It has been a wet summer across much of Indiana, and conditions became more challenging after historic rainfall hit east-central Indiana in mid-August. I recently had a chance to visit several pumpkin fields in the region. The amount of damage directly associated with the heavy rainfall varied considerably from field to field, clearly demonstrating how…Read more about Pumpkin Field Updates[Read More]
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PRESS RELEASE – July 22, 2026. On September 10-11, the inaugural Great Lakes Tek Flex will be held at the Michigan State University Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (MSU SWMREC) in Benton Harbor, MI. Vendor/Sponsor Update: We are excited to announce that we now have a total of sixteen (18) companies representing over twenty (20)…Read more about First Annual TEK FLEX – September 10-12, Benton Harbor, MI[Read More]
If you walked out to the garden or on the farm only to find your hard work submerged under murky water, my heart goes out to you. As a fellow gardener who has been anxiously watching the skies and the rain gauge, I know how much time and energy was poured into caring for those…Read more about Food Safety After Flooding[Read More]
After a drier-than-normal July, recent rains have put Indiana on notice for above-normal precipitation. Just two weeks into August, there was enough precipitation to cover the month’s typical August rainfall, and then some. Much of the state received over 400 percent of normal precipitation for the first two weeks of the month, and some locations…Read more about Soaking Rains to End the Summer, And Then Some[Read More]
Dear Valued Vegetable Crops Hotline Readers, Welcome to issue 777 of the Vegetable Crops Hotline newsletter! Our mission remains steadfast: to deliver crucial updates on pest management, production practices, food safety, and marketing opportunities that directly impact your farming operations. What’s Inside This Issue Central Indiana is coming off one of the wettest stretches of…Read more about From the Editors Desk[Read More]
This article was published as a Hot Topic on August 7, 2026. The first symptoms of cucurbit downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) on cucumber plants in a commercial field were confirmed in LaGrange County, Indiana, on July 29, 2026. Now is a good time to stay alert and scout fields for symptoms related to this disease. Remember, early detection…Read more about Downy Mildew Symptoms Confirmed in Indiana[Read More]
Abnormally Dry (“D0” in the U.S. Drought Monitor [USDM]) conditions were starting to develop in several areas across northern Indiana by the end of July. However, intermittent, spotty rain events as July transitioned to August seemed to occur in many of those places, suggesting conditions were returning to normal. Therefore, the only area of the…Read more about Spotty Rain Keeps Drought Away[Read More]
Originally published on July 24, 2024 Harvest season is easily one of the busiest and craziest times of the year. Crops are being harvested, packed, shipped, and sold against a backdrop of perishability, weather, and ever-changing markets. Harvest and postharvest handling are also critical times for food safety. Handling of the crop by workers, transporting…Read more about Food Safety Considerations for Postharvest Handling of Produce[Read More]
Originally published on: July 25, 2025 Fruit cracking is one of the most commonly observed disorders affecting many fruit crops. Cracking can occur in different forms, such as radial splits extending from the stem end, splits at the blossom end, or concentric rings around the fruit. Research has shown that multiple factors influence fruit cracking….Read more about What Caused the Cracking of Tomatoes and Melons?[Read More]
You are invited to attend the SWPAC Vegetable Field Day on August 13, 2026, at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) in Vincennes, Indiana. PARP credits will be offered at this event. This free educational event will provide an opportunity to learn about the latest research and Extension programs that support Indiana’s vegetable industry. Participants…Read more about Southwest Purdue Agriculture Center Vegetable Field Day – August 13[Read More]
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