Michael Grantz and his wife Arden Jones combine youthful idealism and exuberance, tech savvy and reverence for the land at Great Day Gardens in Forest, VA, named for a grandparent’s favorite proclamation: “Great day!”The old Virginia saying declares surprise, awe or simply a good time for getting in...

Raspberry and blackberry growers are challenged both by disease and insect concerns. The primary insect of concern for bramble growers (but not the only one) is spotted wing drosophila (SWD) , particularly for those in the Northeast. This insect is problematic in summer- and autumn-bearing fruits, b...

While shoulder-to-shoulder happy hours, tours and tasting room experiences were pre-COVID-19 signs of successful marketing, such packed-house activities may be less the norm as wineries and craft beverage businesses gear up for full retail once again. In a Penn State blog on COVID-19 customer issues...

Itersonilia perplexans , the fungus that causes Itersonilia (aka black) canker in parsnips can overwinter in dead organic matter, on living parsnip roots and in soils, and can infest seeds as well as plants. Some weed species are hosts of the pathogen. While the fungus does affect other umbelliferou...

Over the years, growers have asked me if it is safe to harvest asparagus in the summer, to gain a market at a time where there is no local asparagus on the market, and to bring them a higher price. To help answer this question, I conducted a three-year study in North Carolina. The study, conducted i...

A lot of attention is paid today to ensuring surfaces are safe and clean for humans – but what about the surfaces plants touch? They’re susceptible to a variety of diseases as well. Rosa E. Raudales, assistant professor of horticulture and greenhouse Extension specialist at the University of Connect...

In early June, Greg Jordan was scrambling around watering tender plants in the middle of the night to ward off damage from a late frost. Although he didn’t save them all, the effort was worthwhile. “My grandfather always said ‘Don’t complain – people don’t want to hear it,’” said Greg. “They get tir...

A new study released by the University of Washington and Stanford University reveals how climate change can negatively affect the ability of agricultural workers to safely operate in the field. Dr. Michelle Tigchelaar, a researcher at Stanford, decided to focus her study on this topic after she lear...

Although Christmas comes but once a year, a team of dedicated professionals works year round to ensure the health of New York State’s Christmas trees. On June 16, the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County (CCEDC) hosted an online informational meeting geared toward helping Christmas tree ...