The 7th Annual Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day is heading to Meigs Horticulture Research Farm in Lafayette, IN, in 2024! This amazing event consistently draws more than 150 farmers from around the Midwest to hear from experts, meet with company representatives, network with other farmers, and experience in-field equipment demonstrations of all manner[Read More…]
Ashley Adair
Purdue University’s Sustainable Horticulture Lab is leading an Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems study on organic farms. The study aims to determine the impact of integrated systems on soil health, microbial communities, and food pathogens on the farm. The lab will also explore the economic feasibility of these systems. For those who would like to participate in[Read More…]
September 25th began cloudy and gray, with a hint of autumn in the air and the bustle of field day preparation on Ohio State’s Wooster campus. The Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day, an annual event by The Land Connection, partnered with Ohio State this year to bring mechanical weed control demonstrations to northeast Ohio.[Read More…]
The 2023 dry edible bean harvest wrapped up in mid-September. This season was unique from a weather standpoint – dry in June and wet in July, rather than the other way around. How did this affect the trial? Dry beans are a short-season crop, especially compared to many of the field crops we are used[Read More…]
Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day returns Wednesday, September 27, 2023, to OSU Wooster Campus in Wooster, OH. WHAT TO EXPECT In-field demonstrations of cultivation tools for vegetables and row crops Demonstrations of implements on both four-wheel and two-wheel tractors Expo featuring industry-leading cultivation companies and cutting-edge tools Conversations with international cultivation experts …and more! The field day connects farmers,[Read More…]
Drought tolerance is top of everyone’s mind this year. Dry conditions and cover crops don’t always mix – they use precious moisture in dryland agriculture that’s rarely returned in a timely fashion. In irrigated agriculture, the expense of irrigating them might not be justified. However, there are cover crops that tolerate dry conditions and still[Read More…]
What can a relative of broom corn do for you on a vegetable farm? Build biomass while beating the heat! Sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum x drummondii) (Figure 1) is a summer-loving hybrid cover crop species. Its parents are wild sorghum, native to sub-Saharan Africa, and domesticated sorghum, known as broom corn or milo in our part of[Read More…]
Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) has been cultivated for thousands of years (Figure 1). Not at all related to wheat, buckwheat gets its common name from an old Dutch word that means “beech wheat” due to the seed’s resemblance to a beech nut. A member of the smartweed family, buckwheat is a cousin to familiar species like[Read More…]
A diversified farm plans its crop rotation around producing various perishable products that sell well, like tomatoes, peppers, and leafy greens. As the farm builds market opportunities, it might consider adding new or unusual crops to the crop plan. Storage crops can be part of that plan, extending the sale season for growers and additional[Read More…]
Are you a certified organic farmer producing fruits, vegetables, or nuts? Purdue is participating in a multi-state project to help you navigate National Organic Program standards and third-party food safety certification. We have put together a voluntary survey to collect information on your experiences in this space. Our goal with this survey is to identify[Read More…]