Maple syrup flavor varies among producers, not just from year to year. Aaron Wightman, maple specialist with the Cornell Maple Program, has participated in judging the syrup competition at the New York State Fair in the past. “We get 75 or 100 submissions of what people think might win the ribbon,” ...

When the pandemic hit, farms that did business through direct marketing, farmers markets and CSAs were left wondering what their future would be. But Nancy Clark, of Drive Brand Studio, said there’s more than one silver lining for farmers. “As Americans, we have an intense desire to be healthy, to b...

Farmers are now being asked to present virtually by organizations and conference committees in lieu of face-to-face meeting venues. Opportunities abound in reaching a worldwide audience from your living room or farmstead. Are you ready to share your knowledge through the tiny video portal on your co...

Typical pesticide sprayer applications don’t often result in even, targeted coverage throughout the canopy. Sprayer calibration is crucial, and drift is a concern. Without adequate coverage on undersides of leaves, all sides of the tree and in the lower, upper and middle canopy, spray programs just ...

Let’s dive into today’s biggest online platform: Facebook. Since its inception in 2004, Facebook has evolved and grown far from its original intent of simply connecting college students. According to Statista, Facebook touts over 2.7 billion monthly active users (as of the second quarter of 2020). B...

When I think about the 2021 growing season, many different thoughts come to mind. Ordering seeds that will be used to start cool and warm season vegetable transplants or used to direct seed other crops is indeed a high priority. Vegetable seeds that are purchased should have a high percentage of ger...

The two-spotted spider mite, found throughout temperate and subtropical regions, thrives in both greenhouses and fruit trees (much to the chagrin of growers). The typical life cycle of these mites starts when eggs, attached to fine silk webbing, hatch after approximately three days. Under optimum co...

Bewildered about future planning amidst a pandemic? Most business owners are wary of marketing and planning for a quarter ahead, let alone a year in advance. Three initial steps will help you begin the process with more confidence, however. Here is how it works. Identify the major concerns about you...

An innovative enterprise aiming to bring together local farmers with visiting out-of-towners recently received a boost in its funding. North Carolina State University’s Vacationer Supported Agriculture (VSA) initiativewas awarded a $60,000 grant from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission ...