The Coastal and Pee Dee regions have been drying out from Tropical Storm Debby. Fall crops are being planted in many areas. Peach harvest is coming to a close and muscadine harvest will begin soon. Disease pressure has really kicked up. See details below.
Growers may continue to document any crop or infrastructure impacts from Tropical Storm Debby by using the ESF-17 form. The information collected will be used to estimate the statewide agricultural impact of TS Debby. Please note this form is for agricultural impacts only.
Researchers from universities across the Southeast are seeking to expand the number of crops on the MyIPM app for Vegetables. In order to do this, feedback is needed to secure funding. This app provides a lot of helpful pest information along with management recommendations. It’s like having an electronic version of the SE Vegetable Handbook on your phone. If you have used MyIPM for Vegetables, please use this evaluation to provide feedback.
Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss anything. Also, check out the latest episode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast.
Don’t forget to look at our Resources tab for links to crop handbooks, helpful websites, and related blogs.
Coastal Region
- Crop Damage from TS Debby was spotty and not widespread across Barnwell, Bamberg, Allendale, Hampton, and Jasper counties. The sun evaporated most of the water within a few days. There are still some low spots that still have standing water.
- Fortunately, many produce and vegetable growers are in between plantings, so there was not extensive crop damage.
- In isolated cases, a couple of cowpea fields were ruined by flooding. One blueberry field was standing in water for 36 hours.
- A few watermelon and cantaloupe growers that had just started picking their fall watermelon crop will not know how extensive the damage is until after they have finished picking.
- Most of the damage was erosion of roads culverts washing out.
- Many fields that did not flood but were saturated are just drying out enough to get in and spray this week. The insects, weeds, and disease will be rampant.
- Some crops in areas that did not flood put on new vegetative growth.
Blackberry and weeds growing well after all the rain from TS Debby.
Anna Sara Hill, ©2024, Clemson Extension
Midlands Region
Rob Last
- Fall plantings are continuing to be planted.
- Keep scouting regularly for pest and disease issues; timely scouting and treatment are invaluable.
- When preparing plastic mulch for new plantings, a good rule of thumb is that when stepped on, a 150-pound man should leave an indentation on top of the bed of 0.5 to 1 inch. Firm, well-consolidated beds are much more efficient for water and nutrient management, which will result in improved establishment and crop vigor. Timing is key; if the beds are too wet or too dry, they will be undesirable, and irrigation can help in dry situations.
- Elsewhere, muscadines are looking good and beginning to ripen nicely. Fruit quality looks good.
- Many diseases are currently active in crops, so scouting and robust treatments are going to be necessary.
Muscadines are ripening in Lexington County.
Rob Last, ©2024, Clemson Extension
- As the peach season winds down, growers along the Ridge continue to harvest the last couple varieties. As harvest wraps up in fields, workers move in to continue summer pruning, trunk sprays, some orchard floor management, and fertilization.
- This year, particularly the later part of the season, we have seen a good bit of brown rot. Samples are still being taken to check for fungicide resistance. Although it will not help with this season’s crop, growers can plan ahead when ordering chemicals for next season if samples show resistance.
- Anthracnose is also prevalent in some orchards. This disease is often confused with brown rot in its younger stage as the brown lesions look similar. As the disease progresses the lesion becomes sunken and concentric rings become visible. The disease can overwinter in mummified fruit and cracks in the bark of the fruit trees. Using FRAC group 11 fungicide and Captan can control this disease as well as managing orchard floors to keep leguminous host weeds out.
- New plantings of vegetables have fared well through the tropical storm and are looking good and getting established. Leaf footed bug populations seem to be on the decline as well as insect pests in general.
Visible sunken areas with concentric rings.
Sarah Scott, ©2024, Clemson Extension
Pee Dee Region
- Strawberry growers are preparing for the upcoming planting season. Plants have been ordered and soil samples are being taken. Soil samples are only $6 and provide valuable information for correcting soil pH and nutrient additions.
- This week, we gathered information on the impacts of tropical storm Debby. Growers in the Pee Dee reported 50-90% yield losses on crops like watermelons, squash, peppers, cucumbers, cantaloupe, and more. Standing water drowned their plants and caused bitter, watery, or split fruit. The rain also prevented farmers from entering their fields to spray fungicides, resulting in additional rotten fruits. Many growers also reported washed-out farm roads. Thankfully, I have not yet heard reports of damaged buildings or equipment.
- This, combined with the summer drought, has made it a very difficult year for most. If you are stressed or overwhelmed, SC AgriWellness is a free service that offers farmers health and well-being counseling, legal advice, and financial planning services. Call 800-968-8143 or visit www.scfb.org/farmstress.
Two weeks ago, this field was so green that the melons were hidden by their leaves. Now, plants are dead and melons are rotten.
Christiana Huss, ©2024, Clemson Extension
