Peanut harvest in our part of North Florida started in the second half of August; with the digging of peanuts planted in the first days of April. Rainfall and more recently, Hurricane Irma, have put a dent in our progress. We have had measurable rain in the county 31 of the previous 40 days from this writing. …
The Georgia-Florida Tobacco tour recently swung through Columbia County with a stop at the R.T. Dicks Farm. The tour was led by Dr. Jay Michael Moore, Extension Tobacco Agronomist with University of Georgia. Participants started in Waycross, Georgia and visited 16 farms before ending the two day tour in Lake City. Tobacco industry representatives and …
Farmers in Columbia County have faced dry conditions the last 30 days which resulted in poor planting conditions for crops. Rainfall on April 4th, 5th, and 6th replenished soil moisture and allowed a timely start to the season. However, evaporation from the sandy soil left only a short window of suitable conditions. Farmland without irrigation …
As I walk peanut fields, it becomes clear that we are “back to the drawing board” with our weed control programs. Lack of rainfall has resulted in failure to incorporate pre-emerge herbicides into the weed seed emergence zone. Dr. Jason Ferrell, UF/IFAS Weed Scientist, recently shared some timely information on herbicide incorporation at Panhandle Ag. Some key …
Continue reading ‘Widespread Failure of PRE Herbicides (AKA Failure to Rain)’ »
Recent rainfall was very welcome by farmers and ranchers in north central Florida. However, it will do little to make up for the dry conditions experienced from October through March. Southeast Climate Perspectives from the Southeast Regional Climate Center shows that the total rainfall for the 6 month period from October 1 to March 31 …
Continue reading ‘Long Dry Spell Punctuated by Heavy Rains’ »
Thanks to Mr. Jonathan Carter from Florida Olive Farms & Mill for welcoming a large crowd of participants to his farm in Live Oak for the Florida Olive Field Day. A large group turned out to learn about opportunities and challenges with this crop. Mr. Carter also showed the group the mill that is used …
The Tri-State Row Crop Climate Learning Network was treated to a tour of several farms in the Monticello area, hosted by UF/IFAS Extension Jefferson County. The tour included a visit to the Fulford Family Farm, where Earnest Fulford is effectively integrating bahaigrass and cattle into his cropping system. Earnest had the opportunity to work with a landowner to develop …
The Tri-State Row Crop Climate Learning Network was treated to a tour of several farms in the Monticello area, hosted by UF/IFAS Extension Jefferson County. The tour included a visit to the Brock Family Farm, where Kirk Brock utilizes a rotation of corn, peanuts, and soybeans. Kirk described the land he farms not as dryland, but rather “irrigated by God.” If my memory …
Continue reading ‘Jefferson County Farm Tour Part 2 (Video)’ »
Corn is beginning to be harvested around North Florida this week. Most all of the corn planted in the area has reached “black layer” or physiological maturity. This is where a black layer develops at the tip of the kernels, where they attach to the cob. Some farmers have started harvesting and drying grain, while others are waiting …
Many have commented that 2016 feels like a warmer summer so far. They are not speaking in terms of a temporary heat wave, but a sustained long-term temperature increase. Monitoring stations in Florida show these observations are in fact correct. North Florida is about 2-3 degrees above normal for daily average temperature from July 1 to present. In …