The author of this article, Dan Egel, retired from Purdue University in February 2024. MELCAST is a weather-based disease-forecasting program that helps growers schedule foliar fungicide applications for watermelon and cantaloupe. MELCAST stands for MELon disease for CASTer. This program, designed by Dr. Rick Latin, Emeritus Professor of Plant Pathology at Purdue University, keeps track of weather conditions so…Read more about MELCAST[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 about Organic Grower Survey[Read More]
Time: Thursday, May 12, 2022, 1:30-4:00 pm EST Location: Southwest Purdue Ag Center, 4369 N. Purdue Rd, Vincennes, IN, 47591 Register: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dgK5N8Ws9m2cJWC, or call (812) 886-0198 Visit strawberry research at Southwest Purdue Agriculture Center; see strawberry production on a plastic culture system, in high tunnels, and in bench systems. Discuss season extension in strawberry production,…Read more about Strawberry Field Day[Read More]
Announcement from University of Illinois specialty crop entomology lab: We are monitoring for melonworms throughout the state this year! Last year, several of our pumpkin growers in the area had a late season infestation of caterpillars eating their pumpkins. The specialty crops entomology lab and U of I Extension are going to be investigating this…Read more about Melonworm Monitoring in Illinois Cucurbit Crops[Read More]
A new bulletin “Scheduling Fall and Winter Vegetable Production in High Tunnels” is available from the Purdue Education store at https://edustore.purdue.edu/item.asp?Item_Number=HO-330-W . The publication brings together information collected on farms and research stations in Indiana and Ohio to provide detailed guidance on scheduling vegetable crops for winter high tunnel production. It includes a fillable scheduling…Read more about Scheduling Fall and Winter Vegetable Production in High Tunnels[Read More]
High winds can cause serious damage to high tunnels and greenhouses. Design and construction with this in mind is important to reduce risk. In this article the topic is day to day risk management for a structure that is already constructed. When strong winds threaten, closing up the endwalls and sidewalls can help reduce risk….Read more about National Weather Service Maps Can Aid Decision-Making to Reduce Wind Damage[Read More]
Time: Thursday, May 12, 2022, 1:30-4:00 pm EST Location: Southwest Purdue Ag Center, 4369 N. Purdue Rd, Vincennes, IN, 47591 Register: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dgK5N8Ws9m2cJWC, or call 812-886-0198 Visit strawberry research at Southwest Purdue Agriculture Center; see strawberry production on a plastic culture system, in high tunnels, and in bench systems. Discuss season extension in strawberry production, and…Read more about Strawberry Field Day[Read More]
Listen to Strawberry Chat Episode 2. The episode was recorded on April 6, 2022, it featured Dr. Bruce Bordelon talking about spring activities for the strawberry matted-row system. Are you interested in participating live in the next strawberry chat? It will be 12:00 -1:00 pm, May 4, 2022. Our guests will be Dr. Janna Beckerman…Read more about Strawberry Chat, April Episode Recording and May Episode Register[Read More]
In November of last year, a grower brought onion samples to my attention. The samples had been stored on a greenhouse bench after harvest. A black mold had developed on many of the onions. Some of the onions appeared to have developed rotten areas on the top of the onion at the neck (Figure 1)….Read more about Black Mold of Onions[Read More]
On the third Thursday of every month, the national Climate Prediction Center releases their 3-month climate outlook for temperature and precipitation. These outlooks are presented as the level of confidence (i.e., probability of occurrence) for conditions to be above or below normal. Since last fall, these outlooks have been consistently favoring above-normal temperatures and precipitation…Read more about Cool and Wet Conditions now Predicted Over the Next Few Months[Read More]
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