Weather Extremes Test Georgia Watermelon Crop

Growers say drought and heavy rain created challenges before this year’s watermelon harvest.

CORDELE, Ga. (Farm Monitor) — Georgia watermelon growers are in the heart of harvest after a growing season marked by drought, heavy rainfall and changing weather conditions.

Jacob Jackson of Jackson Farms said drip irrigation helped the crop through the drought, but heavy rains later in the season created new challenges after the dry conditions.

Jackson said harvest has gone smoothly despite the weather, adding that skilled labor remains essential because every watermelon is harvested by hand.

Related Stories
Growers say the guest worker program has become increasingly costly and complicated.
State leaders say rising costs are making it harder for family farms to remain profitable.
The University of Georgia is developing new ag technology with robotics and AI to identify pigweed and remotely track insect populations in crop production.
More than two decades after opening, the market now hosts dozens of vendors each Saturday.
Growers are approaching harvest after dealing with dry conditions and periods of heavy rainfall.
The Drone Dock could make chemical preparation faster and easier for farmers.