Mild weather puts fruit crops in jeopardy [Poughkeepsie Journal, Jan. 12, 2012] – “What happens in a year like this, when we don’t get consistent cold temperatures, is the trees don’t develop the same amount of hardiness. The potential then exists that the trees will be damaged if we get a sudden drop in temperature. This year, I would suspect the trees will not be as cold-hardy as normal,” explains Michael Fargione, a Cornell Cooperative Extension educator specializing in commercial fruit production. “Apples actually require an extended period of winter cold, and if this winter chilling requirement is not met, they will not be hormonally primed to break bud in the spring,” adds David Wolfe, professor in the Department of Horticulture.
On the New York veggie forefront: Tatsoi, shiso, maxixe and other ethnic delectables [Cornell Chronicle, Jan. 11, 2012] – Extension associate Robert Hadad is planning various trials of these and other crops in conjunction with growers in Monroe, Wayne and Ontario counties, in addition to extension-owned fields.
Susan Henry receives state’s highest agricultural honor [Cornell Chronicle, Jan. 11, 2012] – Susan Henry, professor of molecular biology and genetics in Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), was awarded the 2012 Distinguished Service Citation, the highest honor bestowed by the New York State Agricultural Society at the 180th Annual Agricultural Forum in Syracuse Jan. 5. Henry — CALS dean from 2000 to 2010 — was praised for being an effective steward of the college’s facilities and farms and a strong advocate for agriculture at home and abroad.
The case for cheaper wine, in one chart [Washington Post Wonkblog, Jan. 12, 2012] – Cornell University economist Brad Rickard passes along new research he’s done on the economics of alcohol consumption, which suggests another, albeit counter-intuitive, approach that may curb negative impacts of excessive alcohol consumption: make wine cheaper and more available.