As ecological instability rocks the globe and the cost of living in urban centers skyrockets, the concept of land stewardship has never been more vital – or more appealing. The post-pandemic trend of seeking a slow-paced life – and the current barrage of social media imagery featuring brightly color...

Growers left glowing, figuratively and literally, after Dr. Abhay Thosar’s illuminating presentation at the most recent Cultivate conference . The seminar, “Horticulture LEDs: A New Era of Adaptability, Flexibility & Sustainability,” offered a deep dive into the dazzling world of dynamic LEDs, a nex...

When you think of a turbine, you probably image something massive. Turbines are rotary mechanical devices that extract energy from a fluid flow (like wind, water, steam or gas) to convert into electricity or mechanical power for things like vehicles and industrial machinery. They’re critical devices...

A strong farm lease isn’t just a formality, it’s the foundation of a flourishing farming partnership. Whether you’re an experienced operator or a first-time farmer, a well-crafted lease prevents confusion and helps both parties stay on track. Here’s how to create a crystal-clear, ironclad lease that...

The International Pawpaw Conference and the Ohio Pawpaw Festival both took place September, and last month, Country Folks Grower went into detail about some of the best cultivars to consider for those intrigued by this temperate-tropical fruit. This month, we’ll look a little more into what’s needed...

Agritourism enterprises often welcome customers with service animals, and most visits go well. However, if there was a problem, the situation may not have been handled well. Jackie Schweichler, staff attorney at Penn State Center for Agriculture & Shale Law, explained the laws in place for service a...

Korson’s Tree Farms in Sidney, MI, hosted Dale Haney, White House superintendent of grounds, along with family, employees and local community groups at their farm in late September. Haney was there to select the official White House Christmas tree for 2025. Korson’s were the Grand Champions for 2025...

Kate Miller Carl was serving customers Roundhill Orchard’s summer bounty of raspberries and blueberries on the last day of Western Massachusetts’ latest three-day heat wave. Carl was born just down the road and grew up on the 20-acre Southampton, MA, farm with boundaries reaching into Westfield and ...

Hostas are a staple in shade gardens and nurseries, known for their lush foliage and vibrant variegation. These perennials are loved by landscape professionals and home gardeners alike. But one virus continues to cause concern among growers: Hosta Virus X, aka HVX. This incurable plant virus has bee...

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...