Some areas received several inches of rain over the weekend, while others barely saw any. As planting for fall crops continues, insect pressure remains high. The rain is likely to increase disease pressure in the coming days.
South Carolina farmers can receive a $100.00 stipend for completing a short survey on the 2026 Farmers Market Price Reports. Clemson Extension is coordinating a project to collect farmers’ market price data across the state. From April – September of this year, these reports are released biweekly. The newly released reports (as well as last year’s reports) can be found at the Extension webpage here: Farmers Market Price Reports. The survey link can be found here: Farmers Market Reports – Producer Survey
Key Takeaways for Growers This Week
- Fall planting has begun – including tomatoes, peppers, and cucurbits
- Insect activity is high – aphids, leaf-footed bugs, cucumber beetles
- Heavy rain came in places – it will be difficult to access some fields this week
- Watermelon and okra are coming on strong – it’s been a great year for both
Lowcountry Report
Zack Snipes
- We have had some cells of weather come through lately, but they have been really spotty and have dumped very little rain. Hopefully, we can catch some measurable precipitation today and tomorrow. We need moisture in the ground to get fall-planted crops off to a good start and to bed up land for strawberries.
- Dr. Bilbo and I spent a day last week on St. Helena Island scouting okra, eggplant, sunflower, and hibiscus for the invasive two-spotted cotton leaf hopper. Last year, it devastated okra beginning in August. Keep an eye out for this pest as it has been found in Georgia at similar latitudes, so it is probably just a matter of time before it gets here.
- Watermelons and okra are coming in at heavy volumes and high quality.
Dr. Bilbo scouting for the two-spotted cotton leaf hopper.
Zack Snipes, ©2026, Clemson Extension
A loaded pear tree makes me ask why we don’t grow more pears in South Carolina.
Zack Snipes, ©2026, Clemson Extension
Midlands Report
Rob Last
- Insect activity remains strong, with pepper weevils, leaf-footed bugs, aphids and cucumber beetles appearing in many crops.
- As yet, we have no reports of the two-spot cotton leaf hopper being found.
- Disease activity in fields remains low, except for powdery mildew, which is appearing in many crops. Keep scouting to ensure timely treatments.
- Fall plantings, in spite of the hot, dry conditions, are developing well.
- Cut flowers are also looking great this year.
Sunflowers for cutflower production.
Rob Last, ©2026, Clemson Extension
Daniel Lyon
- I received 4 inches of rain at my house over the weekend. While this has been great for row crop growers, many of our vegetable growers have been trying to prep fields for a fall crop.
- Last week, I saw quite a few bare ground fields getting ready to plant fall squash. These fields will be nearly impossible to work now.
- The rain is not forecast to stop anytime in the next week.
