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]
Vegetable Crops - General
Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vegetable Crops Hotline! As we move deeper into September, two critical factors are shaping Indiana’s agricultural landscape: the rapid onset of drought conditions and the approaching pumpkin harvest season. The U.S. Drought Monitor reveals a dramatic shift in our state’s moisture status—from just 26%…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
Keeping produce safe and meeting buyers’ and regulatory expectations starts with strong cleaning and sanitation practices. Farms that implement proper procedures not only protect public health but also improve efficiency and build trust with customers. To help growers and farm workers strengthen these skills, we invite you to join us on September 8th from 1:00…Read more about Cleaning and Sanitation Workshop[Read More]
With brute and sudden force, the atmosphere is doing its job: acting like a fluid. Weather is not a precise science, which means the atmosphere is constantly shifting. There tends to be some sort of pattern shift come mid-late August, and it looks like it’s just about here. Temperatures are on their way down, as…Read more about Super cool & super dry for August’s end: How the weather tables have turned[Read More]
Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vegetable Crops Hotline! What a difference a few days can make! After weeks of hot, humid weather that kept us busy managing disease pressure, we’re looking at a dramatic atmospheric shift that will bring much cooler temperatures to close out August. The National Weather…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
How many times have you watched as a potential buyer walks away from a fruit or vegetable they are unfamiliar with? On the flip side, have you noticed how a quick explanation about proper storage at home and recipe ideas—can turn hesitation into a sale? Imagine something that easily tells the customer about selecting, storing,…Read more about Boost Your Produce Sales with FoodLink: A Free Resource for Farmers[Read More]
Veteran-grown food to Indiana schools Are you a Veteran farmer in Indiana? Help Us Bring Hoosier-grown, Veteran-grown food to Indiana schools! At Ease Orchard has received a planning grant to advance the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program by focusing on one key question: How can more Indiana Veteran farmers take part? We’d love your input—no matter your…Read more about Indiana Food Systems News[Read More]
Food safety education is most effective when it is customized to meet the unique needs of its intended audience. A one-size fits all approach is not appropriate, especially when working with distinct populations such as military veteran farmers, whose shared experiences and backgrounds shape how they learn and engage in agriculture. To better understand their…Read more about National Needs Assessment Offers Guidance to Tailor On-farm Food Safety Education for Military Veteran Farmers[Read More]
Press release originally published HERE WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC), with support from the United Soybean Board, has launched the Ag Climate Dashboard — a centralized digital hub offering streamlined access to integrated climate and agricultural data and decision-support tools for producers, advisors and researchers in the Midwest. Designed to support on-farm decision-making, the Ag…Read more about New Ag Climate Dashboard Makes Climate Resources More Accessible for Midwest Farmers[Read More]