2012

Late Blight Confirmed on Potato in Central New Jersey May 23, 2012: This is the first confirmed report of late blight in the region this season.
Canada thistle in strawberry plantings. May 8, 2012: Got Canada thistle? In strawberries? It’s not unusual. Canada thistle is one of Pennsylvania’s worst perennial weeds and often infests strawberry plantings.
Determining How Long to Run Drip Irrigation Systems for Vegetables May 4, 2012: As a general rule, vegetable crops require 1 - 1.5 acre-inches of water per week. Penn State's Elsa Sanchez and Bill Lamont explain how to determine how long to run your drip irrigation system to meet this need.
Stewart's Wilt could be back in Sweet Corn in 2012 May 3, 2012: Stewart's wilt of sweet corn can cause significant damage. The extent is directly correlated to winter temperatures. What can we expect in 2012?
Encouraging Beneficial Insects on your Farm May 3, 2012: Beneficial insects do a lot of pest management naturally, with little help from us.
Spring Weather and Row Covers May 3, 2012: This past summer, fall, winter and now this spring - have been unusual. One item that can help growers deal with the weather changes, at least for plants that are close to the ground, is a floating row cover. There are many different types from which to choose.
Summary of Amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Crops and Processing) May 3, 2012: The National Organic Program has recently published a final rule: Amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Crops and Processing). A brief summary of the final rule is included below.
Safe and Effective Pesticide Use May 3, 2012: What do you think of when you hear the term "Pesticide Use?" You probably only think about pesticide application. However, there is much more to SAFE and effective pesticide use than just the application process.
June 2012 New Grape Grower Workshop May 3, 2012: Mark Chien (Penn State), Fritz Westover (Texas A&M Extension), and Scott Guiser (Penn State) are offering a one-day workshop for beginner and prospective wine grape growers in Center Valley, Pennsylvania (near Allentown).
Hands on Specialized Equipment for Vegetable Production Workshop in July May 3, 2012: Equipment! Which piece do I buy? What works best? The Seed Farm will showcase soil and weed management equipment and techniques for small- to medium-scale vegetable producers.
Guide to Financing the Community Supported Farm May 3, 2012: The complete guide or individual chapters from the publication Guide to Financing the Community Supported Farm are now available.
Greenhouse samples - A common theme May 1, 2012: Over the last 3 weeks, the Plant Disease Clinic has received many greenhouse samples with root problems from a wide variety of plant material.
Cabbage, onion or seed corn maggot? April 19, 2012: With the warm weather insects are early this spring. Growers have seen damage from onion, seed corn and possibly cabbage maggot. Onion maggot damage of 10-20% has been confirmed in two fields in the Shippensburg area. Bean seed maggot was confirmed in Northampton County yesterday.
Research Underway at Penn State's Horticulture Farm April 16, 2012: Warm season vegetable crops still have several weeks of waiting to be planted in central Pennsylvania fields but Penn State researchers are still busy with field work.
Early Start to Bugs vs Man April 12, 2012: While most people think that vegetable pests are a major problem during the middle of the growing season (during the summer), there are insects that are ready to go as soon as a crop is planted - even in early spring!
Kabocha/ Buttercup Squash Cultivar Evaluations April 2, 2012: Take a look at the results of our 2010-11 kabocha and buttercup squash cultivar trials.
Frost Protection for Berries April 2, 2012: Given the growth stage of berry crops and the current weather, frost protection is on everyone’s mind. I thought this might be a good time for a re-run of a portion of a frost-related article, and some frost-related “Berry Good Questions” from past years paraphrased and condensed, plus a couple of new ones thrown in.
Avipel Receives 24(c) Label in Pennsylvania March 27, 2012: A Special Local Needs 24(c) label has been issued for the use of the bird repellant Avipel on field and sweet corn. The label allows for hopper-box application only.
Phone Calls and Tissue Analysis March 26, 2012: Early tunnel tomatoes require special attention to nutrition. Here are some items of interest to high tunnel tomato and pepper growers.
Planning Starts for 2013 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference March 15, 2012: The Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference is a huge undertaking and one that requires a lot of planning. Event organizers are already meeting to create another great conference for January 29-31, 2013.
Managing Bacterial Pathogens in Vegetable Seed with Hot-Water Treatment March 14, 2012: Hot water seed treatment is one way to reduce bacterial disease on your farm. See why and how toos from Dr Meg McGrath, Cornell University.
New Plant Hardiness Zone Map March 14, 2012: The United States Department of Agriculture recently released a new Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Butternut Squash Cultivar Evaluation March 13, 2012: To provide growers with information for successful, region-specific cultivar selection, in 2010-11 we evaluated several types of squash cultivars in a conventional system across the state.
Some Thoughts on Common Potato Scab March 13, 2012: I have often said to growers and potato breeders that I believed common scab was a serious problem in potatoes, because like it or not, potatoes are in a beauty contest at the local supermarket. Yes, we know you can peel off the skin with the scab on it and you are fine and your mash potatoes look beautiful. It is just that scab ruins the outward appearance of a beautiful, bright round white potato.
Talking Tomatoes March 13, 2012: Tomato growing can be a tricky business. Several years ago late blight wiped out many home garden tomatoes, while commercial growers had to be extra vigilant in their crop protection programs in order to reach harvest. Every year is different and Mother Nature threw its weight around last summer. That greatly affected the commercial growers this time, more than home gardeners.
Publication Available Online: Season-Long Strawberry Production with Everbearers March 13, 2012: For those of you who are interested in producing day-neutral strawberries, there's a guide out there for you -- "Season-Long Strawberry Production with Everbearers for Northeastern Producers." This 70-page guide covers information on production techniques, economics, and pests in day-neutral production.
High Tunnel Raspberries and Blackberries Manual Updated and Expanded March 13, 2012: Northeast growers can capture more of the lucrative local market for fresh berries by growing brambles (raspberries and blackberries) in high tunnels. And the place for them to start is with the updated and expanded edition of High Tunnel Raspberries and Blackberries.
Pristine on Blueberry Labels -- Where Did It Go? March 13, 2012: You may encounter new Pristine product labels that list instructions for bushberries, but with the words "except blueberry" added.
Tomato Session Overview From the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference February 24, 2012: It was a tough year for some tomato growers as flooded fields and saturated soils prevented or inhibited harvest. Regardless of Mother Nature's curveball last year, it appears that tomato growers remain optimistic based on the huge attendance at the tomato session at the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference.
High Tunnels on the March February 22, 2012: The crowds were very large at the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference with certain sessions very popular. Over the years, high tunnel talks and sessions have become a 'destination of choice' as growers utilize the technology to extend the growing season.
All-day Soil Borne Disease Management Workshop March 20 February 20, 2012: Through funding from the NE-SARE, this workshop has been designed to train participants throughout the Northeast in the identification, assessment and management of soilborne pathogens and to provide resources that can be used on-farm and in various outreach activities.
Taking a Good Soil Sample this Spring February 17, 2012: I had the benefit of hearing Dr Doug Beegle from Penn State speak recently about soil testing and interpretation at the Mid Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference. If you did not take a soil test last fall and are gearing up to test this spring, you might be interested in the following tips.
All-Day Strawberry/Bramble School in Gettysburg, PA, March 7, 2012 February 17, 2012: Penn State Extension and the Penn State Department of Horticulture are excited to announce the All-Day Strawberry/ Bramble School. This school covers everything you wanted to know about strawberry, raspberry and blackberry production in a one intensive day. Topics that will be covered include basics of production; variety performance; disease, insect, and weed management; fertility; high tunnel raspberry production; considerations for organic production; and marketing pointers.
Start Now for Insect and Disease Management in Vegetable Transplants February 17, 2012: Pest management for vegetable transplant production is an integrated process and includes sanitation, sound cultural practices, the use of resistant cultivars (where possible) and finally, proper use of the correct pesticide. Your pest management program should be starting now in the greenhouse.
Best Performing Tomatoes from the 2011 High Tunnel Tomato Trials February 17, 2012: All of the tomatoes noted below were from the planting in the Haygrove Super Solo high tunnel at the Penn State Southeast Research and Extension Center (Landisville Farm). They were replicated twice within the tunnel. If one of the tomato plots was in an outside row, the other was inside. If one tomato plot was at or near the end, the other was closer to the center. The tasting comments come from the annual tomato tasting held at the Franklin County Extension Office in late-August.
Pumpkin Session Overview From the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference February 9, 2012: The pumpkin session at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference is one of the more heavily attended sessions at the 4-day event. Here is a quick synopsis of the session.
USDA Survey Shows Rise in Winter Farmers Markets January 30, 2012: Nationwide, consumers are looking for more ways to purchase and consume locally grown foods throughout the year. In response, winter farmers markets are on the rise. And to supply those winter markets, growers in the northeast are focusing on improving their ability to store vegetables through the winter.
Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide for PA Now On-Line January 19, 2012
Biodegradable Mulch Demonstration Update January 18, 2012: In order to look at the possible labor and resource savings Penn State Extension educators, working with growers, laid biodegradable mulch at seven sites in Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Snyder, and Bucks Counties. Take a look at what we learned and farmer tips on how to work with biofilms.
Bacterial Disease Management in Vegetables January 18, 2012: Now is the time to start thinking about managing bacterial diseases during the 2012 season! To help, a special pre-convention workshop on hot water seed treatment is being offered January 30, 2012 from 1-5pm at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention in Hershey, PA…see more information below.
High Tunnel Biocontrol Workshop Coming Soon January 5, 2012: A High Tunnel Biocontrol Workshop is being offered on February 1, 2012 from 7-9 pm this year at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Financial Assistance Initiatives January 5, 2012: NRCS accepts applications for financial assistance on a continuous basis throughout the year. There will be three ranking periods for the Organic, On-Farm Energy and Seasonal High Tunnel initiatives, all ending on February 3, March 30 and June 1, 2012.
Delay in Mid-Atlantic Berry Guide January 5, 2012
Grower Survey for Proposed Project: “Shielding Cucurbit Crops for Resilient Agroecosystems” January 5, 2012: If you grow cucubits please take five minutes for this important survey. Researcher want to help growers produce more profitable and sustainable cucurbit crops.
2012 Mid-Atlantic Convention Opens January 31 January 5, 2012: The 2012 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention is set for January 31 to February 2, 2012 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. About 1,900 fruit, vegetable, and berry growers and other industry persons from throughout the mid-Atlantic region and beyond are expected to attend.

Vegetable and Small Fruit Production

2012

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