The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is inviting specialty crop producers and producer groups to weigh in on funding priorities for the upcoming 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). This is a valuable opportunity for Indiana’s vegetable growers to help shape how these resources are directed. The SCBGP is a federally funded program…Read more about Indiana Specialty Crop Growers: Your Input Needed on 2026 Block Grant Funding Priorities[Read More]
Petrus Langenhoven
Horticulture and Hydroponic Crop Specialist
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Petrus Langenhoven's website
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Petrus Langenhoven's website
Dear Valued Vegetable Crops Hotline Readers, Welcome to the second edition of the 2026 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. In upcoming issues, we’ll cover several critical topics, including emerging pest challenges, innovative…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
Michigan State University Extension will offer 6 one-hour sessions on a wide variety of irrigation related topics on March 5, as part of the MI Ag Ideas to Grow With webinar series. The topics vary with emphasis on large scale field crop management, water policy in the Midwest, and new horticulture irrigation practices. The Irrigation…Read more about Irrigation Day Webinar Series to be offered on March 5, 2026[Read More]
The original news release was published by the USDA on February 13, 2026. (Washington, D.C., February 13, 2026) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $1 billion in Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program assistance for specialty crops and sugar, commodities not covered through…Read more about USDA Announces Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Impacted by Unfair Market Disruptions[Read More]
Dear Valued Vegetable Crops Hotline Readers, Welcome to the first edition of the 2026 Vegetable Crops Hotline newsletter! As we begin this new growing season, I’m excited to continue our tradition of providing timely, research-based information to support Indiana’s vegetable-growing community. Our mission remains steadfast: to deliver crucial updates on pest management, production practices, food…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
The Safe Produce Indiana team will host two Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Trainings in March. An in-person training will be held on Wednesday, March 11, at the Elkhart County Extension Office in Goshen, IN. A remote, Spanish-language training will be held on Thursday, March 12. The cost of attendance is $20 and includes a certificate of course completion,…Read more about Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training – March 11[Read More]
If you’ve ever wondered how to systematically evaluate flavor in vegetable breeding lines, here’s an opportunity to learn from the experts. Join eOrganic for a webinar on March 4, 2026, on cultinary evaluations of vegetable breeding lines, presented by Jordyn Bunting and Lane Selman! The webinar takes place at 11 AM Pacific Time (12 PM…Read more about How to Conduct Culinary Quality Evaluations of Vegetable Breeding Lines[Read More]
It is with great sadness that we pass along the news of David and Bonnie McAffee’s passing in 2025. David and Bonnie founded County Line Orchard and were heavily involved in horticulture in Indiana. At one time, David was President of the Indiana Horticulture Society. Please note: A celebration of life will be held on…Read more about The Passing of David and Bonnie McAfee[Read More]
What began in 2010 as a modest student initiative in a field of honeysuckle has blossomed into one of the country’s most dynamic educational farms. Today, the Purdue Student Farm operates on 3.5 acres on the northern edge of campus, serving as a living example of how a land-grant institution can integrate teaching, research, and…Read more about Purdue Student Farm: Growing Leaders, Knowledge, and Community[Read More]
Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to This Week’s Vegetable Crops Hotline – Our Final Issue for 2025 As we close out the 2025 growing season, this marks our final newsletter issue of the year. We’ll return with our next regular issue on February 20, 2026. Should any urgent matters arise during our winter break, we’ll…Read more about From the Editor’s Desk[Read More]