Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vegetable Crops Hotline! I can’t believe it is May already! The 8-14-day precipitation and temperature outlook is leaning below and above normal, respectively. Generally, the precipitation outlook for May is leaning towards below-normal levels. As many growers prepare to set out transplants in May,…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
In a producer survey done in 2024-2025 by the Soil to Market Team (Maria Marshall, Renee Wiatt, Petrus Langenhoven, Betty Feng, and Nathan Shoaf), small and medium farms were asked questions related to decisions, operations, and people on the farm. Some of those questions inquire about their interactions with and considerations of customers. From interacting…Read more about Small and Medium Farms: Does Focusing on and Communicating with Customers Pay Off?[Read More]
Introduction Cucurbit yellow vine disease (CYVD) is an emergent disease in the United States caused by the bacterium Serratia ureilytica, and it commonly affects zucchini, squash, watermelon, and melons. The pathogen that causes CYVD is transmitted by the squash bug (Anasa tristis, Figure 1), and other potential vectors include the striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum)…Read more about Pathogen Spotlight: Serratia ureilytica Causing Cucurbit Yellow Vine Disease[Read More]
Midwestern farmers have faced a buildup of pesticide resistance in pigweeds (waterhemp and Palmer amaranth), highlighting the importance of scouting to detect weeds early in their growth stages. Otherwise, weed escapes are a common issue as herbicides lose their efficacy when weeds are allowed to grow long enough into their growth cycle. The Midwestern Regional…Read more about Midwestern Regional Climate Center Launches New Experimental Weed Emergence Scouting Tool[Read More]
I monitor three different insect pests with pheromone traps to help make informed decisions about when to spray insecticides or take other actions for management. Trap data can be found on the Extension Entomology Vegetables Website. The longest running is the corn earworm (Figure 1) trapping network. Participation in this network entails installing a cone-shaped…Read more about Annual Call for Insect Trappers[Read More]
The Clearspring Produce Auction is located just 2 miles south of US 20 in Clearspring Township in the Heart of the LaGrange-Elkhart Amish Settlement. It is within easy driving distance of the towns of Shipshewana, Topeka, Emma, and LaGrange. Produce is sold three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) throughout most of the growing…Read more about Clearspring Produce Auction Price Update[Read More]
Date/Time: Session #1 6/16/2025 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (CDT) Session #2 6/17/2025 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (CDT) Registration Deadline: 6/16/2025 1:00 PM (CDT) Fee: No Fee Register HERE https://isbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/17091 Point of Contact: Catherine King (812) 425-7232 Program Format: Multi-session Course Training Topics: Agribusiness, Buy/Sell Business, Legal Issues, Managing a Business Description ***This is an online-only event.*** Secure…Read more about Succession Planning Basics for Farmers (2-part live webinar series)[Read More]
The Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) is one of the eight Purdue Agricultural Centers located across Indiana. What makes SWPAC unique is its location in the heart of Indiana’s watermelon-growing region—home to one of the state’s most significant specialty crop industries. In addition to watermelon and cantaloupe, southern Indiana is known for its diverse fruit…Read more about Southwest Purdue Agriculture Center Field Day Set for June 26[Read More]
Spring is in full swing in our research high tunnels at Purdue. Overwintering strawberries that we planted in September are now in full bloom and fruits are being harvested. But as temperatures increase and crops become more productive, we also see the emergence of various insect pests. Aphids, amongst other soft-bodied insect pests (e.g., whiteflies,…Read more about Observations on the Companion Plant: Sweet Alyssum[Read More]
The Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day, scheduled for July 24, 2025, will feature demonstrations and presentations designed to support small-scale farming. The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture will co-host the event with the Purdue Student Farm. Attendees can learn from Purdue University and Purdue Extension experts about topics such as small-scale farming hacks,…Read more about Small Farm Education Field Day Will Feature New Research, Live Demonstrations and Purdue Experts[Read More]
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