One heat wave down, more to come. It is summer, though, so aside from expecting plenty of hot days, the primary concern is that reference (or potential) evapotranspiration (ET) significantly exceeds precipitation, which would ultimately lead to drought-related impacts. The National Weather Service provides a 7-day forecast reference ET product as well as a 7-day…Read more about More Heat on the Way[Read More]
Vegetable Crops - General
Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vegetable Crops Hotline! As summer heat continues to challenge Indiana growers, this week’s edition provides essential guidance for managing the intensifying conditions ahead. With more heat waves expected and reference evapotranspiration significantly exceeding precipitation, it’s crucial to stay vigilant about drought-related impacts while addressing…Read more about From the Editor’s Desk[Read More]
Indiana FSA State Newsletter Publication date: June 16, 2025 2025 County Committee Elections The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) opens nominations for county committee members on June 16, 2025, and encourages all farmers, producers, and FSA program participants to take part in the County Committee election nomination process. Elections will occur in…Read more about USDA Farm Service Agency -2025 County Committee Elections[Read More]
Calling all corn and soybean producers and agricultural advisers! The United Soybean Board (USB), in partnership with the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC), Iowa State Extension, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship, and the Iowa Soybean Association, invites you to a virtual workshop informing the future of the MRCC’s Ag Climate Dashboard and new…Read more about July 16: Get Paid for Your Opinions About Ag Climate Data[Read More]
OISC Clean Sweep Pesticide Disposal Program is a great opportunity to legally dispose of unwanted pesticide products at little or no cost. The 2025 Clean Sweep Pesticide Disposal Program sponsored by the Office of the Indiana State Chemist (OISC) offers statewide pesticide collection sites in LaPorte, Vigo, Decatur, Clark, Whitley, and Hendricks counties in August….Read more about OISC Clean Sweep Pesticide Disposal Program[Read More]
Small and medium-sized vegetable farms face unique challenges balancing profitability with sustainable production practices and food safety requirements. To better understand how these farmers navigate complex decision-making processes, the Soil to Market Team—comprising Maria Marshall, Renee Wiatt, Petrus Langenhoven, Betty Feng, and Nathan Shoaf—conducted a comprehensive survey of 500 small and medium-sized farmers across the…Read more about Understanding Farm Decision-Making: Insights from the 2024-2025 Producer Survey[Read More]
If you haven’t had the pleasure, please allow me to introduce you to the Harlequin bug, Murgantia histronica (Figure 1). This true bug (Order Hemiptera) is equipped with piercing-sucking mouthparts and has a preference for feeding on brassica crops. Unfortunately for us, their feeding results in white blotches on the leaf tissues (Figure 2), and…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Meet the Harlequin Bug![Read More]
Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vegetable Crops Hotline! As summer heat intensifies across Indiana, this week’s edition provides timely guidance to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of the peak growing season. With temperatures running 6 to 13°F above normal and increased humidity triggering pop-up showers throughout the…Read more about From the Editor’s Desk[Read More]
I couldn’t think of a better title this week, thanks to the hot weather we’ve been experiencing and the song by Arrow. While some people enjoy the heat and humidity, I must admit that I don’t find it overly pleasant. Over the past few days, average temperatures have ranged from 6 to 13°F above normal,…Read more about Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot[Read More]