Brian Eshenaur, Cornell University’s integrated pest management associate director, is grateful to the research community for providing New York State with a heads up about the spotted lanternfly (SLF) in 2014. Due to the warning and New York’s slow-the-spread strategy, the state successfully delaye...

Fresh firs, sparkling spruce tips and buckets of birch logs – holiday greenery is a multibillion-dollar business blooming in a brief seasonal window. But behind the glittering garlands and picture-perfect porch pots lurks a hidden threat: pests, pathogens and problematic plants that hitchhike across...

Based on the number of poster presentations and sessions covering pawpaw at this year’s American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) conference, it appears the fruit tree is continuing to grow in popularity among both researchers and growers. It was great timing to build enthusiasm – the fifth ...

The official hurricane season for the Mid-Atlantic runs June 1 through the end of November. Some predictions say this tropical storm season might be bad, so there’s plenty of monitoring going on. The potential for dangerous flooding may increase if heavy rain falls on already soaked ground. Thankful...

Becky Maden, the vegetable nutrient management specialist at UVM Extension, is passionate about maximizing plant growth and yield through proper nutrient management of the soil. Through Maden’s research, she has found that growers can produce nine times the total yield per square foot in high tunnel...

Like Debalina Saha, Ph.D., in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University says, successful Christmas tree production requires a good and effective weed management program. Christmas trees are grown on 350,000 acres across 15,000 farms in the U.S., resulting in $250 million in sales a...

Apples “breathe” while they’re growing, respirating through small, pore-like openings on the fruits’ skin, allowing for gas exchange between the apple and the atmosphere. These openings are called lenticels. Just like our skin, apples can have issues with their outsides, often with something called ...

Measuring in distance, Michigan and Israel are about 5,900 miles apart. However, when it comes to agricultural innovation, the two regions work together like good neighbors. At the most recent Great Lakes Expo , five different Israel-based businesses provided elevator pitches during “Smart Farming: ...

Despite being an industry that produces a lot of green, horticulture can be less than earth friendly. Consider the use of non-biodegradable polyethylene (PE) mulch, like that used in berry production. It gets even trickier for those trying to grow organic. Soil-biodegradable plastic mulches are not ...

Considering the quintessential summer meal of corn on the cob and tomatoes? People have been lining up to buy the corn and tomatoes at the landmark PineBrook Farmstand in Northampton, MA. “Corn is late this year,” said owner Sandy Jaescke of the farm that has been proudly serving the community since...

CAZENOVIA, NY – Poet Maya Angelou shared that “Lavender’s scent is a gentle reminder that beauty often whispers.” There were few whisperers as capacity crowds learned, danced, harvested, sat among the rows, ate and celebrated a bounty of purple at the 2025 Cazenovia Lavender Festival on Monica Cody’...

It was a busy summer afternoon at Allard Farm as people stopped by to buy willows, hydrangeas, roses or vegetable plants, annuals and perennials. Located in Brewster, MA, the farm benefits from the high traffic of tourists and locals alike. The farm was started by current owner John Allard’s parents...

This season might summon visions of summer vacations and sunbathing, but for Christmas tree growers, it signals sweat, strategy and survival. These hot, hectic months are a pivotal period in the production of picture-perfect pines. To deliver full-bodied firs in December, growers must diligently def...

Christina Dodge provided some simple yet effective tips for building a motivated and committed workplace team. Dodge is a Maine Small Business Development Center business advisor. “The power of motivation is that motivation drives results and that shows up in increased productivity, better customer ...

The concept of soil health is all about enriching your soil. Jamie Garzon, the assistant Extension professor and forage educator at UMaine, defines soil health as “the soil’s continued capacity to function as a vital living ecosystem.” Maintaining healthy soil can lead to increased plant growth, qua...