I’ve been busy this week attending meetings of nut and fruit growers in Tifton and near Young Harris, GA. In Tifton I sat in on the annual meeting of the Northern Nut Growers Association and listened to talks on chestnuts, walnuts, and hazelnuts as well as olives, mulberries, persimmons, and other potential new crops for the Southeast. In Young Harris I participated in a UGA workshop for new grape growers who are learning about how to develop vineyards and wineries in Georgia.
Both of the meetings were very interesting and provided some good information on how weather and climate affect these crops. For example, did you know that drought is bad for most crops but a dry year is actually very good for grapes because it reduces the amount of rot that affects the quality of the grapes when harvested? Here is a picture of the Crane Creek Winery vineyard where the meeting was held. Note the big fan in the vineyard which is used for frost protection.
I’d love to talk to you about how weather and climate affects your crop production and management techniques. Feel free to contact me at pknox@uga.edu.
