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 ...

Hello, farm family! When did you last experience conflict in your farm life? Most of us experience some form of conflict every day, though we might not immediately recognize it. Types of Farm Conflict Some of us only equate “conflict” with yelling, screaming, throwing things and other forms of viole...

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...