Vegetable Crop Harvest Continues In The Southeast While Cool Weather Gives Relief To Growers

Sep 28, 2012

Weather

We had 1/10 of an inch of rain on three rain events. Temperatures ranged from 31 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of this past week has been cloudy with some fog in the early morning. Humidity has ranged from 30 to 95 percent with five to 18 hours of wetness.

Crops and pests

Harvest is ongoing for most crops, including tomatoes, peppers and cucurbits. The major insect pest is aphids, seen in various crops.
Most potato growers are half-way done with their harvest. Pumpkin harvest continues and growers are keeping their vines healthy to the best of their knowledge. Powdery mildew in pumpkins continues to be the challenge.
Brassica-cole crops are benefiting from the cool weather and developing with no apparent disease problems. Scout cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and radish fields for any early symptoms of cabbage downy mildew; the current weather is conducive for this disease. Aphids are moving into these crops, too.
Source: Michigan State University Extension

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.