The SC Grower Exchange Podcast

On this episode, we have reports coming from all 4 regions of the state. Strawberries and warm weather are definitely the trend this week. Weather across the state has also been quite windy and dry, causing some sand blasting in crops. We discuss some of that damage and what it might look like in the field, as well as other issues to look out for as the weather warms up. Christiana shares with us...

You’d be hard pressed to find a roadside produce stand that doesn’t have a few buckets of strawberries for sale (unless they’ve sold out for the day) around the state. Juicy red fruit has been hitting the market, and reports from across the state indicate good yield so far. Andy makes us aware of a new bacterial issue showing up in the upstate and some symptoms to look for. Peaches and blueberries...

In this episode, we dive into Spring! Along with warm weather and pollen come strawberries, which is the beginning of a very busy season. While we have seen some pretty warm temperatures around the state, night temperatures have dropped several times, causing growers to choose whether to use row covers in their strawberry fields or not. Agents discuss the strawberry crop and share some things to c...

In this month's deep dive, Zack chats with Clemson's strawberry and vegetable entomologist, Dr. Tom Bilbo. They go into great detail on how to manage the twospotted spider mite using IPM and how Dr. Bilbo's research is unique to South Carolina.  

Agents from all regions of the state share crop reports from the field today. It seems we are all gearing up for strawberry season. Some takeaways that were highlighted include when to cover and what pests to keep an eye out on. Blueberries and peaches are moving right along as well. It won’t be long before folks will be baking pies and cobblers! Justin shares with us a brief update on some trial...

We are emerging out of a chilly spell and into a week that looks to be warm and sunny for most areas of the state. Agents Zack, Brittney, Andy and Sarah share updates from each region of the state. The theme of this episode is definitely weather and what to expect with the condition changes in the upcoming days. Peaches, strawberries, and greens are the crops we are looking at the most this week,...

On today’s episode, we hear a field update from Zack in the coastal region and Rob and Sarah from the midlands. It seems we all have whiplash, plants included, from the above-average temperatures. Join us to hear about how crops are recovering from the cold temperatures and adjusting to this “false spring.” It may be February, but things are getting pretty busy out there! Strawberries, greens and...

Welcome back listeners! Join us as we catch up on wintry weather and things happening in the field. The theme of the day seems to be strawberry issues and cold-damaged crops. Agents from around the state discuss some of the disease issues coming from the strawberry fields as well as plant health. The state experienced some bitter cold back in January, and most areas are seeing signs out in the fie...

In this Deep Dive episode, Sandra Branham, Assistant Professor of Vegetable Breeding and Genetics, talks about breeding vegetable crops to meet the unique needs of growers in South Carolina.

In this “Thanksgiving Week Edition” of the SC Grower Exchange, agents from the midlands and coastal region share field updates. We have a seasonal “question of the week” from Justin Ballew, and the gang shares their favorite Thanksgiving side dish and pie flavor. It seems like sweet potato sides are a crowd favorite, but there is some debate on marshmallow vs. pecan toppings.

Justin Ballew and Zack Snipes talk about citrus in South Carolina, including citrus greening, cold tolerance, and a few dad jokes.

It’s November…What holiday season are you in? Do you jump straight into Christmas cheer, or do you wait for the turkey to have his time to shine? It seems we’ve got several agents still stuck on Halloween (maybe because of the leftover candy)! No matter what you’re celebrating, there’s no denying it’s strawberry growing season. Agents from across the state share what they are seeing in the fields....

On this episode, agents from all regions of the state weigh in on the upcoming strawberry season, including cultural practices and pesticide treatments for growers to pay attention to. With plants going in the ground, there are a lot of things to look for early on that could help with issues that could show up later in the season. Planting practices, water and preventative treatments are some of t...

Agents from all regions of the state report on the impact of Hurricane Helene and current field conditions. While the scale of the damage varies across the state, most areas and crops have been affected by wind damage. Pecans seem to have been hit particularly hard, and some crops required replanting due to water damage. Check out the SC Grower blog for pictures and more updates from the field.

In this month's deep dive, Rob last meets with Dr. Guido Schnabel to discuss the fungal plant pathogen neopestalotiopsis, tips for minimizing the effects of the disease, management options and strategies, and much more.

The weather is cooling down a bit, and things are drying out (except for the areas affected by a somewhat surprising tropical storm). Andy, Christiana, Rob, and Sarah share updates from the fields. We are switching gears from summer to fall crops and keeping an eye out for pest and disease issues that could pop up. Growers from all over the state are preparing for strawberry season as well. Justin...

We cover updates from all regions of the state in this episode. Agents share how crops are currently performing and give some tips for future ones. Tune in to hear about how we are moving into the next season of growing. Strawberry growers will be especially interested in checking out some of the latest blog posts about important updates regarding a dramatic neopestalotiopsis outbreak that has gre...

In our last episode, we discussed the anticipation of inclement weather from TS Debby. Today, agents join in to discuss the aftermath of the storm and share some resources for growers affected by the heavy rains many parts of the state experienced. If you were affected by the storm, there are also resources available on the SC Grower Blog. In the field this week, we are winding down many crops jus...

On this month’s deep dive, Extension agent Zack Snipes chats with Dr. Matt Cutulle about weed management in South Carolina. They discuss how cutting edge science and the modernization of agriculture is attracting non-typical students to the agriculture field. Dr. Cutulle gives some insight into how to change our mindset when managing problem weeds.

As South Carolina prepares for the arrival of potentially heavy rains from “Debby,” agents provide some good reminders for growers in the wake of the storm. It looks as if many areas will be affected by the storm, and we will have updates on the aftermath in the next episode. For now, we have reports from all regions of the state as far as crops and the issues we are seeing in the field right now....

Agents from all regions of the state report on weather and field conditions. It seems we are finally starting to get some good rain across the state, and with that comes disease pressure. During the dog days of summer, we really must be vigilant in scouting for issues in our crops. Christiana and Zack remind growers that strawberry season is near, and it is a great time to consult with your local...

This month, Justin Ballew meets with Research & Extension Specialist Tom Bilbo (Vegetable & Strawberry Entomology) to discuss managing diamondback moth in brassica crops with mating disruption.

This week, agents discuss weather, pest and disease reports from the Pee Dee, Midlands, Coastal and Upstate regions of the state. It seems we have all gotten a good bit of rain following a very dry spell. With moisture brings new disease issues and an urgency to scout and keep a close eye on summer crops. Join us to hear about the insects that we are finding and how to best handle them, as well as...

A common theme for today’s episode is the HEAT and lack of rain. Agents from around the state report little to no precipitation and very warm temperatures, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to any South Carolinians. While dry weather keeps some issues at bay, it does bring on others. Reports from the coast, midlands and upstate are shared, and we discuss some commonalities in issues we are seeing...

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...