Top 4 Specialty Crop Takeaways from 2019

Ben Gilbert, Tennessee Farmers Cooperative’s specialty crops agronomist, shares his top four takeaways from 2019.

1. The hottest topic in 2019 was hemp. The year began with much optimism and hype about the crop but ended carrying a lot of negative baggage.

The hemp industry faced major challenges in 2019 — from difficult growing conditions on the farm to lack of capacity at the processors. As growers, we learned that we have the information and tools needed to successfully grow the crop, but challenges with processing the biomass continues to be a major concern.
 

2. Angular Leaf Spot became tobacco growers’ largest issue in 2019 because most of the labeled controls for the disease are lackluster in effectiveness. We have found that greenhouse sanitation goes a long way in reducing the amount of Angular Leaf Spot in the crop. Growers also found that sanitizing mower blades between beds and mowing before plants get too big made a huge difference in the amount of disease found in the field.

 

3. In the sweet corn fields, we have seen some issue with the breakdown in Bt-corn before harvest, probably due to 2019’s dry summer and high worm pressure during the fall. To control the pests, growers made additional applications before harvest.

 

4. The region’s tomato crops also suffered from 2019’s dry summer conditions with a rise in insect pressure, especially thrips and white flies. This once again proves that in dry weather we can expect greater insect pressure, and in wet weather, an increase in disease pressure.

Who knows what 2020 will bring this year for farmers in the mid-south states? But regardless of the challenges, you can depend on your local Co-op for expert advice and personalized service.

We are grateful for your business, and I, along with my fellow Co-op agronomists, look forward to helping you make 2020 the best year yet!