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"We bought an old farm in South Carolina and my husband went back to our farm in Vermont to finalize things there", Easter said. Data from the 2017 Census of Agriculture for South Carolina indicates between 2012 and 2017 alone, South Carolina saw a 27.8% increase in female producers and a 56.9% increase in females as principal producers on farms. Charlotte "Charley" Maxwell, conference organizer and Clemson Extension agribusiness agent, said the conference was held to connect women to resources available to help them in their agricultural endeavors. [Extracted from the article]

Both field pea and lentils are pulse crops. The Clemson Organic Plant Breeding Institute continues its "Going Organic" webinar series to teach farmers how to produce nutritional legumes and save money. Thavarajah and her team have been testing three new pulse crop cultivars - lentil, dry pea and chickpea - for South Carolina organic production. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers information on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the agricultural industry in the U.S. It mentions the disjointed recovery for the U.S. and the world, coupled with trade agreement uncertainty has created an economic and financial divide in agriculture. It discusses the need to address critical issues such as loss of government supports, tax implications, weather extremes.

Other field tour stops include one where Bhupinder Farmaha, Clemson soil fertility specialist, will discuss gypsum needs for peanut production. Field tour stops include discussions on new and current peanut varieties, as well as disease management by Dan Anco, Clemson Cooperative Extension Service peanut specialist and a report on using precision agriculture in peanuts and measuring yield data by Kendall Kirk, Clemson precision agriculture engineer. Mike Marshall, Clemson weed scientist, will talk about Clethodim control options for Texas panicum in peanut and control options for volunteer peanuts. [Extracted from the article]

Two Clemson researchers believe planting cucumbers early can help growers avoid downy mildew in their cucurbit crops. Now is the time for growers to come to the aid of their cucurbits and rise against downy mildew. The Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecast map can be used to determine where downy mildew has been reported. [Extracted from the article]

Alfalfa is often referred to as the "Queen of Forages" but perceived lack of persistence and low soil pH levels in the southern United States are keeping this queen from her throne. When companion crops are grown with alfalfa, management practices should be adjusted to maintain desired proportion of alfalfa crop in the mixture. John Andrae, fescue expert and assistant director of the Clemson Experiment Station, said some tall fescues produce ergot alkaloids that can be toxic for livestock. [Extracted from the article]

Spring crops are going in the ground and fertilizer prices are skyrocketing. "This will save growers money and increase yields by reducing fertilizer overapplication and mitigating fertilizer underapplication. [Extracted from the article]

Clemson Cooperative Extension Service commercial fruit and vegetable agent Andy Rollins said the peach crop was in pink to full bloom stage when the icy temps hit. Freeze damage to S.C. peaches, fruit? Wind gust damage Wind gusts may have done more damage than the cold. [Extracted from the article]

"If soybean germplasm can be developed that can tolerate temperatures greater than 85 degrees and then used in breeding programs throughout the Southeastern United States, this ultimately could increase soybean yields across the state and region." Soybean is one of the top cash crops grown in South Carolina, but high temperatures during the growing season limit yields and cut into profits. Two Clemson University researchers believe a better understanding of traits associated with heat tolerance in soybean can help in developing heat-tolerant varieties that can lead to more sustainable crop production. [Extracted from the article]

Brandy Byrd, IBM software development manager, said this collaboration is important because many rural farmers in the United States do not have access to the latest crop and pest management data. By digitizing this data, farmers and agriculture enthusiasts can use more real-time data to help increase their crop yields. Digital presence "The Cooperative Extension Service has information to help farmers sustainably grow productive crops", Kirk said. [Extracted from the article]

Armillaria root rot costs peach producers in South Carolina and Georgia more than $8 million annually. However, in the past decade, the peach industry has suffered severe production losses due to unpredictable weather conditions and root diseases, namely Armillaria root rot. The honey fungus (Armillaria tabescens) causes Armillaria root rot, also known as oak root rot. [Extracted from the article]

A team of Clemson University researchers is working to show how Intelligent Water and Nutrient Placement (IWNP) can help farmers increase profits while minimizing effects of agricultural practices on the environment. "This advanced technology will make it much easier and cost-effective for farmers to apply irrigation water and nutrients - like nitrogen fertilizer - where, when and in the amount needed to meet crop requirements.". [Extracted from the article]

The Clemson Peanut Loan Rate Calculator is a web-based app that allows farmers to enter grades for Runner type and Virginia type peanuts, and calculate loan values for a specific year and segregation level. Peanut harvest is underway and Clemson researchers, in conjunction with the National Peanut Lab, have developed a new tool to help farmers get a better idea of how grade affects crop value. [Extracted from the article]

Organic farming sometimes has a bad reputation for producing legumes with lower nutritional quality. Currently Kalil is involved in projects to improve disease management in pulse crops primarily focused on root rots of peas and lentils and Ascochyta blight of chickpeas. Among the objectives of this project are developing protein-enriched organic field pea and lentil varieties and providing on-farm Cooperative Extension Service educational activities. [Extracted from the article]

Tim Bryant, assistant coordinator for the Clemson IPM Program, said the newsletter highlights IPM-based Extension work throughout South Carolina. Environmental concerns and insect resistance to pesticide use led to the adoption of a new approach to pest control - Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - in the 1970s. [Extracted from the article]

Scott Graule, director of James Island Outreach, will summarize how vegetable donations from the REC have benefited the community. Lowcountry growers can learn the newest ideas and recommendations for successfully growing vegetables during the 2021 Field Day at Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center (REC) slated for June 17. Brain Ward, organic vegetable specialist, will give an update on watermelon grafting and discuss current trends in industrial hemp; and Patrick Wechter, USDA-ARS research plant pathologist, will talk about graft incompatibility in muskmelon using "Carolina Strongback" rootstock. [Extracted from the article]

With low adoption of soil health practices, more erratic and intensive rainfall events, on-farm research and outreach efforts on reduced tillage and cover crops are needed to mitigate risks and help ensure grower profitability." Three common strategies - conservation tillage, diversified crop rotations and cover crops - are used to improve soil health. Clemson researcher Bhupinder Farmaha leads a study to determine how utilizing cover crops and conservation tillage in cotton fields can lead to healthier soils. [Extracted from the article]

Nematodes plague S.C. cotton Southern root-knot nematode is a pest that has been plaguing cotton in South Carolina and other southeastern states for the past two decades. New varieties, coupled with improved nematode management and fertility practices have helped increase cotton yields and Clemson University cotton specialist says if environmental conditions cooperate, South Carolina cotton farmers could see an increase in yields this year. [Extracted from the article]

Cotton and soybeans are popping up all across South Carolina and Clemson University Extension Service specialists say these major crops are susceptible to hungry insect pests. Podworm, stink bugs, soybean looper and velvetbean caterpillar are other insect pests of soybean that Greene warns farmers to keep a check on later in the season. [Extracted from the article]

Given increased acres and a return to trend yields, agricultural economists say the corn outlook for 2020 is for a potential bumper crop that could drive down market prices while creating huge stockpiles that could take years to reduce. Guest speaker Mark Welch, a professor and Extension economist from Texas A&M University, said United States farmers produce about 40 percent of the world's corn. "Corn and soybeans are major row crops in South Carolina and we need to provide as much information as we can to help our farmers grow profitable crops". [Extracted from the article]

More than half of South Carolina is in a moderate to severe drought and another 26 percent is abnormally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, and Clemson University researchers and Cooperative Extension Service agents say it is affecting crop yields. "If the drought extends into the fall and winter without significant rainfall across South Carolina, then it is likely to become more of an exceptional drought", Walker said. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports that Researchers from the Clemson University Edisto Research and Education Center (REC) are working on projects they believe will help South Carolina farmers conserve water and save money. It mentions effort to encourage adoption of innovative approaches, practices and systems on working lands.

The article informs that corn outlook for 2020 is for a potential bumper crop that could lower market prices while creating stockpiles that could take years to reduce. Topics discussed include information on use of enterprise budgets as guides for planning on individual farms; importance of proper soil nutrition for variety of corn or soybean; and additive recommendations for South Carolina to make better soil nutrient management decisions.