Update [11/6/2009]: Cornell Chronicle article: Cornell receives nearly $850,000 to improve specialty crops.
From an October 15 news release from the New York State Dept. of Agriculture and Markets.
“New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced $989,664 in grants for 11 projects that will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in New York State. Funded and approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Specialty Crop Block Grants will help ensure long-term viability of a variety of specialty crops grown in New York State. ”
The grants include:
- $199,750 – Reducing the Impact of Phytophthora Blight on Vegetables in New York (Cornell University).
- $35,055 – Developing a Strategy to Reduce Fire Blight Infection of Apple Rootstocks (New York State Agricultural Experiment Station).
- $39,189 – Improving Forecasting and Management of Strawberry Powdery Mildew (New York State Agricultural Experiment Station).
- $82,251 – Improving the Competitiveness of the Snap Bean Industry in New York through Resistance to Aphid-Transmitted Viruses (New York State Agricultural Experiment Station).
- $82,816 – Increasing Utilization of Integrated Pest Management Tools in the New York State Christmas Tree Industry (New York State Integrated Pest Management Program).
- $54,450 – Identifying the Health Benefits of New York Peaches and Apricots (New York State Agricultural Experiment Station).
- $189,064 – Testing New Botrytis Leaf Blight Onion Lines & Hybrids to Develop the Best Strategies for Disease Control on Conventional and Organic Farms (Cornell University).
- $72,620 – Advancing Adoption of Reduced Tillage Systems in Conventional and Organic Vegetables in New York (Cornell University.
- $57,025 – Demonstration of Northeast-based Honeybee Production & Disease Management (Johnson’s Honeybee Farm).
- $90,672 – Reducing Production Costs and Improving Wine Quality through Root Zone Management (Cornell University).