5Keeping produce safe and meeting buyers and regulatory expectations starts with strong cleaning and sanitation practices. Farms that implement proper procedures not only protect public health but also improve efficiency and build trust with customers. To help growers and farm workers strengthen these skills, we invite you to join us on September 8th from 1:00[Read More…]
Harvest is in full swing. Watermelons are midway through their run, blackberries continue to ripen up, Pixie Crunches and Honeycrisp apples are beginning to ripen. Pawpaws have another week until maturity for most varieties. Many varieties of grapes are reaching full maturity. The cooler weather, although welcome for our comfort, has caused some crops to[Read More…]
If you have any stakes in agriculture, you may have noticed a fairly rapid drying trend as summer has come to a close. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor on September 2, 76 percent of Indiana is considered abnormally dry—up from just 26 percent one week earlier. Moderate drought conditions have also expanded from less[Read More…]
I am hearing from apple growers and my entomology colleagues in neighboring states that the dogwood borer is becoming a more common insect pest to monitor and manage in apple orchards. So, in this issue of Facts for Fancy Fruit, I’ll share some general tips to help you stay ahead of this damaging fruit tree[Read More…]
Hi! The peaches have run their course here at Meigs and have all fallen due to the recent storms. Early varieties of grapes are ripe. Most are still at veraison. The first watermelons will be harvested this Thursday! Our primocane fruiting blackberries are just now beginning to ripen. Honeycrisp apples seem to be a week[Read More…]
With brute and sudden force, the atmosphere is doing its job: acting like a fluid. Weather is not a precise science, which means the atmosphere is constantly shifting. There tends to be some sort of pattern shift come mid-late August, and it looks like it’s just about here. Temperatures are on their way down, as[Read More…]
Fruit rots: Late season fruit rots, including sour rot complex, botrytis and ripe rot, are major concerns in the Midwest (Figure 1). Rains this time of the year can lead to disaster. If berries split due to rain, yeasts and bacteria can quickly invade damaged fruit, which can lead to rots that attract fruit flies.[Read More…]
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