Articles


Bacterial Spot of Tomato and Pepper
Bacterial spot is the most common disease of peppers in Alabama and is a recurring problem on tomatoes grown in the state. The disease can significantly affect marketable yield.

Measure of Chill Accumulation Has Begun
Hot summer temperatures remain, but the season for measuring chill hour accumulation for the dormancy period has arrived.  Chill accumulation is measured as the amount of time trees are exposed to cool temperatures.  For our region, chill accumulation begins on October 1 and continues through February 15 of the following year.

Phosphorus Basics: Deficiency Symptoms, Sufficiency Ranges, and Common Sources
The right balance of phosphorus is vital to plant health. Learn deficiency symptoms, tissue sufficiency ranges, and common phosphorus sources.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Alabama Hemp Program
The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as an agricultural commodity and removed it from the controlled substance list.  Producers across the country may now legally farm hemp as part of an approved hemp regulatory program.  Since the 2018 Farm Bill passed, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI), Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) have been inundated with questions from across the state. Please review the FAQs below to see if your question is answered before calling the Department.

Manage Pests in Your Fall and Winter Vegetable Gardens
Now that fall is upon us, gardeners should take the needed steps to manage pests in their fall and winter vegetable gardens. People often forget that this time of year is when some pest populations are extremely high.

Alabama Producers Harvest Crops Despite Widespread Drought
Widespread drought continues in Alabama, as nearly 84 percent of the state is in severe drought. In fact, 55 percent of the state’s soil and subsoil moisture is reported to be “very short.” Even with these conditions, producers are still hard at work bringing in this year’s crop. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 96 percent of the corn planted in Alabama has been harvested. Harvest of other crops—including cotton, peanuts and soybeans—is still underway.

Register for Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Conference 
Registration for the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) conference is now open. The conference is slated for Nov. 21 – 22 at the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center in Clanton.

Farming Basics Mobile App Now Available
Clear pictures depict each crop, insect, and disease. Other features include crop and pest alerts, location services, with contact information for Extension regional agents, and an activity calendar linking to upcoming meetings and field days.

Current Events

Year-round Extension events

• Private Pesticide Applicator Training Classes (Alabama Pesticide Education Program)

• 2019 Commercial Horticulture Webinar series: (monthly at 9:00 a.m.): See the Topics for 2019. 
• 2019 All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series is open to all public starting February 1 through December 6, at 2:00 p.m. See the flyer for all topics.
• Crops Webinars: Cover Crops Systems, Fertilizing Cover Crops
• 2019 Fall Beekeeping Webinar Series: October 15, 22, 29 from 6-7pm. Click here to register for the webinars.

• Contact an Agronomic Crops Regional Extension Agent for up-to-date event listing and for registering. Additional event listings are available on the ACES website.
• November 13, 2019: Pesticide Clean Day. Bullock, Chambers, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Macon, Montgomery, Russell, Tallapoosa Counties. Details about this program can be found on the ACES calendar.

• Contact a Commercial Horticulture Regional Extension Agent for up-to-date event listings and for registering.
• October 15, 2019: Farm Community Meeting. Decatur Farmers Market, 5pm. Email karen@crotovina.com
• October 24, 2019: Produce Safety Alliance Training. Pike County Extension Office, 306 South Three Notch Street, Troy, AL. Contact: Donna Martin: (334) 566-0985. Email: dmm0074@auburn.edu
• November 18, 2019: Produce Safety Alliance Training. Lions Club, 455 School Street, Moulton, AL. Contact: Shannon Murray: (256) 974-2464. Email: murrash@aces.edu
• November 20, 2019: Produce Safety Alliance Training. Clanton City Hall Kitchen. 505 2nd Avenue North, Clanton, AL. Contact: Elaine Densmore: (205) 280-6268. email: ezd0007@aces.edu
• November 5-26, 2019: Blueberry School Webinar Series. Please click here for registration.
• November 11, 2019: Fall High Tunnel Vegetable Workshop. Shorter, AL. Joy Haven Farm. Please pre-register by calling the Macon County Extension Office at (334) 727-0340 by Friday, November 8^th.  Workshop cost: FREE for everyone! 
• December 8-10, 2019: Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC). Opelika, AL. See more details about the conference.
• December 9, 2019: Produce Safety Alliance Training. AL Agriculture and Industries Bldg. 1445 Federal Drive Montgomery, AL. Contact: Lula Tyson-Bailey: (334) 270-4133. Email: tysonlk@aces.edu
• January - December 2019: 2019 Master Gardeners Lunch and Learn Programs. Autauga County: First Thursday of every month. Montgomery County: First Wednesday of every month. Elmore County: Second Tuesday of every month. Contact your local Extension office for more information.
• January 18 - December 4, 2019. Private Pesticide Applicator Training/Testing Classes. See the full schedule here.
• March 7 - September 5, 2019: Farming 201; A series for small beginning, and transitioning farmers. 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Selma, AL. See the calendar for more information.
• December 5-7, 2019: Food and Farm Forum. Youth Food and Farm Forum. Fairhope, AL.

• November 21-22, 2019: Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Association Conference. Clanton, AL. Visit the AFVGA website for more information. 
• December 5-7, 2019: Food and Farm Forum (by ASAN). Camp Beckwith, Fairhope, AL. Click here for the agenda and website.
• January 16-17, 2020: Gulf States Horticulture Expo. Mobile, AL. See more information here for the conference agenda.

• November 3-5, 2019: Florida Industrial Hemp Conference and Expo. Orlando, FL. See more information here for the website.

 
ACES Calendar