issues concerning soil preparation.
This week Bruce McLean chats about an often overlooked pest in muscadine production that can cause significant yield loss over time. Bruce takes a deep dive into the identification, trapping, and management of the grape root borer (GRB). We also find out which agents are hotdog or hamburger fans for the July 4th weekend upcoming.
Agents from the PeeDee, Midlands, and the Coast give their weekly insights. Downy mildew and cottony leak become the diseases of choice in today’s episode. Agent Rob Last asks the panel what they think the white slimy stuff is on the rind of some watermelons in his region.
Dr. Matt Cutulle joins agents to discuss issues with herbicide carryover in crops and damage that it can cause plus what to do once that damage has occurred. Agents give statewide updates on field and crop conditions including finding downy mildew on cucumbers in Calhoun, Barnwell and Bamberg Counties.
Sarah Scott, Kerrie Roach, Justin Ballew, Zack Snipes, Rob Last, Dr. Matt Cutulle, Dr. Brian Ward
Agent Justin Ballew discusses diamondback moths in a bit more detail than in previous talks including control options and information on bioassays done by agent to determine chemical recommendations for growers. Field Updates from around the state
We hear from lowcountry agent, Rob Last on issues in the watermelon and cucumber crops. Cucumber beetles are starting to show up so what are some control options that we have? Rob lets us in on that information as well as fusarium wilt in melons. Agents from across the state give a field update. Zack Snipes answers our question of the week following his tomato field update, "How should I adjust my spraying when my plants are small as opposed to when they are big?".
Agent Zack Snipes gives us a tomato field update including what to look out for in the crop, pests and disease issues as well as management strategies for growers across the state.
Dr. Brian Ward gives us an update on the Rice and Hemp crop including projects with both. We also discuss which cover crops are good to put out now. Agents Sarah Scott, Rob Last, Zack Snipes, Justin Ballew, Kerrie Roach, Bruce Mclean and specialist Dr. Matt Cutulle give field updates from around the state.
Agents Sarah Scott, Zack Snipes, Justin Ballew, Rob Last and Cory Tanner discuss field updates from around the state. Focus for this week was phytophthera showing up in strawberries and then we discuss cold damage in crops in particular the peach crop.
Sarah Scott, Zack Snipes, Bruce Mclean, Justin Ballew, Kerrie Roach, Dr. Matt Cutelle, Dr. Juan Carlos Melgar
Dr. Juan Carlos Melgar joins us to discuss the cold weather and potential damage suffered on peach crops around the state. What setbacks can we look for and expect for this season after a freeze event and what temperatures are going to do the most damage? Tune in to find out...
Agents from around the state also give field updates for the week
Sarah Scott, Rob Last, Justin Ballew, Bruce Mclean, Zack Snipes, Dr. Matt Cutulle, Dr. Tony Keinath, Dr. Brian Ward
Dr. Keinath gives us an update on work being done with Oxidate and shares conclusions that the product might not be worth applying for post harvest. We discuss the Watermelon Spray Guide for 2021 and Reflex for weed control in melons. Agents give an update on crops from around the state as we prepare for potential cold/freezing weather.
Sarah Scott, Rob Last, Justin Ballew, Bruce Mclean, Kerrie Roach, Zack Snipes, Dr. Matt Cutelle, Dr. Brian Ward
Peach crop on track for a good season, spraying and bee safety in strawberries, importance of tissue sampling, frost dates and planting, check out the blog for videos and updates.
Sarah Scott, Kerrie Roach, Rob Last, Bruce Mclean, Dr. Brian Ward discuss field updates from across the state. Topics include: Cold weather (damage potential, protection), Captan alternatives due to shortages, blueberry crop update
Sarah Scott, Zack Snipes, Justin Ballew, Rob Last discuss weekly field updates from around the state. Topics include: Deer Damage in Strawberries, Leaf Tissue Analysis to address previous issue of leaves discoloring, Captan shortage, transplant health (check and treat before planting)
Agents from around the state including Sarah Scott, Rob Last, Zack Snipes, Justin Ballew, Bruce Mclean and Andy Rollins discuss what's happening in the field. Lots of wet weather inhibiting field work. Discoloration on strawberry plants, in particular Camarosa variety, in the form of darkening red leaves. Some mite activity picking up in the field as well. Peach tree plantings underway with questions about pruning newly planted trees in light of stem size.
We're trying out something new, folks! Each week, agents from across the state along with specialists and growers will join in to discuss field crop reports, weather and the latest issues facing growers of SC.