Pumpkin research plots at the Western Ag Research Station were finally completed via transplanting and direct seeding on Friday, June 13 while dodging rain drops. A few of the transplants were destroyed by large black cutworm larva within hours of being in the field. These large larva often move onto any green plant when the weeds they are feeding on are disturbed by tillage or herbicide.

Black cutworm cut seedling stem below the cotyledons.

Black cutworm larva resting in transplant plug.

The remaining transplants were intermittently attacked by striped cucumber beetles that have emerged from their overwintering sites. These hybrids were not treated with FarMore FI400, a systemic seed coat insecticide, so they needed to be rescued to reduce severe feeding damage and possible bacterial wilt infection. For foliar treatment options, consult the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide online here: https://mwveguide.org/results/crop/586/pests/474

Striped cucumber beetle feeding damage on pumpkin cotyledon.

The statewide insect trapping network is also ramping up, with Corn Earworm, Squash Vine Borer and Spotted Wing Drosophila traps being deployed in several counties. In Clark county, 10 CEW were captured on June 16. In Greene county, 2 SVB were captured on the same date. SWD samples have been collected but not sorted for positive identification yet.

Striped cucumber beetle adult.

Mating squash bugs.

While most of us have a long holiday weekend, it’s late May which means early season cucurbit pests like striped cucumber beetles and squash bugs will soon exit their overwintering sites and head to crop fields. Based on our biweekly fruit and vegetable conference calls, neither of these pests have been reported but growers should remain vigilant.

As growers begin to plan for direct seeding or transplanting melons, pumpkin, squash, cucumbers and squash, recall that early planted fields will likely be infested soon after emergence or when placed in the field. For growers who purchased seed treated with FarMoreFI400, striped cucumber beetle populations should be controlled for 2-3 weeks. After this period if scouting reveals beetles in excess of plant stage threshold, foliar treatments are an option.  For growers who did not purchase systemic insecticide treated seed, remember to scout plants frequently in multiple parts of the field, edge and interior, and if the damage exceeds the following thresholds (see below), consider treating with a foliar insecticide to knock these pests down. Foliar insecticide options can be found here:

Striped Cucumber Beetle – https://mwveguide.org/results/crop/586/pests/474

Squash Bugs – https://mwveguide.org/results/crop/586/pests/501

Characteristic striped cucumber beetle feeding. FarMoreFI400 should prevent significant feeding and therefore limit bacterial wilt spread.

Systemic Insecticide Use Considerations
Seed treatments containing thiamethoxam (FarMore FI400, Cruiser) offer maximum protection against cucumber beetles and other pests for about 2 to 3 weeks after seedling emergence. Seed treatments offer little protection to transplanted crops. For transplants and direct-seeded plants over 3 weeks old, the concentration of insecticide from seed treatment is no longer strong enough to kill beetles but can still harm bees due to sublethal doses in the pollen and nectar. Treated seed should never be used in combination with at-plant soil drenches with imidacloprid (Admire or generics), or thiamethoxam (Platinum). At-plant soil drenches used alone, with non-treated seed, offer similar protection to treated seed for beetle control. Due to increased residues in nectar and pollen, in-furrow applications should be considered last and applied at the lowest recommended rate that provides control. Non-systemic foliar applications of insecticides can be used to control cucumber beetles if seed or in-furrow treatments were not used, or were ineffective. Once flowers are present, applications should be made in the evening when flowers are closed and bees are not actively foraging, which minimizes the risk to pollinators.

Thresholds range from 0.5 to 1 beetle per seedling, and 1 to 5 beetles per plant for plants after 4 leaf stage. The threshold for cantaloupe melons and cucumber is lower because these crops are susceptible to bacterial wilt, which is vectored by cucumber beetles. Pumpkin, squash, and watermelon have higher thresholds because these crops are less susceptible to bacterial wilt, but beetle feeding can occur on the fruit rind by both adult and larvae, causing marketable loss. Beetles found in pumpkin or squash flowers do not pose a risk to the plant but as flowering decreases, rind feeding may increase.

Thresholds for squash bugs are one egg mass or adult per plant.

Pumpkin playlist on OSU IPM Video Library.

OSU IPM Video Library
Not sure how to identify striped or spotted cucumber beetle? Can’t remember what squash bug nymphs, egg masses or adults look like? Take a few minutes to peruse the OSU IPM Video Library where these resources are housed to help growers identify and manage all key cucurbit pests including squash vine borer.

Videos on weed control, disease control (powdery mildew, plectosporium) and hybrid selection are also in this playlist collection.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0HRPaZDLHyH64oVLKdX5icKQFzqQ5nCA

NEW Pumpkin Resource Guide

Cover shot of new pumpkin guide

If you haven’t seen this announcement, a team from OSU, MSU and Cornell University developed a new 72-page guide, “A Modern Approach to Crop and Pest Management in Pumpkin – ANR 806”. This guide highlights modern IPM practices such as mechanical weed control, cover crops, pollinator protection and negative impacts of certain pesticide mixtures. Basic topics like weed, insect and disease management are also covered, as well as the benefits of natural enemies and a pumpkin enterprise budget to measure overall profitability. In addition to colorful images and layman’s text to explain each topic, QR codes are sprinkled throughout the guide to provide deeper dives on most topics via factsheets, bulletins, websites and videos from specialists around the country.

Copies of the guide can be ordered and purchased at your local Extension county office or online at OSU Extension Publishing (https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/a-modern-approach-to-crop-and-pest-management-in-pumpkin/).

Three weeks ago an article was posted in VegNet outlining a relatively new disease on sweet corn, Tar Spot (https://u.osu.edu/vegnetnews/2025/03/08/tar-spot-on-sweet-corn/).

In order to understand the magnitude and distribution of this disease across Ohio, a short survey was available for growers to anonymously send in their experience with Tar Spot so that a more accurate understanding of this disease could be made, informing potential research in 2025. If you would like to add to our understanding of this disease on your farm, here is the link to follow: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d5NMkdMmASqJza6

Two growers responded to the survey from west central and north central Ohio stating they:

-have had issues with Tar Spot since at least 2023 (primarily “late” planted)
-have sprayed fungicides on the crop since at least 2023
-believe this disease is impacting ear quality and sales

As a result of this information, a group of OSU researchers and Extension educators have decided to go forward with planning a Tar Spot evaluation and yield impact study at three locations in 2025. The study will be guided by Dr. Pierce Paul, Tar Spot researcher, Professor and Chair of Plant Pathology, and Dr. Andres Sanabria Velazquez, Associate Professor in Plant Pathology. Contributing to the study design, data collection and analysis will be Dr. Logan Minter (Associate Professor in Extension, Field Specialist), Jim Jasinski (Professor in Extension), Mike Gastier and Pressley Buurma (Extension Educators).

Sites for the Tar Spot trials will be South Centers at Piketon, Western Ag Research Station (South Charleston), and Muck Crops Research Station (Willard), evaluating both fresh market and shipping sweet corn hybrids. More details of these trials will be released soon.

The past few months have been full of opportunities for growers to attend local, statewide, regional or even national fruit and vegetable conferences to learn new skills and get updates on current production and pest management practices. I recently attended a conference where Dr. Julie Kikkert, Cornell University, gave a very interesting presentation on Tar Spot in sweet corn. During her talk, gears began turning in my head as I considered if this disease was also a problem under the radar for Ohio sweet corn growers.

Crop Protection Network

Tar Spot was initially detected in Ohio in 2018 on field corn and is mostly distributed in the northwest and northcentral parts of the state (https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2020-03/tar-spot-corn). Tar Spot is currently found in 14 states and mostly thought of as a pathogen on field corn, due primarily to the length of exposure as the ear matures on the stalk. Since sweet corn is harvested immature, the question of Tar Spot impacting quality and yield seems remote but possible. Late planted sweet corn in Ohio (ca. late June or early July), is most likely to be affected but other factors such as prior crop, tillage and weather can play a part in the disease severity.

From CORN article

If the prior crop was field or sweet corn then the risk of Tar Spot increases, as does the risk if there was no primary tillage performed which could serve to bury inoculum (old, infected corn leaves).  In the later part of the season, if weather conditions turn cool and wet, this favors disease development. Proximity to large acreages of field corn may also be a factor as air borne spores can travel miles to infect other corn plants. At this time there are no resistant field or sweet corn hybrids but there may be some tolerance among hybrids. Fungicides can be applied to late planted sweet corn crops that are effective against this pathogen but the matter of economics and Pre Harvest Interval comes into play. https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/publications/fungicide-efficacy-for-control-of-corn-diseases

What can be done?

At this point, several members of the OSU Specialty Crops team are looking to set up multiple late planted sweet corn hybrid trials on OSU research stations from southern to northern Ohio to determine the extent of foliar Tar Spot infestation and if any impacts on ear production or quality can be observed.

Since this pathogen is new to Ohio sweet corn growers, we are also interested in feedback from growers who have seen this pathogen on their crop in 2024. In order to collect this information anonymously, please use the 9-question feedback form at this link: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d5NMkdMmASqJza6

 The survey questions are listed below. The last question on the form is open ended if growers have any other thoughts to share on this disease. In a few weeks, I will summarize the observations and concerns of the growers who responded.

Q1. Did you see Tar Spot on sweet corn last year?

Q2. What was the previous crop?

Q3. What tillage was performed in the field?

Q4. What was the planting date of the infected sweet corn hybrid?

Q5. When was the sweet corn harvested?

Q6. What was the name of the sweet corn hybrid?

Q7. Did the Tar Spot infection affect the ear quality in your opinion?

Q8. What county is your farm located?

Q9. Anything else to tell us about Tar Spot on your farm in 2024?

The following article was written by and all photos supplied by:

Dr. Erdal Ozkan
Professor and Extension State Specialist
Pesticide Application Technology
The Ohio State University

Once a decision is made that spraying pesticides is a must to protect your crop against weeds, insects and diseases, there are two important things you should do to get the most out of your sprayer during the spraying season. One of these important tasks should be accomplished even before the spraying season starts. It is making sure the sprayer is delivering the gal/acre application rate you expect to get from it at the travel speed you operate the sprayer. Many refer to this as “calibration” of the sprayer. The second important thing to do is to operate the sprayer properly and making appropriate adjustments to the sprayer to not waste pesticides and to make sure the pesticides are applied uniformly on the target. Let’s tackle both of these issues one at a time.

Calibrate your sprayer

A sprayer can only be effective, efficient, and safe if it’s properly checked and calibrated before it’s taken to the field, and if it’s periodically checked and calibrated during the spraying season. The primary goal with calibration is to determine the actual rate of application, and then to make the necessary adjustments if there is a difference between the actual application rate and the “expected” application rate. Under some specific circumstances the expected application rate could be the rate chosen by you, the applicator. However, usually, the “expected” application rate is what is mentioned on the chemical label and sprayer operators must follow what is recommended on the label. This required rate is most often given in “gallons per acre”. Your job as the applicator is to make sure your actual application rate matches the recommended rate on the label. You can find out how close your application rate to the label rate only by calibrating the sprayer. Although your goal should be to achieve a perfect match between the actual and the expected application rates, an error margin of less than 5% between the two rates is acceptable.

How to calibrate a sprayer?

Regardless of the sprayer used, calibration requires measuring the nozzle flow rate (gal/min) and the travel speed (miles/hour), and only three things are needed: a watch or smart phone to record the time when measuring the nozzle flow rate or the travel speed, a measuring tape, and a jar graduated in ounces.

Collecting nozzle flow rate from a boom sprayer is relatively easy because spray is directed vertically towards the ground. However, when using sprayers used in orchards and vineyards have nozzles discharging spray in a wide range of directions from close to ground vertically to horizontal and upward directed toward the crop canopy. Using milk liners to connect nozzles to the hoses inserted in collection cups is a practical way to check flow rates of nozzles without getting wet.

Please look at the Ohio State University Extension publication FABE-520 for an easy method to calibrate a boom-type sprayer.  Here is the URL for this publication:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/fabe-520.

If you are calibrating a high pressure airblast sprayer used to apply pesticides on trees in fruit orchards, please look at the Ohio State University Extension publication FABE-537.  Here is the URL for this publication:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/fabe-537.

Things to do prior to calibration

Before calibration, run the sprayer, inspect it for leaks, and make sure all vital parts function properly and that the sprayer has a good set of nozzles. Some nozzles or screens may become clogged causing under-application. Clean all clogged nozzles and screens before calibrating the sprayer and after each application (especially when powder sulfur or copper are applied in vineyards). Observe the spray pattern before calibration, and often during spraying to make sure there is no clogging. Nozzle wear from extended use causes over-application and/or non-uniform application. Check the flow rate of each nozzle for at least 30 seconds. Check the nozzle company catalog (website) to see what the flow rate of a new nozzle at the same pressure setting is.  Compare the flow rates of nozzles you measured with the flow rate of the new nozzles Replacing a nozzle is recommended if its measured flow rate is 10% greater than that of the new nozzle at the same spray pressure.

Follow safety rules when calibrating sprayers

For safety reasons, calibration should be done using water in the sprayer tank. A mixture containing pesticides may have a slightly higher density or viscosity than water, which may slightly reduce the flow rates of nozzles. However, usually, the difference in flow rates between water alone and a mixture containing pesticides is not significant unless a high volume of high-dense or viscous adjuvants is mixed in the spray mixture. Conversions for spray solutions with different densities are provided by the nozzle manufacturers in their catalogs or websites. Even when calibrating the sprayer using water, always wear the personal protective equipment used for spraying pesticides, such as gloves and goggles.

Other adjustments needed for effective spraying

Knowing that the actual spray application rate (gal/acre) determined through calibration matches the expected application rate (what is on the chemical label) is the first step to achieve maximum accuracy from a sprayer. However, this is only one aspect of achieving effective pest control. How much of the spray reaches the target canopy, and how uniformly it is distributed within the target canopy are two other factors that play important roles in achieving maximum protection against pests.

The goal in spraying pesticides should be landing as many droplets on the target and as uniformly throughout the canopy as possible. This is especially important when spraying fungicides and insecticides. With boom sprayers used for spraying on vegetables, there are several reasons why the deposition on the target is not uniform across the boom. Some major reasons include having different size and types of nozzles mixed on the boom, clogged nozzles and uneven boom height over the target sprayed.

Non-uniform deposition of pesticides on the target canopy is even a more serious issue to deal with. If you a fruit grower, it is very likely that the sprayer you have is like the ones shown in the following pictures.

Unfortunately, the sprayer shown on the left has two design and/or adjustment issues that significantly reduce the spray deposited on the target: 1) The top two to three nozzles on each side of the sprayer aren’t directing spray toward the targets and should be turned off. 2) There are no deflector plates, neither on the top or the bottom part of the fan, to direct the air plume towards the target. These plates that ensure that the sprayed droplets are deposited on the canopy, are present on the sprayer shown on the right.

When spraying an orchard or vineyard using an airblast sprayer, adjust the angle of the deflector plates to match the canopy’s height of the canopy. This adjustment is necessary each time spraying is conducted because the canopy height may vary from one orchard or vineyard to another, or even within the same orchard or vineyard throughout the growing season. A practical way to determine the correct trajectory of the air discharged from the fan is to tie ribbons around the area where air is exiting the fan. Then turn on the fan, watch the direction the air blows the ribbons, and adjust the angle of the deflectors accordingly.

Adjust the air flow when using airblast orchard sprayers

Air generated by the sprayer fan is what carries droplets from the nozzle to the target. Too little or too much air results in ineffective and inefficient coverage of the target. The goal is to adjust the sprayer fan air-flow rate and volume so that the air being directed into the canopy replaces the air already in the canopy, but dies down significantly as it reaches the other side of the canopy. This adjustment will result in very little spray droplets escaping the canopy. Be aware that too much air flow can force leaves together, creating a surface that blocks the passage of air. When air cannot penetrate the canopy, it moves upward in a vertical trajectory, further exacerbating the off-target movement of droplets. In general, most, if not all of today’s air-assisted or airblast sprayers, generate more air assistance than what is needed. This is especially true for vineyard spraying. So, it is very important to take the time to adjust the air stream characteristics (direction, air speed, and air flow rate) suitable for the tree or vine canopy conditions at the time of the spray applications. As a side benefit, a reduction in the airflow rate also lowers fuel consumption. 

I mentioned in this article the highlights of what you need to do to get the best performance from your sprayer. You can find detailed information on several Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheets which you can find by visiting the website for OSUE publications: https://ohioline.osu.edu. Once you are on this site, do a search using my last name (“ozkan”) as the key word for your search. You will see a listing of publications  on sprayer calibration, selecting the right size of nozzle for the intended application rate, how to achieve efficient penetration and uniform deposition of droplets inside the canopy, and how to assess the quality of spray deposition and coverage on the target.

.

SWD larvae in fruit

Spotted-wing Drosophila male (L) and female (R).

If you grow a crop that has been impacted by SWD over the past decade, February 28 is your last chance to report how this insect has affected your operation.

Ohio was first infested with spotted-wing Drosophila (SWD) in the fall of 2011. This pest turned long standing IPM programs on their head and forced growers to adopt new monitoring and management practices for this pest or face losing significant amounts of  blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, peaches and grapes to larval infestation. While OSU had an active Extension and outreach program to teach growers about this insect since discovery in Ohio, we relied on research generated by several multi-state grants to keep our growers at the forefront of IPM on susceptible crops. While we have made substantial progress on monitoring and managing this pest, there are still many research and management questions to answer. To help inform the next phase of SWD research and outreach, please consider adding your thoughts about how this pest has impacted your operation over the past decade. All responses are confidential.

**This survey is being shared with multiple mailing lists to ensure that we reach as many impacted growers as possible. We apologize if you receive it more than once!

Dear Berry Growers:

As part of a national team of entomologists studying the management of spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), we are reaching out with a request for assistance to help understand the current impacts of SWD on your farm and how these impacts may have changed in the last 10 years.

If you are willing to share insights from your farm, farms you manage, or growers you work with, please complete this short survey, which will take about 15 minutes or less: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeW6rCcyM9vf_sjLJDj0J_6G03jlVbBLZt5rlX7kmzSj0Ypog/viewform

How will this information be used?
This information will be used to develop new research goals as part of a USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative proposal under development. It will also be compared to information collected in similar surveys in 2013 and 2014 to help us understand where challenges still exist for SWD management and what improvements have been made over the last 10 years and shared in extension and scholarly publications.

Who should I contact for more information?
For more information about this survey, contact Hannah Levenson, hklevens@ncsu.edu, 919.434.7882. For more information about SWD management, contact members of our project team or your local extension expert.

Thank you,

Hannah Burrack
Professor & Chair
Department of Entomology
Michigan State University
burrackh@msu.edu

SWD larvae in fruit

Spotted-wing Drosophila male (L) and female (R).

If you grow a crop that has been impacted by SWD over the past decade, February 28 is your last chance to report how this insect has affected your operation.

Ohio was first infested with spotted-wing Drosophila (SWD) in the fall of 2011. This pest turned long standing IPM programs on their head and forced growers to adopt new monitoring and management practices for this pest or face losing significant amounts of  blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, peaches and grapes to larval infestation. While OSU had an active Extension and outreach program to teach growers about this insect since discovery in Ohio, we relied on research generated by several multi-state grants to keep our growers at the forefront of IPM on susceptible crops. While we have made substantial progress on monitoring and managing this pest, there are still many research and management questions to answer. To help inform the next phase of SWD research and outreach, please consider adding your thoughts about how this pest has impacted your operation over the past decade. All responses are confidential.

**This survey is being shared with multiple mailing lists to ensure that we reach as many impacted growers as possible. We apologize if you receive it more than once!

Dear Berry Growers:

As part of a national team of entomologists studying the management of spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), we are reaching out with a request for assistance to help understand the current impacts of SWD on your farm and how these impacts may have changed in the last 10 years.

If you are willing to share insights from your farm, farms you manage, or growers you work with, please complete this short survey, which will take about 15 minutes or less: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeW6rCcyM9vf_sjLJDj0J_6G03jlVbBLZt5rlX7kmzSj0Ypog/viewform

How will this information be used?
This information will be used to develop new research goals as part of a USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative proposal under development. It will also be compared to information collected in similar surveys in 2013 and 2014 to help us understand where challenges still exist for SWD management and what improvements have been made over the last 10 years and shared in extension and scholarly publications.

Who should I contact for more information?
For more information about this survey, contact Hannah Levenson, hklevens@ncsu.edu, 919.434.7882. For more information about SWD management, contact members of our project team or your local extension expert.

Thank you,

Hannah Burrack
Professor & Chair
Department of Entomology
Michigan State University
burrackh@msu.edu

This article was written by Dr. Aaron Wilson, OSU Extension, Ag Weather and Climate Field Specialist

Fig. 1. U.S. Drought Monitor depiction for Ohio as of October 22, 2024.

Dry conditions have plagued Ohioans throughout the growing season this year, with another below average week of precipitation this past week. Since the remnants of Hurricane Helene moved through in late September, ample precipitation has been hard to come by. Several cities are experiencing one of their driest Octobers on record, including Cincinnati and Mansfield (2^nd driest), Dayton (3^rd driest), and Athens and Columbus (4^th driest). Many of these locations have picked up less than three-tenths of an inch. Warmer than average temperatures this week have also notched the drought stress back up, with numerous reports of field fires in west central and northwest Ohio. Certainly, where drought conditions have persisted the longest in southeast Ohio, crop yields are generally below average, pastures have been slow to recover, and producers are still hauling water. As of October 22, 2024, the US Drought Monitor still shows about 8% of the state in D4 – exceptional drought with about 65% of the state still experiencing drought conditions (D1-D4).

If you are continuing to experience drought impacts or to document improvements, you can view and/or submit local reports at the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports page. For a more detailed look at conditions and resources, visit our Drought Response Page or for the latest up-to-date conditions, seasonal outlooks, and monthly climate summaries, please visit the State Climate Office of Ohio.

Fig. 2. Precipitation forecast from the Weather Prediction Center for 8pm Monday October 28 – 7pm Monday November 5, 2024.

Weather Forecast – Again we are expecting a big warming trend early this week, followed by an increasing chance of Halloween rain and a weekend cool down. High pressure will remain in control through Wednesday, with strong southerly wind gusts and high temperatures running in the mid 70s to low 80s. With gusty winds and low humidity, fire risk will be elevated. A few daily record highs are at stake as well. A cold front will push through the region on Thursday. Although much heavier rain is expected across the central states, a solid line of showers and storms will drop 0.25-0.50 inches of rain. After brief drying conditions on Saturday, another system could bring rainn showers back into Ohio for Sunday and Monday. Temperatures will be much colder over the weekend, with highs in the 50s and 60s and lows in the 30s and 40s. The Weather Prediction Center is currently forecasting 0.25-0.75” of rain this week (Figure 2).

The 8-14 day outlook from the Climate Prediction Center and the 16-Day Rainfall Outlook from NOAA/NWS/Ohio River Forecast Center show that temperatures are likely to jump back above average with a robust signal toward wetter than average conditions as well (Figure 3). This is not a pattern we have seen in a while but hopefully represents a step toward long-term drought and soil moisture recovery for the area. Climate averages include a high-temperature range of 56-60°F, a low-temperature range of 38-41°F, and weekly total precipitation of 0.55-0.80”.

Fig. 3. Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Outlook valid for November 5 – 11, 2024, for left) temperatures and right) precipitation. Colors represent the probability of below, normal, or above normal conditions.

Cover shot of new pumpkin guide

A new 72-page guide, “A Modern Approach to Crop and Pest Management in Pumpkin – ANR 806”, was published in August 2024 to help both beginner and experienced growers produce a better crop. Thirteen specialists from Ohio State University, Michigan State University and Cornell University worked together to produce this guide which increases awareness of modern IPM practices such as mechanical weed control, cover crops, pollinator protection and negative impacts of certain pesticide mixtures. Basic topics like weed, insect and disease management are also covered, as well as the benefits of natural enemies and a pumpkin enterprise budget to measure overall profitability. In addition to colorful images and layman’s text to explain each topic, QR codes are sprinkled throughout the guide to provide deeper dives on most topics via factsheets, bulletins, websites and videos from specialists around the country. Although the guide was written for growers in the Midwest, most concepts will apply to growers in the Northeast and Southeast regions of the country.

Copies of the guide can be ordered and purchased at your local Extension county office or online at OSU Extension Publishing (https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/a-modern-approach-to-crop-and-pest-management-in-pumpkin/).

Pages of the new pumpkin guide

 Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day Returns!

Last year this event was held in Wooster, OH and it was a great success, with over 150 farmers in attendance. This year the event has rotated to West Lafayette, IN, home of Purdue University if you care to attend. A full day of weeding tool demonstrations, trade show, and cultivation education for both vegetables and row crops will be on display.

Champaign, IL. In partnership with Purdue University, this year’s Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day will take place on Wednesday, September 11 at Purdue University’s Horticulture research station. 

At the morning Expo you can see weeding tools and speak with company reps from manufacturers in the US, Europe, and Japan, and meet the farmers in attendance from all over the region. At the morning education sessions, learn from experienced farmers and university weed scientists from surrounding states. ‘Weed control on the tillage spectrum’ will make the connection between tillage and weed management – with demos and talks on tarping for vegetables and plowing down cover crops with residue management in mind. 

A walk-behind tractor exhibition – ‘Walk-Behind Alley’ – features demonstrations of walk-behind tractors and hand tools. A wide variety of cultivators, hand tools, and the paperpot transplanting system will be shown. You can also visit the trade show exhibit booths to meet other supply companies, like equipment dealers for all manner of machinery, seed, tools, fertilizers, and soils. 

At noon, the field day will break for lunch – an opportunity for farmers to meet and network, or continue looking at trade show equipment and speaking with exhibitors. In the afternoon farmers follow the tractors out to the demonstration field, where corn, beets, and brassicas have been planted especially for the demonstrations. Many 3-point, camera-guided, autonomous, and belly-mounted cultivators and cultivating tractors will be demonstrated in the field and explained by manufacturers. These demonstrations will show how the machines should be mounted and properly adjusted according to crop and soil conditions, and will help farmers visualize how the implements can work on their own farms. 

Row-crop tools in demonstration include precision-controlled tine-weeders and several types of camera-guided cultivators with finger weeders and all manner of other tooling – see all types of knives, hilling discs, etc. Demonstrations will be held in 4’’ corn. 

Vegetable weeding tools include cultivating tractors past and present, a variety of belly-mounted and rear-mounted steerable tools, and cultivators from Japan! 

Registration for this full-day of learning and networking on mechanical weed control is just $75. Registration includes lunch and all the machinery demos you can handle. It is recommended that everyone register early as each year space runs out. 

This event is perfect for farmers and ag advisors who want to: see a particular weeding tool before buying it, learn how to adjust cultivators, see what is new in cultivation, or learn from other farmers. 

Here is the general information for the event: 

When: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 

Where: Purdue University – MEIGS Horticultural Research Farm 9101 S 100 E Lafayette, IN 47909

How Much: $75 (includes lunch) 

Register online at: https://thelandconnection.regfox.com/2024-midwest-mechanical-weed-control-field-day

*Walk-in registration will be available, but lunch and conference amenities are not guaranteed.

Field Day webpage: https://www.thelandconnection.org/event/2024-mmwcfd/

For more info on the event or to register by phone, contact Crystal at crystal@thelandconnection.org or (217) 840-2128. 

Inquiries for interviews on radio, print, and beyond are welcomed – Please reach out to Sam Oschwald Tilton, glacialdrift@protonmail.com, or 414-213-5337

Interested in exhibiting your products and connecting with farmers at the field day? Please contact us