Fact Sheets

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is an invasive vinegar fly that was introduced into California in 2008, and has since been found in other states including many in the Northeast in 2011. This factsheet contains information on pest id and biology.

This full-color, 8-page publication describes specialty or novel vegetables that fit well in the current state and national promotion for vegetables, Buy Local, Buy Fresh, as well as provides marketing tips.

This guide is intended to help growers interpret soil test recommendations for using organic nutrient sources. The information presented applies to both organic and conventional farms.

Use this document to calculate organic nutrient source applications based on your soil test and compost test.

Some growers have expressed concern about soil test analysis revealing abnormally high soluble salt levels in the soils of their high tunnels. This factsheet outlines past studies and recomendations.

Soluble salts can accumulate when the application of inorganic or organic fertilizers to soils is accompanied by dry conditions, irrigation water high in soluble salts is used and/or the amount of water received at a site is inadequate to flush salts from the root zone. The result is saline soils. This factsheet outlines plant response and ways to measure soil salt levels.

We all know the benefits of plastic mulch. Not only does it keep the weeds down, it warms up the soil giving us earlier (and more) tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other heat loving veggies. But it costs us. Farmers estimate it costs $25-100 an acre for labor and disposal of plastic mulch. A possible alternative to black plastic mulch is biodegradable film mulches that look and act much like black plastic, but instead of ripping them up in the fall, you till them into the soil and the microbes degrade the material, leaving you a clean field in the spring.