The Small Farm Education Field Day and Webinar Series will take place 12:00 -1:10 pm EST, July 30 to Aug. 14, 2020. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y5ahtrow. After you register, a Zoom link will be emailed to you. If you have any questions, please contact Petrus Langenhoven at (765) 496-7955 or plangenh@purdue.eduÂ
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced an initial list of additional commodities that have been added to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), and that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made other adjustments to the program based on comments received from agricultural producers and organizations and review of market data. Producers will be…Read more about Additional Commodities Eligible for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program[Read More]
The NOAA Climate Prediction Center is showing consistent patterns the last several days for a high risk of excessive heat July 17-19. Please be prepared. Here is a factsheet about Protecting Yourself from Sun Exposure provided by Purdue Safety Specialist Brian McDonald that can be very helpful this time of the year.
Manganese (Mn) toxicity was observed in a cantaloupe field at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center this year. This is a plant nutritional disorder related to acid soils and it usually occurs in clusters in a field. A plant tissue test confirmed that the Mn level in the leaves of the affected plants was 3766 ppm,…Read more about Manganese Toxicity on Cantaloupe Observed Again[Read More]
About half of the watermelon fields in our area are not equipped with supplemental irrigation. Watermelon production in these fields is therefore dependent exclusively on rainfall. In fields where supplemental irrigation is available, drip irrigation under black plastic mulch is the most commonly used system. Overhead irrigation through central pivot is also used in some…Read more about Considerations for Irrigation Management in Watermelon Production[Read More]
During an OFRR, produce safety experts from ISDH, ISDA, and Purdue Extension will visit produce farms in the state to assess readiness for a FSMA inspection. These reviews are free, voluntary, and confidential. An OFRR takes approximately 2 hours, and it is scheduled at a time that is convenient for the grower. The reviewers will…Read more about On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRR), a Free Resource to Indiana Produce Growers[Read More]
Hoosier Food Market, an online sales platform where farmers can sell directly to consumers with no overhead costs. COVID-19 has changed the way we do a lot of things. Purdue Agriculture recognized that many farmers markets may not be operating at the same capacity, and restaurants may not be purchasing the same amount of product…Read more about Online Sales Platform – Hoosier Food Market[Read More]
On hot days in the summer, high tunnel growers may wonder whether to place shadecloth on high tunnels. Considering excessive heat inside the structures that may lead to plant stress, blossom drop and unmarketable fruit, there is a rational for doing it. However, it is important to realize the limitations of placing shadecloth on high…Read more about Using Shadecloth on High Tunnels for Tomato and Colored Bell Pepper Production[Read More]