The watermelon industry is extremely popular in Georgia, with watermelons grown on approximately 20,000 acres each year. Still, consistently making a profit requires constant innovation and hard work.
Picking, grading, packing, and shipping melons remains the most costly aspect of watermelon production. Irrigating fields and applying newer, more effective fungicides to combat watermelon diseases are also two of the more expensive input costs.
Scientists with the UGA Extension and the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences conduct research trials to help farmers produce a cost-efficient and high-yielding watermelon crop.
Related Stories
Last year was a busy year for pesticide litigation in the United States. At No. 10, it kicks off RFD-TV Legal Expert Roger McEowen’s list of the “Top 10” Agricultural Law and Tax Developments of 2025.
Weather, Tight Supplies, and Planning Shape Farm Decisions
A look at the legislative year ahead as lawmakers return to Washington with a slate of trade concerns to tackle in 2026—from new Chinese tariffs on beef imports to the USMCA review this summer.
Smaller U.S. production and steady global demand could provide better pricing opportunities in 2026.
Producers across the country balanced winter weather disruptions, shifting export demand, and tightening margins as year-end decisions come into focus.
Small, locally focused wineries are finding resilience through direct sales and regional loyalty rather than scale alone.