Rain Chances Finally Improve After a Dry Start to May

May 18, 2020

By Pam Knox

The forecast for rain on Saturday did not look too hopeful for rain in Georgia, but the latest forecast released today looks a lot more favorable for at least an inch of rain this week. We won’t see much if anything from Tropical Storm Arthur, which will be off to our east, but a complex system of fronts and a cut-off low are expected to bring an inch to central Georgia and potentially several inches to the northeast mountains in the next week. The driest period is likely to be next weekend, with showers on and off this week. On Monday there is a slight chance of severe weather, especially in the northeast part of Georgia, but it is not expected to be a big outbreak if anything materializes. Keep an eye out just in case. The rain is sorely needed as we have had almost no rain in the first half of May, although temperatures have been quite cool, and producers have been worried about going into a flash drought. Hopefully the rain this week will give everyone some hope of a return to a wetter pattern.

Source : uga.edu

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.