Departments and Units Resources
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This publication provides current (2025) Southeast-specific information on approved National Organic Program (NOP) disease and pest management options for blueberry production and addresses the issues most commonly encountered under the unique growing conditions of the Southeast U.S. This publication is not intended to provide all details on organic blueberry production, although it does include the production methods that reduce the impact of plant disease and pest issues.
Emphasis in an organic system should be on cultural practices that reduce disease and pest pressure rather than pesticide applications. NOP-approved pesticides are usually less efficacious than conventional products. The pesticide label is the law and supersedes any information on pesticide use contained in this guide. Because environmental conditions and grower application methods vary widely, suggested use does not imply that the performance of the pesticide will always conform to the pest control standards indicated by experimental data. This publication is a product of the Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium.
Phillip M. Brannen
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This publication reports on a strawberry variety trial to help commercial producers choose a variety or varieties best suited to the South Georgia climate while maximizing quality and yield. Based upon the field portion of this study, the highest yielding varieties also had the best storage life: ‘Camino Real’, ‘Strawberry Festival’, and ‘Camarosa’. Fruits were assessed on a variety of parameters, described in detail below.
Joshua Dawson, Angelos Deltsidis, Ramsey Corn, Erick Smith, and Camille McAvoy
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Fall armyworms are native to North America and can destroy lawn grass and other turf. They first reach Georgia in the spring or early summer, and caterpillars are noticeable in turfgrass in early July. The third, fourth, and fifth stages of fall armyworm caterpillars are the destructive stages. The younger stages (first through third larval stages) are tiny and hard to see in the grass. When infested, green turfgrass will gradually turn brown as the caterpillars grow. The damaged turfgrass may appear diseased or like it experienced drought.
William G. Hudson and Shimat V. Joseph
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C 1344-02
Using Pressure Canners
Most modern pressure canners are lightweight, thin-walled kettles; most have screw-on lids fitted with gaskets. Modern pressure canners have removable racks, an automatic vent/cover lock, a vent pipe, and a safety fuse. Use only canners that have the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) approval mark to ensure their safety. This publication covers steps to successful food preservation using pressure canners.
Carla Luisa Schwan, Ines Beltran, and Elizabeth L. Andress
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C 1344-02-SP
Uso de Envasadoras a Presión
La mayoría de las envasadoras a presión modernas son ollas ligeras de paredes delgadas; la mayoría tienen tapas de rosca con juntas. Cuentan con rejillas extraíbles, un cierre automático de ventilación/tapa, un tubo de ventilación y un fusible de seguridad. Utilice únicamente envasadoras con la marca de aprobación de Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) para garantizar su seguridad. Esta publicación explica los pasos para una conservación exitosa de alimentos con envasadoras a presión.
Carla Luisa Schwan, Ines Beltran, and Elizabeth L. Andress
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When processing acidified foods, the hot-fill-hold process involves heating the product to around 180–200 °F, then filling, inverting, and holding for 2–5 minutes to achieve commercial sterility. Higher temperatures will generally correlate with shorter hold times, and lower temperatures will generally correlate with longer hold times.
Kaitlyn Casulli
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The walnut caterpillar is native to North America and is mostly distributed in the eastern part of the United States. The larvae feed on the leaves of the plants such as pecan, walnut, butternut, and other species of hickory. Although it is an occasional insect pest, it feeds voraciously. This publication provides growers with information about its biology, damage symptoms, and management options.
William G. Hudson, Apurba Barman, and Rajendra Acharya
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The Asian longhorned beetle is an invasive insect pest native to China and North and South Korea that threatens many hardwood trees in forests and landscapes in the United States. The pest is also referred to as the roundheaded borer because the segment below the head is round in shape.
William G. Hudson and Shimat V. Joseph
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Box tree moth is an invasive pest of boxwood plants. It was introduced into New York in 2021 and has been reported in six other states. It has not been reported in Georgia yet. Boxwoods are an important ornamental evergreen shrub in the southeastern U.S., widely planted in residential, commercial, and public landscapes in both urban and suburban areas.
William G. Hudson and Shimat V. Joseph
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