Spring has come and gone. Where has the time gone? Probably all those late nights spent at the youth ballpark. The average spring (March–May) temperature in Indiana was 55.9°F, which was 4°F above the 1991–2020 normal. That tied spring 2026 with spring 2024 as the third-warmest spring on record statewide. March and April did most…Read more about Cool May, Stormy June, Hotter Days Ahead[Read More]
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Purdue Extension is hosting a series of cut flower production events and field tours this summer. Join the Purdue Extension Cut Flower Team to learn about cut flower production, view demonstration plantings, and connect with fellow growers and flower enthusiasts. Date/Time: July 15, 2026, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm EDT Location: Southwest Purdue Agricultural…Read more about Cut Flower Production Field Tours[Read More]
Financial stress is the psychological strain that results from concerns about one’s financial situation. For farm households, this strain is not incidental; it is a measurable and prominent feature of agricultural life. Most agricultural economists use financial ratios and/or profitability to measure farm financial stress. The financial stress measure used for this article, the APR…Read more about Farming and Financial Stress[Read More]
We’re pleased to announce that Purdue Extension will host the Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference in January 2027. Please mark your calendars for January 26–28 in Danville, Indiana. Our planning committee has already begun organizing the conference, and we would greatly appreciate your input. We welcome your suggestions for speakers, topics, panels, and more….Read more about Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference[Read More]
In this article, we discuss another plant nutrient imbalance symptom commonly observed in melon production in southern Indiana: manganese toxicity. Manganese is an essential plant nutrient, but excessive amounts can cause toxic effects. In melons, manganese toxicity usually appears as chlorotic spots made up of many tiny pinhole-like lesions that gradually merge together (Figure 1)….Read more about Melon Nutrient Imbalance — Manganese Toxicity[Read More]
In the next two articles, we discuss two melon nutrient imbalance symptoms commonly observed in southern Indiana: potassium deficiency and manganese toxicity. We will describe the symptoms, field observations, potential factors contributing to their occurrences, and potential remedy approaches. Potassium Deficiency A typical symptom of potassium deficiency in melons is yellowing along the margins of…Read more about Melon Nutrient Imbalances — Potassium Deficiency[Read More]
Local food producers interested in selling to restaurants, grocery stores, schools or wholesale distributors can join the virtual MarketReady Producer Training this August. Participants will learn how to meet buyer expectations and prepare their businesses for new market opportunities. The 3 sessions will take place on Zoom Aug 4, 11, 18 from 7:00 to 8:30pm…Read more about MarketReady Producer Training[Read More]
Purdue Extension is currently undergoing a broader transformation process that includes adjustments to priorities and resource allocation. As a result of these changes, I was recently informed that summer salary support for my Extension activities will not be available this year. Given this shift, there will be some temporary changes to the services I can…Read more about Updates to Entomology Extension Services[Read More]
Herbicide drift presents a significant challenge for specialty crop growers. Synthetic auxin-type herbicides, such as dicamba and 2,4-D, pose particular concern for tomatoes. Injury symptoms are typically easy to recognize and include distorted leaves, twisted stems, and malformed fruit. Severity of the damage depends on the herbicide dose and the plant’s growth stage at the…Read more about A Case Study of 2,4-D Drift on Tomatoes[Read More]
We have received heavy rainfall in recent days across several parts of Indiana. These conditions, combined with the current growth stage of melons (for example, the dense canopy resulting from active vegetative growth) can create favorable conditions for disease development. Diseases that may become problematic under these conditions include gummy stem blight and anthracnose (Figures…Read more about Wet Weather Increases Disease Risk in Cucurbits[Read More]
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