by Nicholas P. Skinner, John D. Bullough and Mark S. Rea, Lighting Research Center, RPI Numerous crops are impacted by powdery and downy mildew, fungi that have had large impacts on growth and pest management by growers throughout the country. Powdery mildew is estimated to account for nearly three-...

Not every young man knows exactly what he wants to do before he finishes high school, but Scott Rosenbaum did. “I’ve always been interested in landscaping,” he said. “I started working for a landscaper when I was 14. I started my own landscaping business when I was in high school and continued after...

“I just continually bring myself into the farmer’s shoes,” said Dr. Lily Calderwood, UMaine Cooperative Extension wild blueberry specialist. “I think ‘Okay, if I were in the field, what’s going to make sense to me? I need quick, very accurate, very clear information. I don’t have time for a whole bu...

If you saw our story about the autumn meeting of the New York Nut Growers Association (NYNGA) in the December 2020 issue of Country Folks Grower, you know that English walnuts are being developed into a potentially profitable crop in the Northeast. However, that’s not the only nut being considered. ...

Despite stay-at-home orders that stymied some travel in 2020, a lot of traffic still crisscrossed the Northeast and the upper Midwest. Families on road trips and the transportation of goods resulted in certain hitchhikers finding their ways to new areas. Spotted lanternflies (SLF), first reported in...

Like any product that’s worthwhile, organic growing media has been increasing in quality and popularity over the past few years. Finding the right media for you requires a bit of knowledge. Many factors may impact a grower’s media selection – the tray size, the crop, the watering method/timing/volum...

A recent webinar hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County aimed to help both landowners and farmers protect themselves when entering lease agreements. “Learn How to Put Together a Lease That Makes Sense” was the latest in the “Accessing Farmland” series of interactive online workshop...

A sale is a sale, right? It’s always positive when you have money coming in to your farm, but it’s even better when you can command loyalty – and repeat sales – from customers. How to do that can be the tricky part. Fortunately, those with success in this area are willing to share their experiences....

Farmers who grow a diverse array of crops for a CSA, farmers markets or direct from the farm sales often struggle with finding a suitable insurance plan to protect against the risks associated with farming. An important winter task for such farms should be a thorough review of insurance options for ...