Pumpkins/Squash
Farmers weather losses to rainfall
Pumpkins lie in soggy patches on the Durr Farm, ripe with white mold or already rotting from the bottoms.Fields of giant golden sunflowers that once stood tall and swayed gently on the Chesterfield farm now... more »
Harvest container cleaning keeps people from getting sick
Clean and sanitary harvest containers are critically important in harvesting crops that are consumer-ready. They can also help decrease post-harvest losses from scratches and soiling on sensitive products like peaches and summer squash.There are four... more »
As farmers’ markets go mainstream, some fear a glut
John Spineti started selling plump tomatoes and shiny squash at farmers' markets in the early 1970s and saw his profits boom as markets became more popular. But just as farmers' markets have become mainstream, Mr.... more »
Vegetable production and pest management
Two-spotted Spider Mite in TomatoesMike Roegge recently reported twospotted spider mite infestations that required treatment in tomatoes near Quincy. Hot, dry weather may trigger similar problems in many other fields as well. Miticides that are... more »
Watermelon mosaic virus detected in winter squash
Watermelon mosaic virus 2 (WMV2) was confirmed by Jan Byrne, plant pathology diagnostician from MSU Diagnostic Services, on winter squash. Several viruses infect and damage squash, cucumbers and pumpkins in Michigan, but WMV2 is the... more »
Downy mildew outbreak in southeast Michigan cucumbers
Downy mildew on cucumbers was reported in Carleton in southeast Michigan July 7. Click here to see the Michigan downy mildew map. It is not clear as to the extent of this outbreak or its... more »
How do you replace methyl bromide?
Methyl bromide has worked wonders for Florida strawberry growers over the years, eliminating a broad spectrum of pests in a fairly straightforward manner. Stricter environmental controls and an international agreement have slowly phased out use... more »
Roller-crimper can aid no-till vegetable system
Utilizing cover crops is a common practice for many vegetable producers, due to the numerous benefits of reducing soil erosion, scavenging nutrients, suppressing weeds and improving soil structure and organic matter. Planting no-till into killed... more »