Insect Pests in 2012

-Joe Ingerson-Mahar

Given the kind of winter and early spring that we have experienced one has to wonder what insect pests will be like for the 2012 growing season. Unfortunately, there is no good answer to this question. Despite the warmer than normal winter temperatures and some significantly warm days in March and April, it doesn't mean that insect pests survived in large numbers.

Early-Season Pythium and Phytophthora Control in Pepper and Tomato Crops

-Andy Wyenandt

With the dry spring we’ve had thus far, it’s easy to forget about Pythium and Phytophthora! The same question always comes up about this time of year when growers begin to start thinking about transplanting their tomato and pepper crops. “What should I do to help prevent Pythium and Phytophthora?”

Unlike in the past, there are a number of good options for early season control of these pathogens, it just takes a little bit more planning ahead of time.

Farm Food Safety: Mission Statement

Part 1 of Preparing Your Farm Food Safety Plan

-Meredith Melendez and Wes Kline

Having a farm food safety plan that is specific to your operation makes good business sense. Publicity about illness outbreaks traced back to the farm has created a public that pays much more attention to food safety than they used to. Developing your own farm food safety plan can help to reassure your customers about food safety on your farm and potentially increase your market opportunities. A farm food safety plan will help prove to your customers dedication to on-farm food safety and show them the measures you’ve taken to ensure a safe quality product.

Steps to writing your farm's Food Safety Mission Statement:

Root Maggot Article from Ohio State VegNet

Great background article on the life and times of Root Maggots in this week's VegNet Newsletter from Ohio State.--Rick VanVranken

Root Maggots
4/16/2012 from C. Welty
Root maggots are the immature stages (larvae) of several different species of flies. The maggots inhabit the soil and consume roots and underground plant parts. The adults live above ground and do not damage plants. Species that are important pests of vegetables are seedcorn maggot (Delia platura), bean seed maggot (Delia florilega), onion maggot (Delia antiqua), cabbage maggot (Delia radicum). The carrot rust fly (Psila rosae) causes similar problems.

Support for Vegetable Crops in Farm Bill 2012 Debate

In a letter to Senate Ag Committe Chairperson Stabenow and Ranking Member P. Roberts, 32 senators called for the 2012 Farm Bill to build on previous specialty crop investments. The Farm Bill expires in September.

Specialty crops, which includes vegetables, are a critical component of the agriculture economy and represent nearly half of all farmgate crop value in America.
-Andy Wyenandt

Rutgers Announces the University's 20th President

Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni, and Friends of Rutgers University:

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Rutgers’ Board of Governors, with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees, has appointed Dr. Robert L. Barchi as the 20th president of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Dr. Barchi takes office on September 1, 2012, succeeding President Richard L. McCormick, who has provided exceptional leadership to Rutgers for nearly a decade.

Students Stand up for Farming

Farmers Fight is a student-led initiative to reconnect American society to the world of agriculture. Beginning with university students, Farmers Fight encourages consumers to ask where their food comes from, and give students, faculty, public officials, and farmers and ranchers an opportunity to
become "agvocates" for the agriculture community.

'Farmers Fight - Stand Up' <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFoGib8AfZo&feature=share> is powerful video filmed in contemporary style.

Maybe this is what area school board members [and the Dept. of Higher Ed] need to see before they cut AGRICULTURE from our schools.... If we don't teach our kids where their food, clothes, books, pencils and paper come from, WHO will?

Please share this video on any public/social networking page you can.

--Rick VanVranken