Dear Valued Vegetable Crops Hotline Readers, Welcome to the second edition of the 2026 Vegetable Crops Hotline newsletter! Our mission remains steadfast: to deliver crucial updates on pest management, production practices, food safety, and marketing opportunities that directly impact your farming operations. In upcoming issues, we’ll cover several critical topics, including emerging pest challenges, innovative…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
Vegetable Crops - General
Indiana has exceeded its previous maximum duration record of 46 weeks in drought (since May 20, 2025) since the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) began in 2000. The previous record was 44 consecutive weeks. This was a bit of a surprise when I saw it, since it includes the 2012 drought and multiple other drought periods…Read more about An Impressive Amount of Rain[Read More]
The shortage of skilled, reliable labor on today’s farms and ranches continues to plague operations nationwide and represents the single greatest obstacle to the next generation continuing that family business. It’s complicated, expensive, and overwhelming, but H-2A can be a solution. Sadly, it can also be fraught with litigation and fines if not done correctly….Read more about As H-2A’s Importance Grows, So Does Its Complexity and the Need for a Trusted Partner[Read More]
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is inviting specialty crop producers and producer groups to weigh in on funding priorities for the upcoming 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). This is a valuable opportunity for Indiana’s vegetable growers to help shape how these resources are directed. The SCBGP is a federally funded program…Read more about Indiana Specialty Crop Growers: Your Input Needed on 2026 Block Grant Funding Priorities[Read More]
Dear Valued Vegetable Crops Hotline Readers, Welcome to the second edition of the 2026 Vegetable Crops Hotline newsletter! Our mission remains steadfast: to deliver crucial updates on pest management, production practices, food safety, and marketing opportunities that directly impact your farming operations. In upcoming issues, we’ll cover several critical topics, including emerging pest challenges, innovative…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training The Safe Produce Indiana team will host two Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Trainings in April and May. An in-person training will be held on Wednesday, April 8, at the Bartholomew County Extension Office in Columbus, IN. A remote training will be held on Thursday, May 7. The cost of attendance is…Read more about Upcoming Produce Food Safety Programming Offered by Safe Produce Indiana[Read More]
Extension professionals from the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department and the Diversified Farming and Food Systems Team hosted the first-ever combined Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds and Conference Complex, March 3-5, 2026. With a total of 64 educational sessions, 22 research posters, and several demonstrations to choose from over…Read more about Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference[Read More]
Michigan State University Extension will offer 6 one-hour sessions on a wide variety of irrigation related topics on March 5, as part of the MI Ag Ideas to Grow With webinar series. The topics vary with emphasis on large scale field crop management, water policy in the Midwest, and new horticulture irrigation practices. The Irrigation…Read more about Irrigation Day Webinar Series to be offered on March 5, 2026[Read More]
The original news release was published by the USDA on February 13, 2026. (Washington, D.C., February 13, 2026) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $1 billion in Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program assistance for specialty crops and sugar, commodities not covered through…Read more about USDA Announces Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Impacted by Unfair Market Disruptions[Read More]
The Sustainable Horticulture Lab at Purdue University, together with Old Capitol Farm and Burgess Draft Logging and Lumber, brings you a hands-on introductory workshop on the fundamentals of farming with horses – from handling to harnessing to hitching. Date: April 11, 2026 Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Location: Corydon, IN Cost: $15/person Local lunch…Read more about Workshop: Fundamentals of Farming with Horses April 11[Read More]