Equipment
Hydroponic consultant offers growers 30 years of experience
Joe Swartz, a hydroponic growing consultant based in Amherst, Massachusetts, has 30 years of experience in commercial production – experience he is always willing to share with other growers."I work with prospective, inexperienced and experienced... more »
Farm Bill funds labor survey
USDA recently announced that, through authorizations of the 2014 Farm Bill, it would invest nearly $118 million dollars to support America's specialty crop producers.Following that announcement, Gov. Rick Snyder, along with Michigan Department of Agriculture... more »
Take steps to integrate safety, agritourism
Safety should be at the top of every agritourism operation's business plan, and there are resources available to identify areas of concern and ways to effectively address those issues.Marsha Salzwedel, agricultural youth safety specialist with... more »
Targeted breeding aids vegetable seeds
Meeting market demand in a more efficient and profitable manner could be accelerated for plant breeders, seed companies and commercial vegetable growers in the not too distant future.Working closely with the seed-growing community, and recognizing... more »
Plastic aids strawberry growth in Kansas
Kansas isn't known as a strawberry-producing state, but some innovative growers, helped by a couple of strategic research grants, are figuring out the best way to adapt annual plasticulture methods in a state where production... more »
Waterjet cutting shows promise for produce items
The use of high-pressure jets of water as a way to cut produce may be beginning to emerge as an alternative for fresh-cut processors.The technology for waterjet cutting has been around for decades, first appearing... more »
EPA approves registration of Nimitz nematicide
Nimitz, a non-fumigant nematicide produced by Adama, has received federal registration from EPA.According to a company news release, the active ingredient in Nimitz has a mode of action that categorizes the product within a new... more »
Obituary: Byron Carpenter
Byron Eugene “Murphy” Carpenter of Grand Haven, Michigan, a long-time supporter of the state's vegetable industry, died Aug. 28. He was 93.Carpenter served as executive secretary of the Michigan Vegetable Council (MVC) from 1992 to... more »
Ohio’s Ackerman, industry booster, dies
George F. Ackerman, 83, of Oregon, Ohio died Aug. 23 at his home.Mr. Ackerman farmed with his two brothers until 1958. From that point on, he custom sprayed vegetable crops for local farmers and operated... more »
California ag finds ways to conserve water
The 2014 drought will cost California's economy $2.2 billion and 17,100 seasonal and part-time jobs, according to a study released in July by the University of California's (UC) Center for Watershed Sciences and Agricultural Issues... more »