ATLANTA, GA – Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper recently announced the first confirmed detection of pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei) in Georgia. The detection was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Aug. 5, in Decatur County, Georgia. Pasture mealybug is an invasive insect that primarily affects annual and perennial warm-season grasses and poses a significant threat to …
By Clint Thompson The University of Georgia (UGA) Cotton and Peanut Research Field Day was held on Wednesday and exposed growers and industry leaders to research being conducted on the UGA Tifton Campus. Specialists talked about various research topics, ranging from crop breeding to pest and disease management to cover crops’ importance. The Georgia Cotton Commission and Georgia Peanut Commission …
In late July, the Commodity Commission Ex-Officio Committee met to make appointments to the Georgia Cotton Commission Board of Directors. Morgan County cotton farmer John Ruark, Toombs County cotton farmer Chris Hopkins and Bulloch County cotton farmer Greg Sikes were each reappointed to three-year terms on the Commission’s board of directors. John Ruark Ruark is a multi-generational farmer, and farms …
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) and Georgia Peanut Commission remind growers, industry leaders and the general public that the Cotton and Peanut Research Field Day is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 2 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus in Tifton, Georgia. The GCC, GPC and University of Georgia Extension Cotton and Peanut Teams will co-sponsor the joint …
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission’s (GCC) mid-year meeting in late July provided University of Georgia Extension specialists an opportunity to update growers about this season’s crop, including the weather’s impact, cotton jassid and plant growth regulators. The annual meeting, held on July 29 in Statesboro, Georgia, allowed Camp Hand, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension cotton agronomist, to address …
By Clint Thompson The University of Georgia Extension Peanut Team recognized Georgia’s top peanut producers last weekend at the annual Georgia Peanut Achievement Club meeting at Jekyll Island. Peanut farmers and farming operations were recognized from four different regions and presented plaques for their production accomplishments. Scott Monfort, University of Georgia Extension peanut agronomist, talked about the weekend and its …
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission’s Mid-Year Meeting and University of Georgia (UGA) Cotton Pre-Harvest Workshop in late July came at an important time for the state’s cotton farmers. UGA Extension specialists provided updates for the 2026 crop. It also provided a platform for executive director Taylor Sills to address numerous issues impacting Georgia’s industry. “We’ve got the …
By Clint Thompson Cotton jassid’s lack of impact so far this season should not be a signal to Georgia growers to let their guards down. In fact, producers should be as vigilant as ever in scouting for the insect, believes Phillip Roberts, University of Georgia Extension cotton entomologist. He emphasized that fact during last week’s Georgia Cotton Commission’s Mid-Year Meeting …
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Peanut Commission reminds growers and industry specialists that the deadline to register for this year’s Georgia Peanut Tour is Friday, July 31. This year’s peanut tour will be held on Sept. 22-24 in Savannah, Georgia and the surrounding areas. Every year the tour focuses on the latest information pertaining to peanuts while providing tour attendees …
By Clint Thompson Dry weather, cotton jassid management, marketing strategies and regulatory processes – all are issues impacting the cotton industry. All were highlighted during Wednesday’s Georgia Cotton Commission’s Mid-Year Meeting and University of Georgia (UGA) Cotton Pre-Harvest Workshop. Taylor Sills, executive director of the Georgia Cotton Commission, discussed the event this year, which was held at the Nessmith-Lane Conference …
