The April 8th solar eclipse reduced temperature and light for a period in the afternoon of an otherwise mostly sunny day. Sensors in an unheated high tunnel with open end walls at the Pinney Purdue Ag Center, Wanatah, IN, captured the change as the moon covered 96% of the sun (Figure 1). The air temperature…Read more about Air Temperature and Light in an Unheated High Tunnel During the Solar Eclipse[Read More]
Vegetable Crops - General
The Clearspring Produce Auction is located just 2 miles south of US 20 in Clearspring Township in the Heart of the LaGrange-Elkhart Amish Settlement. It is within easy driving distance of the towns of Shipshewana, Topeka, Emma, and LaGrange. Produce is sold 3 days a week throughout most of the growing season (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday),…Read more about Clearspring Produce Auction Price Update[Read More]
Lacewings are a group of insects commonly found in Indiana and throughout the world. There are several species, but the most common that you will see in Indiana include the green lacewing and the brown lacewing. They belong to a unique order of insects, Neuroptera, and are commonly referred to as aphid lions. The life…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea)[Read More]
Background High tunnels provide a hospitable environment for crops and insect pests, but little is known about the weed community present within them. From 1 December 2022 to 17 March 2023, we visited 14 farms monthly across Indiana and used a quadrat-style approach to measure weed pressure (0% to 100% weed coverage per quadrat) and…Read more about Winter Weeds as Refuge for Pest and Beneficial Invertebrates[Read More]
Common names Common chickweed, chickweed, starwort, starweed, bindweed, chicken-weeds, winter weed, satin flower, tongue grass, chickwhirtles, cluckenweed, mischievous Jack, skirt buttons, cyrillo, and white bird’s eye. Fun fact Did you notice how many common names refer to chickens? It turns out that this weed was used as a go-to in chicken and bird diets! Latin…Read more about Weed Spotlight: Common Chickweed[Read More]
Weeds can quickly take over vegetable farms, reducing yield and interfering with harvest. Effective weed management is vital for keeping farms efficient and productive. Because every farm is unique, there is no universal weed management solution. Prior to implementing a weed control strategy, you should properly identify the problematic weeds on your farm and establish…Read more about Weed Management Strategies for Vegetable Farms[Read More]
Welcome to the Vegetable Crops Hotline (VCH), Purdue Extension’s exclusive newsletter for people in the business of growing vegetables. This issue features two Spotlight articles: the Weed Spotlight on Deadnettle and the Insect Spotlight on the Two-Spotted Lady Beetle. It also includes a featured article that discusses soil fertility management in high tunnels, ethylene damage…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
NCR-SARE Welcomes Liz Brownlee This article was published by SARE in their news release dated March 21, 2024. NCR-SARE is pleased to announce Liz Brownlee’s appointment as the new Coordinator for the Farmer Rancher Grant Program. Brownlee, who was born and raised in Indiana, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this role. Brownlee…Read more about Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) News[Read More]
Are you looking to enhance your knowledge of soil fertility management in high tunnel farming? Look no further! Let’s explore the crucial aspects of High Tunnel Soil Fertility Management that can help you grow abundant and healthy crops. Spring has arrived, and with it comes the excitement of planting cool and warm-season crops. If you…Read more about High Tunnel Soil Fertility Management: What You Need to Know[Read More]
The Clearspring Produce Auction is located just 2 miles south of US 20 in Clearspring Township in the Heart of the LaGrange-Elkhart Amish Settlement. It is within easy driving distance of the towns of Shipshewana, Topeka, Emma, and LaGrange. Produce is sold 3 days a week throughout most of the growing season (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday),…Read more about Clearspring Produce Auction Price Update[Read More]