Author: Chris Galbraith, Ohio State University Extension/Michigan State University Extension

This article was originally posted on Michigan State University Extension News.

Photo courtesy of MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics.

Post-harvest rots occurring in vegetable crops can deal a brutal blow both financially and in terms of morale. All the investment and hard work of growing produce is lost if the crop spoils before it can be sold. Fortunately, many of the factors influencing prevalence of post-harvest rots are well-known and there are actions growers can take during the growing season, at-harvest, and post-harvest to reduce losses from premature decay.

What causes a rot?

Once vegetable crops are harvested, they are cut off from their source of nutrients and water. However, the produce continues to respire, using up its energy reserves and releasing water during metabolism. Cellular breakdown occurs as the produce spends its energy/moisture savings without any means of replenishment. As the produce degrades in quality, it becomes more susceptible to colonization by rot-causing pathogens.

There are many different microbes that bring about premature decay if they are able to infect vegetable crops during the different stages of growth and storage. These organisms may be latent pathogens, which can remain quiescent upon entering the crop and begin colonization of host plant tissue during storage (eg. Colletotrichum). Pathogens may also begin colonization immediately after infection, in which case spoilage occurs rapidly. Many rot-causing microbes are considered weak pathogens (eg. different bacterial soft rots), which cannot penetrate healthy plant tissue but instead require wound sites (nicks, scrapes, bruises) to enter and begin colonization. Table 1 lists common post-harvest pathogens for various vegetable crops. Many of these pathogens not only occur in storage but can also cause disease during the growing season.

The disease triangle is a useful framework. Spoilage occurs if the pathogen encounters a susceptible host in conditions that are favorable for infection. Post-harvest spoilage occurs more frequently in warm, wet and humid conditions. High temperatures encourage pathogen activity and increase the rates of produce respiration/ripening. Excess moisture on produce encourages pathogen activity and entry into plant tissue. Similarly, high relative humidity supports free moisture accumulation on vegetable crops in storage. Controlling these factors mitigates risk of premature spoilage and increases the shelf life of vegetable crops.

The disease triangle is a useful framework – spoilage occurs if the pathogen encounters a susceptible host in conditions that are favorable for infection.

Best management practices

Steps can be taken throughout production and storage to minimize losses from post-harvest rots. During the growing season, preventing fruit from coming into contact with the ground using plastic or organic mulch keeps produce cleaner and reduces opportunities for infection. Mulch also helps to reduce soil splash during irrigation or rainfall events, further limiting pathogens from being moved onto susceptible tissue.

Minimizing damage to produce throughout the season reduces wound sites and therefore pathogen entry points. This means gentle handling of vegetable crops at harvest and reducing the number of times produce is touched to minimize accidental skin breaks or bruises. Protecting vegetables from insects, wildlife, and environmental damage (hail, sunscald, wind) also reduces wound sites. Culling produce that is already damaged can reduce spread of spoilage in storage bins. Harvesting at proper maturity also helps optimize shelf-life.

Keeping vegetables cool can go a long way toward preventing premature spoilage. Harvesting during the coolest part of the day and removing the field heat from vegetables immediately after harvest is key. There are different pre-cooling methods available to rapidly bring down the temperature of produce prior to storage, including room-cooling, forced-air cooling, hydrocooling, package icing and vacuum cooling procedures.

Storage temperature and humidity recommendations vary by vegetable crop and following the right guidelines is important for maximizing shelf life. Specific storage recommendations and information on pre-cooling methods can be found in the Guide to Vegetable Production in Ontario (OMAFRA Publication 839). Maintaining proper temperature is also important to prevent chilling or freezing injury, which presents as sunken, water-soaked spots on susceptible produce.

For certain storage crops, curing is a crucial step for optimizing shelf life. Curing allows skins to dry out and harden, increasing protection against infections that cause rot. The area used for curing should always be a well-ventilated space with adequate air circulation. Recommended curing guidelines for several storage vegetable crops are listed in Table 2.

In conclusion, there are various factors that contribute to the occurrence of post-harvest rots. By taking the right action during the growing season, at-harvest, and post-harvest, losses from premature decay can be minimized and crop quality preserved.

Powdery Mildew Detected – This week marks the first week powdery mildew was detected in the pumpkin plots in South Charleston at the Western Ag Research Station. There have been reports of PM being found a week earlier in Wayne County. At the station, the amount of disease detected in the trial was extremely minor; only three white colonies on ca. 60 leaves, top and bottom leaf surfaces inspected, on July 18. Powdery mildew can multiply in the canopy rapidly given warm and humid conditions so the recommendation is to begin treatment when the first colonies are discovered. Today, nine treatments for the powdery mildew fungicide trial on pumpkins were applied. Major fungicides being tested include Milstop, Cease, Switch, Gatten, Procure and Quintec. Results of the trial will be reported when the trial is completed mid-September.

Striped Cucumber Beetle Update – The summer generation of striped cucumber beetles emerged in South Charleston around two weeks ago and have moved off of the foliage and primarily into flowers at this point in the season. Treatment for beetles in the flowers is not recommended as this will only cause significant harm to pollinators in and around the field, plus cause other issues with pest insects (see below).

Sticky panel with rootworm attractive lure

On a related note, the striped cucumber beetle attractant study being conducted at the Western Ag Research Station is about ¾ done at this point. Of the three attractants being tested for striped or spotted cucumber beetles, none seem to stand out as being hyper attractive to these two beetles. There is one lure that is very effective against the Western corn rootworm beetle, which has also begun to emerge from corn fields in the past few weeks.

Aphid infested pumpkin plant

Green lacewing egg in center of circle

1 black circle around ladybug eggs, 2 circles around golden aphid mummies

Aphids Rising…But Why? – What do you get when you apply a pyrethroid insecticide to a pumpkin field in early July? Answer, most likely a field full of aphid covered plants. Why the surge in aphids? This is attributed to the highly toxic nature of the pyrethroid chemical class to natural enemies in the field that are actively suppressing the aphid population. In the photos, you can see some major aphid predators re-establishing on the aphid infested leaves; ladybug eggs, green lacewing eggs and aphid mummies (evidence of parasitoid wasps). The lesson here is unless you have a known pest to control in a pumpkin field which is over threshold, resist the urge to spray a broad-spectrum insecticide. If a treatment must be made, consider selecting products that are less likely to flair aphids or other secondary pests.

In an IPM context, it is important to protect plants with fungicides from diseases such as powdery or downy mildew when they are detected above threshold. Over the past few years, researchers have begun to understand the importance of not adding both fungicides and insecticides to the same tank mix due to harmful synergies, some that are known and many that are unknown, on pollinators and potentially other insects like natural enemies. For a deeper dive into the negative synergy of mixing fungicides and insecticides, Cornell University recently published this bulletin. https://cornell.app.box.com/v/ProtectionGuide-FieldCrop2023.

Cornell Pollinator Guide

World’s smartest toad?

Amphibian Pest Management? – While scouting for powdery mildew on Thursday, I came across this toad cleverly parked at the edge of a pumpkin flower, no doubt waiting for a juicy opportunity to nab a few beetles or bees. First time I have ever seen this!

This edition of the OSU Extension Fruit & Vegetable Report was written using field observations and expertise from the following OSU Extension staff: Frank Becker, Thomas Becker, Ed Brown, Chris Galbraith, Gary Gao, Kate Hornyak, Carri Jagger, Jim Jasinski, Matt Kleinhenz, Ashley Leach, Dan Lima, Diane Miller, Logan Minter, Francesca Rotondo, Ryan Slaughter

Vegetables

Spider mite flares ups have started to cause damage in watermelon fields. The observed infestations are severe and resulting in rapidly declining plants. Spider mite flare ups are not uncommon during hot and dry conditions, which are currently being experienced by some areas of the state. Frequent or heavy rains typically wash spider mites off of the plants. There are also several natural enemies that can help hold spider mite populations in check such as lacewing larvae, predatory mites, predatory thrips, and minute pirate bugs. Spider mites are typically found in the underside of the leaves. The visual symptoms of their feeding are often observed on the top side of the leaves as the mite feeding damages the cells in the leaves and results in yellowing, stippling and eventually necrotic areas and foliar dieback. When utilizing insecticides for insect control, there is a potential to wipe out beneficial insect populations, allowing for mite flare ups to occur. Also, if you do need to make an application to control mites, make sure you are using a miticide that is labeled for use against the mite species that you are finding and that it has activity on all life stages of the mites. It is common to have all stages of the mites life cycle present at one time, especially as populations increase and generations advance rapidly.  

Spider mite webbing and damage on melon leaves. Photo by Frank Becker, OSU Extension. 

Severe groundhog damage is being reported in various vegetable crops, including those grown at OSU research facilities. Fencing can be used, but the fence must be semi-buried to prevent the varmints from just burrowing underneath it. Trapping is the other most common option. For more information, check out the two articles below: 

Animal Damage Management: Groundhogs – Purdue Extension

Ecology and Management of the Groundhog – Rutgers

There has been a resurgence of flea beetles as the second generation descends on the newer planting of cole crops. Squash bugs, squash vine borer, powdery mildew, and downy mildew are all damaging cucurbits. A flare up of cucumber beetles and bacterial wilt is also occurring. Corn smut is affecting some sweet corn plantings. Oftentimes, desirable and productive varieties may have poor disease resistance to pathogens like corn smut. Cultural practices for reducing incidence of corn smut in your field includes minimizing mechanical damage to plants that provides entry points for pathogens, as well as other standard practices like crop rotation, timely destruction of crop residues, and keeping nutrient levels balanced.

Bacterial diseases are also being reported in peppers. Anthracnose was diagnosed on cucumbers. Fusarium and verticillium are occurring in tomatoes, and Fusarium is also being reported in melons. Bacterial spot is popping up on tomatoes due to the recent heavy rains. 

Early anthracnose infection on cucumber leaves. Photo source: Gerald Holmes, Strawberry Center, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Bugwood.org

Fruit

It has been a good year for peaches and plums in Ohio. It has also been an early season – Dr. Diane Miller remarked that the variety sequence will be slotted earlier than normal this year. Fire blight risk has decreased considerably. White apple leafhopper has been observed causing moderate feeding damage in several orchards. White apple leafhoppers have piercing-sucking mouthparts that cause yellow-whitish stippling on the leaves. Both adults and nymphs can be found currently when scouting apple trees.  At this point in the season, try to target insecticide applications when you get 3 leafhopper nymphs per 25 leaves/tree. Neonicotinoids are effective against this pest (e.g., Belay (Clothianidin), Actara (Thiamethoxam), Assail (acetamiprid)). Be mindful of the pre-harvest interval since applications of these products at higher rates will increase the interval.  

White apple leafhoppers. Photo by Frank Becker, OSU Extension. 

High mite pressure has been reported in high tunnel raspberries. Are beneficial mites sufficient for mite control in high tunnels or greenhouse settings? It depends on environmental conditions – overly high temperatures can be detrimental for predatory mite survival which causes diminished levels of control. Phytophthora root rot has been reported in raspberries.

Photo by Thomas Becker, OSU Extension. 

With blueberry season in full swing and blackberry season about to get underway in much of the state, Spotted Wing Drosophila is a pest that small fruit growers need to have on their radar. Drosophila suzuki or spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is a fruit fly pest of small, soft-bodied fruits. To be able to identify the adults, many extension educators and specialists have to use a stereo microscope. It would take a hand lens at the very least, and even that may not be enough, as the key identifying features are quite small. Interestingly enough, only the male SWD has the characteristic spotted wing. The wings of the males are mostly clear, with one lone spot near the tip of each wing. Another ID tip for the males that is a bit more difficult to see is the presence of 2 black bands on their front legs. These bands are actually patches of hairs called sex combs. The main identifying feature on the females is their unique ovipositor. The ovipositor is the structure that female insects use to lay/deposit their eggs. For SWD, their ovipositor is lined with two rows of dark colored serrations or teeth. These serrations allow the female SWD to cut into ripening or just ripe fruits. This is different from many of the other fruit fly species we are used to, that infest over ripe or rotten fruit. 

Photo by Thomas Becker, OSU Extension. 

The fruits of primary concern are raspberries, blackberries, grapes, cherries, and strawberries. In Ohio, it seems that strawberries are pretty well done by the time that we start to detect SWD. Generally, first detection occurs when blueberries and raspberries are coming into season. Extension Educators and specialists around the state have SWD traps out to monitor pest populations. First detection is a critical aspect of managing this economically significant pest. The tolerance for damaged or wormy fruit is extremely low. The threshold for management to be implemented is one adult SWD in the trap. According to trapping data collected this year, first detection in the state occurred mid to late June. 

Once SWD is present in the environment, there are a couple of ways to try and manage it. You can start with cultural management by harvesting as thoroughly as you can and disposing of cull fruits. While it might be time consuming and require some extra labor, managing those culls could be worth the time and effort if it means you are removing a host site for the SWD. In addition, the more quickly you can get the fresh fruit off the plants, the less chance the flies have to lay their eggs in them. There are also some recommendations out there for physical exclusion. Berries under plastic, like a high tunnel for example, or under a fine mesh can reduce the number of adults gaining access to the fruit. However, there are some micro-climate considerations to keep in mind. Of note are air movement and access for pollinators (if needed). A fact sheet from Penn State University discusses the potential for biological control. There is apparently work being done to introduce a parasitoid wasp that targets SWD, but this work is still in its early stages. There are also multiple chemical options as well. You can find up-to-date chemical recommendations by checking in the Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide or contacting your county Extension Educator. Penn State also has a 4-part fact sheet series on SWD with lots of good information. 

Resources: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/spotted-wing-drosophila#using-insecticides-2403912 

https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-wing-drosophila-part-1-overview-and-identification 

Orange Rust is a frequent problem on blackberries in Ohio. It is no exception this year. Dr. Gary Gao got a grant from Ohio Vegetable & Small Fruit Research & Development Program this year to evaluate the orange rust disease resistance of two new blackberry varieties from University of Arkansas. The varieties are Caddo and Ponca. A few plants were planted between the orange rusted blackberry plants. In addition, Ryan Slaughter and Dr. Pengfei Wen, a visiting scholar from Shanxi Agricultural University, helped inoculate the new plants with orange rust infected plant leaves. So far, Caddo and Ponca have not shown any symptoms of orange rust. This is a pretty crude field trial. Gary also asked growers about their experiences with Caddo and Ponca.

Photo by Dr. Gary Gao.

Ouachita, a leading blackberry cultivar for Rotatable Cross Arm training system, is reported to have shown good tolerance for orange rust. Growers look for orange rust resistant varieties to extend the harvest season. Caddo started its initial harvest a few says before Ouachita and a few days after Natchez. Caddo’s peak harvest season is also earlier than Ouachita. However, Caddo yield is quite lower than that of Ouachita based on observations in Ohio. 

Sweet-Ark™ Ponca is an early ripening blackberry cultivar with extremely sweet flavor. It ripens at about same time as Natchez. Some of the growers in Ohio have planted Sweet-Ark™ Ponca Blackberries. It is hard to know if this variety will be a good fit for your blackberry operation. However, a blackberry variety with super sweetness may be worth consideration on a small scale. Sweet-Ark™ Ponca blackberry may now be as productive as Ouachita, but early fruit, sub acid and super sweetness may warrant a small planting. Sweet-Ark™ Ponca blackberry is reported to be resistant to orange rust. Hopefully, we will get a better idea about its orange rust resistance after we wrap up our trial.

In addition to planting orange rust resistant blackberry cultivars, a fungicide spray needs to be implemented. Here is an informative article from University of Maryland:  https://extension.umd.edu/resource/orange-rust-bigger-problem-usual-year-brambles/.   Growers can also follow the following link for detailed a spray schedule for blackberries: https://ag.purdue.edu/department/hla/extension/_docs/id-465.pdf 

The Integrated Pest Management Program along with OSU Extension educators across the state are monitoring five key pests this season. Monitoring sites are set up on farmer’s fields across the state and will be updated weekly.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug – This insect will not be monitored for until late July. Adults are currently active on a broad range of specialty crops.

Spotted wing Drosophila – A total of eight sites have been set up in Greene, Geauga, Loraine, Adams and Ross counties. SWD has been detected in all counties with individual trap counts ranging from 6 to 184 flies. The threshold for this pest is 1 fly. If this threshold is exceeded and ripe or ripening fruit is present, growers should consider applying insecticides or use other cultural methods to manage the infestation through final harvest. Growers with ripening brambles, blueberries, peaches and other soft skinned fruit should be aware this pest is likely present in all 88 counties at this point in the season. Refer to this factsheet for more information https://bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/u.osu.edu/dist/1/8311/files/2020/11/SWD_Ohio_handout_V20.pdf 

European corn borer – Five monitoring sites are set up in South Charleston (Clark Co.), Fremont (Sandusky Co.), Geauga and Huron Counties. All sites are reporting low moth numbers for the past two weeks, ranging between 0-3 moths per trap per week.

Corn earworm – Eight monitoring sites are set up in Clark, Sandusky, Fayette, Huron, Pike and Crawford counties. Moth counts have fluctuated in the past two weeks between 0-17 moths per trap per week, with the highest moth count in Clark county. As we get later into the season, expect larger migratory flights of CEW to be present in the state, especially around silking sweet corn. If you have a trap that is located near a mature sweet corn field, move it to a soon to be silking field, as CEW moths are preferentially attracted to silking sweet corn over young or mature sweet corn plants.

Squash vine borer – There are 11 counties currently trapping for this pest in Clark, Greene, Montgomery, Fayette, Geauga, Ross, Pike, Seneca, Morrow, Summit and Williams counties. Clark, Greene, Seneca, Williams and Montgomery. Reports for the last two weeks show a general reduction of moths captured per trap per week, ranging between 0 and 5. This insect should continue to decline through the rest of the season. As growers walk and scout fields, be vigilant to identify potential SVB damage on plants to estimate injury.

Growers can access and view the monitoring data directly at this site.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1T4Uk8VKH-fY4qms4FlEwQvz8o1Lxk-t8LLHVz97kxNU/edit?usp=sharing

Initial powdery mildew infestation

Heavy powdery mildew infestation

This article was co-written with Dr. Sally Miller, Emeritus OSU Plant Pathology, updated from 2023 post.

The article is detailed and thorough as OSU has had an active powdery mildew evaluation program for over two decades. Here are the key messages to focus on; greater details of each are further into the text:

1. Mid-July is the time to start scouting for PM; when the first colonies are found, begin treatment.

2. Treat every 7-14 days using hollow cone nozzles at 35-50 GPA with a target of 65 PSI.

3. Alternate FRAC codes (letter/number on top of label) when spraying to reduce PM fungicide resistance. For example spray 1 Quintec (FRAC 13), spray 2 Procure (FRAC 3), spray 3 Quintec, spray 4 Procure, etc. Adding a protectant (FRAC M) like Manzate Pro or Chlorothalonil (Bravo) can be done with every spray and enhances overall PM control; it’s the one exception to the rotation rule.

4. There are many great to good products available for PM control; at least 3 current sources are listed in this article to find products; Sally Miller and Jim Jasinski’s trial results listed below and the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide.

5. Some cost of application data is provided toward the end of the article so growers can pair efficacy with economics to see which suits their production goals best.

General PM Biology
Powdery mildew usually appears on pumpkins and other cucurbits in Ohio beginning in early to mid July. While it has not been seen in South Charleston at the research station yet (Clark County), it has been reported in Wayne County. The pathogen, Psudoperonospora cubensis, does not overwinter in Ohio; infections result from spores blown into the area on the wind.  Powdery mildew is favored by moderate to high temperatures and high humidity. However, unlike most other fungal plant pathogens, it is inhibited by free moisture on the leaf surface.

Signs of infection are small circular powdery growths on either side of the leaf, typically the lower leaf surface first. These spots enlarge and can eventually cover most of the leaf surface and kill the leaves. Stems and leaf petioles are also susceptible, but the disease is not observed on fruit. In pumpkins, powdery mildew may also attack the “handles”, which can be further damaged by secondary pathogens.

Powdery mildew is managed using disease-resistant varieties (powdery mildew tolerant and resistant hybrids) and fungicides. Pumpkin and squash varieties vary in resistance to powdery mildew; in general, the more susceptible the variety, the more fungicide needed. The choice of fungicide is important because insensitivity to overused fungicides is common. It is critical that a fungicide resistance management program is followed. Alternate fungicides in different FRAC (Fungicide Resistance Action Committee) groups, indicating different modes of action against the fungus. Fungicide applications should begin when the disease first appears and incidence is low (rule of thumb: at least one leaf of 50 scouted). Fungicides that are labeled for use against cucurbit powdery mildew can be found in the searchable Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers. In the Cucurbit chapter, a fungicide table lists recommended products and their efficacy against powdery mildew.

Product Efficacy Trials
Field exposed greenhouse based studies at OSU of efficacy of powdery mildew fungicides in Ohio in 2021 indicated that Aprovia Top, Luna Experience, Inspire Super, Rally, Miravis Prime, Luna Sensation, Microthiol Disperss, Vivando and Procure provided very good control of powdery mildew on pumpkins (see table in color below).  Velum Prime, Cevya, Prolivo and Gatten provided good control of powdery mildew on upper leaf surfaces but poor control on the lower surfaces.

Quintec provided good control in 2021 but in other years and other states has failed due to resistance. Fontelis, Bravo Weather Stik, Merivon Xemium, Pristine, and Torino have been shown to provide poor or variable control in Ohio or other states and are not recommended.

Table 1. Field exposed and greenhouse incubated powdery mildew fungicide results.

Jim Jasinski, OSU Extension, has been running field trials in southwest Ohio at the Western Ag Research Station since 2014 to assess fungicide efficacy against powdery mildew on pumpkins. Yearly results of these trials (2014 – 2023) can be found here toward the middle of the page.

Some effective season long fungicide combinations, based on 2021-2023 data, are shown in the second table below. Some of these fungicides were not effective in the Field/Greenhouse bioassays (table in color), but when paired with a broad spectrum protectant like Manzate, provided more effective control than when applied alone. Most experts suggest adding a broad spectrum protectant fungicide like Manzate to more powdery mildew-targeted fungicides to reduce the risk of fungicide development, boost fungicide efficacy and protect the crop from other diseases. However, programs based solely on protective products such as Manzate or Bravo, do not provide good season long protection so addition of other fungicides is necessary.

Always check the label for the full list of allowed crops, use recommendations and restrictions.

Table 2. Field Based Season Long Effective Fungicide Treatments to Control PM in Pumpkin in Ohio in 2021 – 2023.

*sequential applications for research only, must be rotated per label for grower use.

Spray Costs
While much time and energy is spent determining the most effective fungicides to control powdery mildew, less effort has been focused on the cost of the fungicide program, which is a huge consideration for growers. Below are listed some price estimates for a handful of fungicides. Prices extended to growers hinge on many factors so if the prices at your dealer vary compared to what is shown below, that is normal and to be expected.

Cevya – $5.92/oz (ca. $17.75 per application)

Gatten – $4.03/oz (ca. $24.18 per application)

Procure – $3.75/oz (ca. $30 per application)

SiGuard – $13/qt (ca. $13 per application)

Manzate Pro Stick – $3.60/lb (ca. $9 per application)

Quintec – $3.80/oz (ca. $22.80 per application)

Vacciplant – $1/oz (ca. $14 per application)

Vivando – $2.30/oz (ca. $35.42 per application)

Luna Experience – $5.15/oz (ca. $30.9 per application)

Microthiol Disperss – $1.85/lb (ca. $7.40 per application)

Pumpkin Enterprise Budget

The Pumpkin Enterprise Budget below is the product of team work led by Eric Richer, Associate Professor, Farm Management, OSU Extension and supported by Jim Jasinski, Professor, Integrated Pest Management, OSU Extension, Rob Leeds, Assistant Professor, OSU Extension-Delaware County, Logan Minter, Associate Professor, OSU Extension-South Centers and Barry Ward, Leader, Production Business Management, OSU Extension.

For more than two decades, Ohio State University Extension educators and faculty from Plant Pathology, Entomology and Horticulture and Crop Science, have supported the production and pest management needs of pumpkin growers throughout the state. The focus of this work has predominately been to help growers produce a better quality and higher yielding pumpkin crop based on solid production and IPM practices. To complement our focus on production, we have developed a new tool to help growers understand the financial aspects and profitability of raising pumpkins in Ohio.

Screenshot of overall budget spreadsheet

For the first time in 25 years, an updated Ohio Commercial Pumpkin Enterprise Budget has been released on the Farm Office website! This downloadable interactive spreadsheet (www.go.osu.edu/commercialpumpkinbudget) can be used to predict your cost of production; calculate profit per acre, per ton, and per bin; and help growers set prices accordingly.  The tool was developed and refined by OSU Extension Specialists, educators and growers over the past few years who have a passion to understand the economic aspects of pumpkin production.

The budget is based on a standard jack-o-lantern production enterprise with three default yield and cost columns based on low (5 tons/A), average(10 tons/A) and high production systems (15 tons/A).  The spreadsheet is designed so growers can enter their individual information in yellow cells and the resulting calculations in blue cells will determine their cost of production and potential profitability. Current market prices for input costs (fertilizer, labor, pesticides, etc.) were used based on industry standards.

Receipts section

The budget begins with a Receipts section that allows growers to break out their production by retail, wholesale or other sale methods based on percentage of yield.  The receipts section also allows for percentage spoilage and customization in price per market segment.

Variable costs section

In the Variable costs section of the budget, growers can input their desired row spacing (between row and in-row spacing) and projected seed costs. The default seeding and fertilizer rates are based on the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide but can be modified per the grower’s production practice. The herbicide, insecticide and fungicide application sections are perhaps the most improved from our last iteration. Growers can utilize the standardized pesticide recommendations and updated industry costs or choose to modify the pest management program based on their current production practices, farm history and seasonal pest levels. Also included are custom spraying charges in case a grower does not spray their own pumpkins.

The remaining Variable costs include bee hives (if used), labor, marketing cost of bins, trucking, fuel/oil/grease, repairs, irrigation, and operating interest.  These costs can vary greatly by grower, but standardized values were used where standardized costs could be found.

Fixed costs section

After variable costs, the budget tool estimates Fixed or overhead costs related to operating a commercial pumpkin enterprise.  As in most enterprise budgets, these Fixed costs include owner’s labor and management charges, machinery and equipment ownership costs and a land charge. Again, producers can enter their individual values for each of these categories if they know them for a more accurate output.

Total costs section

The Total Costs section at the bottom of the budget helps growers determine their overall costs on a per acre, per ton and per bin basis depending on actual pumpkin harvest yields.

The last six lines of the Total Costs section are used to understand profitability. These are broken down on a per acre basis into Returns Above Variable Costs, Returns Above Variable and Land Costs, and Returns Above Total Costs. Growers generally associate Returns Above Total Costs as their profit per acre. There are more sophisticated measures of profitability such as Return to Land, Return to Labor and Management, and Return to Land, Labor and Management if growers care to dive deeper. The “Return Above” and “Return To” measures of profitability are explained in greater detail in the footnotes associated with the budget.

If you have specific questions about the Pumpkin Enterprise Budget, please contact Eric Richer, richer.5@osu.edu.

Pumpkin Enterprise Budget video

If you prefer to digest this information by watching a video where Eric explains the various budget sections, it can be viewed on the OSU IPM YouTube video library here: https://youtu.be/RkNMqGezVaU?si=7eMSTxx5xPU5q5Qs

Additional crop and animal enterprise budgets can be found on OSU’s Farm Office website at www.farmoffice.osu.edu/farm-management/enterprise-budgets.

Screenshot of OSU IPM YouTube video library

To view the pumpkin IPM video library created to help growers identify and manage key pests and other topics, check out go.osu.edu/osuipm.