One can hardly glance at the news recently without noticing an item about the health of bees and other pollinators. We can all agree on the importance pollinators play in the health of our planet and the critical role honey bees and bumble bees play in agriculture. There is no doubt that populations of honey…Read more about Pollinator Health and Foliar Fungicide Use[Read More]
Vegetable Crops - General
Many pesticides for use on vegetables have varying rules for use in different states. This article will review the different classes of labels for pesticides and where to find labels online. The shorthand names for classes of labels come from the section of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act that governs each class. National…Read more about Finding Pesticide Labels for State-specific Registrations[Read More]
The Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers 2018 (ID-56) was printed in December 2017. At the same time, the on-line version was posted at mwveguide.org. As updates need to be made to the ID-56, I will make those updates to the on-line version. I will announce these updates in the Hotline as I post…Read more about Updates to the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide[Read More]
One way insects communicate with individuals of the same species is with pheromones. Pheromones are volatile chemicals released by an insect that usually can be detected only by individuals of the same species. There are a number of different types of pheromones, but the most common type is the sex pheromone. Usually the females will…Read more about Pheromones and Pheromone Traps[Read More]
This is the time of year when growers begin planting seed—whether you are child planting a few seeds in Dixie cup for a school project, home tomato growers, or professional horticulturists. Unfortunately, one problem you may share in common is damping-off. Damping-off describes the death of seeds or seedlings and includes all of the following…Read more about Damping-off[Read More]
This article is my response to a grower’s question about lowering soil pH in a high tunnel. The soil test indicated pH of the soil in his high tunnel was 7.7. The high pH could be partially caused by alkaline water he used to use for irrigation. The grower has changed the water source, but…Read more about Lowering Soil pH in High Tunnels[Read More]
On January 1, products containing >6.5% dicamba and an agriculture use label are now restricted use pesticides. In order to purchase these herbicides, buyers must carry a private or commercial pesticide applicator license. While dicamba herbicides have been on the market for over 50 years to control broadleaf weeds, the recent development of dicamba resistant…Read more about Using Driftwatch/Fieldwatch to Help Dicamba Applicators Locate Sensitive Crops[Read More]
If you have not joined this free marketing and network program for growers, buyers and food producers in Indiana, take a moment to join today! Visit www.indianagrown.org to submit your Member application. Indiana Grown has received recognition and funding from the State Legislature to strengthen our local and regional food networks. Once you join, you…Read more about Indiana Grown[Read More]
Welcome to a new year of the Vegetable Crops Hotline (VCH), Purdue Extension’s newsletter for people in the business of growing vegetables. As usual, we will have fifteen issues throughout the 2018 growing season. The first issue of the year is sent to all who subscribed to VCH via US-mail in 2017 as well as new subscribers for 2018. To…Read more about Welcome to a New Year of Vegetable Crops Hotline[Read More]
This is the final issue of the Vegetable Crops Hotline (VCH) for 2017. Now is the time for subscribers who receive a paper copy in the mail to renew. A renewal form is included with this issue. Note that we provide an up-to three years’ subscription of VCH with a reduced price. You can also sign-up for…Read more about Time to Renew[Read More]