Freeze-drying is rapidly gaining momentum as a method for home food preservation as freeze-dryer units become more accessible to the general public. This unique process involves removing water from a food product to preserve its color, nutritional value, and structural integrity. In a recent Extension publication, two Purdue University researchers discuss food safety, dehydrating versus…Read more about New Publication – Freeze-drying Food Preservation[Read More]
Vegetable Crops - General
Precipitation in May has varied tremendously, but most of the state has generally been on the dry side. Areas from Vermillion and Parke Counties to Lake Michigan have received between 25% and 75% of the normal precipitation through May 27 (Figure 1). Conditions were dry enough that thunderstorm winds on May 16 prompted the National…Read more about Will May’s Mixed Precipitation and Temperatures Persist into June?[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]
Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vegetable Crops Hotline! As we move deeper into the growing season, this week’s newsletter brings you essential insights to help navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead. From understanding what drives farm decision-making to managing the unpredictable weather patterns we’ve been experiencing, we’re covering the…Read more about From the Editor’s Desk[Read More]
The Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) is one of the eight Purdue Agricultural Centers located across Indiana. What makes SWPAC unique is its location in the heart of Indiana’s watermelon-growing region—home to one of the state’s most significant specialty crop industries. In addition to watermelon and cantaloupe, southern Indiana is known for its diverse fruit…Read more about Southwest Purdue Agriculture Center Field Day Set for June 26[Read More]
The EPA is enacting new requirements for agricultural pesticide applicators. An increasing number of pesticide labels require applicators to utilize an online system called Bulletins Live! Two to determine if additional pesticide use limitations are required to protect threatened or endangered species or habitat based on 1) application location, 2) pesticide product, and 3) application month. This…Read more about New EPA Requirement for Pesticide Application[Read More]
Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit a local grower who installed an insectary strip adjacent to their high tunnel last year. They will be hosting a field day in June (Register HERE), so I wanted to take a sneak peek and see how the plants (and insects) were doing. The plants are…Read more about Introducing the Fourlined plant bug (Poecilocapus lineatus)[Read More]
The last few weeks have been on the drier side, particularly for northwestern and west-central Indiana (Figure 1). While temperatures have been seasonal, they are still gradually increasing as we approach summer. Therefore, evapotranspiration rates are starting to increase. This has resulted in the U.S. Drought Monitor classifying much of northern Indiana as Abnormally Dry…Read more about A Bit of Rain Coming Our Way[Read More]
Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vegetable Crops Hotline! In this issue, we bring you a diverse range of content to support your farming operations. We hope these insights help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of this critical time in the growing season. Growers and Purdue Extension Educators Your input…Read more about From the Editor’s Desk[Read More]
The Green tiger beetle (Cicindela campestris) is a striking ground-dwelling beetle known for its metallic green sheen and ferocious predatory behavior. Native to Europe but with several North American relatives (e.g., Cicindela sexguttata), this beetle belongs to the family Carabidae within the order Coleoptera (Figure 1). It is commonly found in dry, sandy habitats, including…Read more about Green Tiger Beetles: Ferocious Little Hunters of the Ground[Read More]