Category: Field Crops

IPM at the Empire State Producers (Virtual) Expo – Week Two

The “Expo” is Virtual this year and begins the week of  February 21, 2022 The New York State Integrated Pest Management Program is proud to be part of this annual event. Bryan Brown talks weed management on Thursday of Week Two. After postponing the in-person 2022 Empire State Producers Expo due to the spike in…Continue Reading IPM at the Empire State Producers (Virtual) Expo – Week Two

Reminder: NY Certified Organic (NYCO) Discussion Meeting coming February 8th

NYCO Meets Virtually or In-Person on February 8 at J Martin Auctions, Waterloo Waterloo, N.Y. The NY Certified Organic (NYCO) Discussion Meetings are back for just one meeting this winter and another this spring. The planning committee felt that we could have a safe winter meeting at J Martin Auctions due to the size of the…Continue Reading Reminder: NY Certified Organic (NYCO) Discussion Meeting coming February 8th

“Weeds in Organic Squash Production” Part Three: Disease Concerns, and a Look Back Over the Season

We can’t leave out diseases. Let’s go back to the cover crop. One potential downside to growing organic rye is ergot infection. Claviceps purpurea is a parasitic fungus that can infect rye and other cereal crops. The sclerotia of the ergot fungus contains alkaloids which can be fatal to livestock and humans if ingested. Scout…Continue Reading “Weeds in Organic Squash Production” Part Three: Disease Concerns, and a Look Back Over the Season

“Weeds in Organic Squash Production” Part Two: But What About Insects?

Insects! Plant it and they will come. Or not. In a research farm setting, unlike a commercial farm, we actually WANT pests to show up so we can conduct a trial. But sometimes we plant it and they don’t come… In fact, there’s a joke that if you want a pest to disappear for a…Continue Reading “Weeds in Organic Squash Production” Part Two: But What About Insects?

“Weeds in Organic Winter Squash Production” A Look at 2021’s Field Research: Part One

Our next series of posts looks at a 2021 field trial by NYSIPM’s Bryan Brown, Marcus Lopez, and Abby Seaman. For full details, read their complete posts throughout the season.: What’s the best way to manage weeds in organic winter squash? Many farmers use black plastic mulch. Others cultivate. And small-scale farms may spread straw…Continue Reading “Weeds in Organic Winter Squash Production” A Look at 2021’s Field Research: Part One

2019-2020 Annual Report: Cover Crops to the Rescue

Home gardeners are well aware of the weed suppressive benefits of mulch. It turns out that farmers can inexpensively mulch a 200-acre soybean field too … by growing the mulch in place. That involves establishing a big hearty cover crop and then rolling it down so the dead leaves and stems act as a mulch….Continue Reading 2019-2020 Annual Report: Cover Crops to the Rescue

2019-2020 Annual Report: NEWA’s Economic Benefits

“The only constant in life is change,” said one ancient philosopher, and anyone watching our fickle climate. That’s why sensor technologies and data science innovations used by the Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) make NYSIPM an industry leader in tackling real-world pest problems. First launched in 1996, NEWA (newa.cornell.edu)collects and integrates remote weather…Continue Reading 2019-2020 Annual Report: NEWA’s Economic Benefits

Get “Into the Weeds” with New Podcast!

Bryan Brown, PhD, Integrated Weed Management Specialist, New York State IPM, Cornell University announces a new podcast. (links below!) With long hours in the tractor, some farmers are starting to listen to podcasts to stay entertained. Extension educators are picking up on this trend, creating educational material meant to be played in the tractor. Farmers…Continue Reading Get “Into the Weeds” with New Podcast!

2019-2020 Annual Report: Biopesticides Have a Place in IPM

Biopesticides are pesticides with natural active ingredients like microorganisms, plant extracts, and other substances found in nature. Compared to conventional chemical pesticides, they may pose lower risks to humans and the environment. It’s no secret that IPM is all about reducing those risks while effectively managing pests, so with increasing biopesticide availability, the question is:…Continue Reading 2019-2020 Annual Report: Biopesticides Have a Place in IPM

New Perennial Crops for Weed Suppression and Carbon Sequestration

 by Bryan Brown, PhD Farmers tell me all the time – “If only my crops could grow like weeds!” Well that’s just what happened to Jonathan Bates, owner of Food Forest Farm, who noticed that some of his edible perennial plants were taking over his garden. These are big and robust plants that smother our…Continue Reading New Perennial Crops for Weed Suppression and Carbon Sequestration