Author: Justin Ballew

Here we see an assassin bug that has caught and is feeding on a lady beetle. Normally, both of these insects are good guys, though when assassin bugs get hungry, they will eat just about anything...

This is a pigweed seedling that came up in a field that was disked recently. Pigweed, also known as Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri), is one of the most aggressive weeds that farmers battle....

Coastal Region Zack Snipes The dog days of summer are here, and it shows. Many growers are either taking a break to beat the heat or are in a transition period. Fall crops are being put in the...

Coastal Region Zack Snipes Another hot week in the Lowcountry. We have gotten a good bit of rain in some spots, and other spots have missed the rain altogether. The hot and dry weather has caused a...

Coastal Region Zack Snipes It has been extremely hot and humid in the Lowcountry. Most of our summer crops are winding down with the heat, humidity, and disease. I know it’s summer, but now is...

These are kudzu flowers. You can see the characteristic trifoliate kudzu leaves in the background. Kudzu is one of our most common invasive plants in the Southeast. Interestingly, it was introduced...

Coastal Region Zack Snipes It is hot and humid in the Lowcountry, and I think summer is here. We are in a very busy phase in the fields as we are finishing up harvesting and preparing for the...

Statewide Tom Bilbo – Extension Entomologist Pickleworm and melonworm have arrived in the Lowcountry. Be on the lookout and ready to spray for this pest complex because of its potential to cause...

Coastal Region Zack Snipes It’s been such a good tomato crop this year that Dukes Mayonnaise came to do a photo shoot on Johns Island. The crop is coming in at exceptional volumes, and market prices...

This is downy mildew showing up on the underside of this collard leaf. While downy mildew symptoms can be seen on the top sides of the leaves, the pathogen sporulates on the underside of the leaves....

Coastal Region Zack Snipes The tomato crop is coming in at very heavy volumes. The week of rain has really started making diseases appear. I’ve seen a lot of bacterial wilt and Southern blight in...

Coastal Region Zack Snipes Warmer temperatures and lots of afternoon thunderstorms have really pushed our crops. Up until last week, this was the cleanest year I have seen in terms of disease issues...