North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association member Trellis Growing Systems recently won a USDA-AMS Local Foods Promotion Program grant to do a feasibility study for an IQF (individually quick frozen) processing facility to service Midwest berry growers. The facility would be in Circleville, OH. They have created a survey through PollDaddy to try to determine grower interest,[Read More…]
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Eastern flower thrips, an occasional pest of strawberries, have been reported in large numbers in central Indiana. They are attracted to and feed on flowers, with the result being leathery fruit or fruit that fail to ripen. This problem occurs every year at some level but has not been serious since 1994. Eastern flower thrips[Read More…]
On June 5, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) mailed letters to produce growers having annual food sales over $500,000 informing them that inspections of produce farms would start in July. Due to their sales volume, these growers are expected to be in compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule (21CFR[Read More…]
Have you thought about producing your own value-added products (value-added: further process fresh produce to increase its value)? What’s the challenges for you to start or scale up your own value-adding business? We would like to invite you to participate in the study “Attitude, Knowledge, and Barriers towards Value-Adding Business among Indiana Fruit and Vegetable[Read More…]
As the production season winds down there are two weed-related news items that producers should be aware of: New Requirements for Users of Paraquat Herbicide. Paraquat dichloride is the active ingredient in products such as Gramoxone, Devour, Cyclone, and Quik-Quat. Earlier this year the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the following changes to paraquat requirements:[Read More…]
NEWS RELEASE: Special to Agriculture Media and Reporters March 17, 2020 A guide for local producers to navigate the COVID-19 outbreak WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — COVID-19’s arrival in Indiana has created unprecedented disruption to local production cycles that bring food, fiber, flowers and more to our restaurants, farmers’ markets and communities. Now is the time[Read More…]
Hello MAC-T and Midwest Climate Hub subscribers, “Warm temperatures this week will be followed by several days of freezing chances this weekend into early next week. This could have one or more nights with freezing and lows well into the 20s in northern areas.” The Midwest Climate Hub alongside our partners have put together an informational briefing helping to[Read More…]
Strawberries growing in the matted-row system are in the blooming stage. Open flowers cannot tolerate temperatures lower than 30°F. Strawberry growers should be prepared for the coming low temperatures this week. Row covers can be effective in protecting strawberry flowers. In our earlier trial, 1.5 oz/sq row covers provided 4-6 degrees protection and successfully protected[Read More…]
Adapted from IDNR Press release and Purdue Landscape Report The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) has been found in Indiana A homeowner in Vevay, IN contacted DNR’s Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology (DEPP) last week with a picture of a red immature stage near their home. DEPP staff surveyed the site and discovered an infestation[Read More…]
Endangered Species Act Workplan Update: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-11/esa-workplan-update.pdf The EPA is seeking comments on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Workplan Update. Proposed changes to pesticide labeling are found in the appendix beginning on page 21, which is where feedback to questions asked is being solicited. The example label language in the table on page 28 has fourteen[Read More…]
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