Here is what I’ve been seeing in the various fields and plots at the Western Ag Research Station.
Pumpkin & Squash
Barely there powdery mildew on pumpkin.
Powdery mildew is very slow to take hold even in the susceptible plots thus far, barely averaging a few percent in untreated checks. Normally this time of year we have fairly moderate pressure and can see significant differences between treated and untreated foliage. Not seeing any symptoms of downy mildew in either pumpkin or squash despite it being reported in northern Ohio earlier this week. Striped cucumber beetles and squash bugs are not that bad at the station currently, perhaps I just jinxed my plots? There are at least a handful of bacterial wilt infected plants and several squash vine borer successfully attacked the plants in my various trials, oh well there is always next year.
Hartstack trap
Sweet Corn The multi-state Bt sweet corn trial is up and running at the station for fifth or sixth year in a row; right now the late planted crop is just beginning to tassel and should be ready to harvest for ear and kernel damage in early September. The trial has shown in past years that most Bt traited sweet corn hybrids are not very effective against controlling corn earworm, the main pest of interest, without targeted insecticide sprays to protect the fresh silks. Only those hybrids that contain the Vip3A gene/trait are effective against CEW but due to the pressure on this single trait, erosion of control is slowly being detected. Very few European corn borer larvae or other caterpillars are found during the destructive sampling protocol of 100-200 ears per hybrid. In fact, very few ECB moths have been captured this year at the station.
Heliothis trap
There is also a study on the station comparing three types of CEW traps; Scentry Heliothis (plastic mesh), Hartstack (metal mesh) and Trapview AI (camera trap). We are focused on comparing the capture rates of these three traps to see how similar they are so that recommendations and spray guidelines developed over years of research can be faithfully applied. What’s so special about the Trapview AI trap? It doesn’t require any human intervention during the season except to change the lure every two weeks. It accomplishes this by taking nightly pictures of moths stuck to the sticky film inside the trap which are then sent for AI identification and finally confirmed by a human before being reported to the app for viewing. So far, the Heliothis and Trapview traps are behaving similarly with respect to trap catches; the Hartstack is catching many more moths as expected. As is generally the case in mid-August, the CEW catches begin to climb so if there are fresh silks out there, a series of protective sprays every 3-5 days may be warranted.
Trapview AI
Sunflower
Deer browsing leaves?
Deer browsing seedlings?
High oleic oilseed sunflower research plots have been planted at three research stations (Northwest, Western and Wooster) this year as both a full season crop and as a double crop after wheat or barley is harvested. This year like last year, we are seeing lower than expected stand populations and are trying to determine the causes which might include mechanical and biological processes. Unlike last year, we seem to have deer or some other animal browsing the early planted sunflower leaves which does not appear to pose a significant risk to the plants. During stand counts on the double cropped sunflower trial yesterday, feeding was detected in several seedling plots where the tops of the plants were grazed off. This will affect final stand populations and ultimately yield. Both plots this year are nearer to a large wooded section on the Western Ag Research Station, which may explain the damage which was not seen in 2022.
The nation’s premier event for mechanical weeding tools – will take place on Wednesday, September 27, at The Ohio State University, CFAES Wooster campus.
A full day of weeding tool demonstrations, trade show, and cultivation education for both vegetables and row crops! At the morning Expo trade show 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 plus learn from experienced farmers and university weed scientists from surrounding states during the roundtable discussions – topics range from camera-guided cultivators to tine-weeders. A walk-behind tractor exhibition – ‘Walk-Behind Alley’ -features demonstrations of walk-behind tractors and implements from the past and present. 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. Myriad 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 5’’ corn. Check the field day website for a current listing of exhibitors and tools.
Vegetable weeding tools include cultivating tractors past and present, 3-point in-row camera guided machines, a variety of belly-mounted and rear-mounted steerable tools, and cultivators from Japan! Demonstrations will be held in 2’’ beets and transplanted brassicas. Check the field day website for a current listing of exhibitors and tools.
Registration for this full-day of learning and networking on mechanical weed control is just $50! Registration includes lunch and all the machinery demos you can handle. It is recommended that everyone register early as each year space runs out.
Inquiries for interviews on radio, print, and beyond are welcomed – Please reach out to Sam Oschwald Tilton, sam.oschwaldtilt@wisc.edu, or 920-917-9788.
We are less than two weeks from the annual Pumpkin Field Day! Read below about the types of presentations at the field day and don’t forget to pre-register!
Fruit infected with virus.
If you are a new grower or have been growing pumpkins and squash for a few years, this field day is for you!
This year the Pumpkin Field Day will be on held on Thursday, August 24, starting promptly at 5:30pm ending at 8pm. The location remains at the Western Ag Research Station, 7721 S. Charleston Pike, South Charleston OH.
Topics include vole and mouse management (Gary Comer Jr. – ODNR), weed management (Chris Galbraith – MSU/OSU), pollinator protection and insect management (Ashley Leach – OSU), and powdery mildew fungicide trial (Jim Jasinski – OSU). There will be a small hybrid trial to also visit after the talks (small because mice and voles ate most of the seed and seedlings!). And plenty of discussion with the specialists and fellow growers during the field day.
We will provide refreshments and handouts, cost is $5 per person.
The OSU Extension Fruit & Vegetable Report is written/published collectively by OSU Extension staff across the state.
View a recording of the OSU Extension Bi-Weekly Fruit & Vegetable Report below:
Crop updates
Vegetables
Cole Crops
Flea beetles are always a difficult foe in brassica plantings since they are often hard to scout for and can leave large amounts of damage in relatively short time frames. In research performed in 2022 by Dr. Ashley Leach, it was found that pyrethroids (e.g., Bifenture EC, Hero) and anthranilic diamides (e.g., Harvanta) performed best to control flea beetle populations and damage. However, if you frequently struggle with flea beetles, consider using their biology against them. You can plant a super tasty preferred brassica (turnip greens) which may keep them away from your primary crop. Alternatively, you can also plant other brassicas (like Kale) that aren’t preferred by flea beetles and can often take a high amount of damage. Often, flea beetles are a problem earlier in the season and later in the season under cooler temperatures.
Cucurbit downy mildew. Symptoms used for identification include necrotic lesions on the upper leaf surface (A) and dark, “velvety” spores on the underside of the leaf (B). Photo source: Hausbeck Lab, Michigan State University.
Powdery mildew is also showing up. Despite their similar names, powdery mildew and downy mildew are not even in the same taxonomic kingdom (downy is a water mold or “oomycete”, while powdery is a true fungus). Consequently, there are no fungicides that pull double-duty in controlling both pathogens. For information on products with efficacy in controlling powdery mildew, check out another recent article on the topic in VegNet.
Squash bugs are out and actively laying eggs. Their copper colored egg masses can frequently be found on the underside of leaves within the veins and on leaf stalks. These pests can vector the viral disease Yellow Vine Decline, as well as cause cosmetic damage to the fruit. Threshold is met if you are finding 1 egg mass per plant. The adults are difficult to control via chemical application, so it is important to frequently scout in order to time insecticide applications to when the egg masses have hatched and nymphs are active on the plant. Spray penetration into the canopy may also limit application efficacy.
Fruiting Vegetables
Tomato Hornworms have been observed in field tomatoes. Their massive defoliation and fruit feeding, as well as frass piles can key you into the area of active hornworm feeding. Hand removal can typically resolve minor infestations. If worms are found with white cocoons on their backs, leave them be. These are beneficial, parasitic wasp cocoons. These wasps will continue to combat hornworms throughout the season.
Tobacco hornworm, a close relative of the tomato hornworm and fellow voracious pest of tomatoes, with parasitic wasp cocoons projecting from its body. Photo by Joe Boggs, OSU Extension.
Verticillium wilt has been a frequent issue in eggplant this season. Initial foliar symptoms present as yellowing and dieback, typically starting at the leaf tip and working down the main vein towards the leaf petiole. While symptoms can provide some idea of disease presence, this disease can only be confirmed by testing the roots and crown at a diagnostic clinic.
Leafy Greens and Herbs
Second generation carrot weevil oviposition will be continuing in parsley (and related Apiaceae crops). Options are limited to control carrot weevil in crops like carrot and parsley. Trapping using Boivin Traps will help direct management efforts, but will be no silver bullet. The threshold used to manage carrot weevil in carrots is to make an insecticide application when weevils reach 1.5 beetles per trap. Celery and carrot have significantly more insecticidal options than parsley (only Baythroid).
Carrot weevil adult. Photo source: University of Massachusetts Extension
Sweet Corn
Corn earworm and European corn borer catches across the state have been relatively low. Western bean cutworm numbers, on the other hand, have been quite high in northern Ohio. See the most recent C.O.R.N newsletter for trap catch data. Western bean cutworm is typically controlled by the same insecticides used for other lepidoptera sweet corn pests. Check out this Michigan State University Extension article on western bean cutworm management considerations.
Japanese beetle pressure has been high this season on numerous crops including sweet corn. There have been reports of the beetles clipping silks prior to pollination, interfering with ear development and quality. This factsheet from Purdue Extension provides several insecticides for Japanese beetle control in corn, many of which are also labeled for sweet corn.
Corn smut is a conspicuous, often sporadic fungal disease affecting sweet corn. A key symptom is the formation of grey galls that are the spore-bearing structures. Rupturing of the smut galls during harvest can taint the ears with black spores, making the sweet corn unmarketable. Corn smut is most prevalent in plants that have undergone physical damage that creates an infection entry point for the pathogen. Preventative control practices consist of crop rotation, destruction of galls before spore dispersal, and minimizing mechanical injury to plants.
Corn smut on sweet corn tassel. Photo by Chris Galbraith, OSU Extension.
Fruits
Tree fruits
Peach harvest has begun in eastern Ohio. Japanese beetle damage has been severe in some apple orchards this season. Codling moth should be slowing down now. Most growers will be making their second insecticide application to control this pest in the next week. Third generation oriental fruit moth will be showing up soon. San Jose Scale pressure should also be steadily decreasing and won’t warrant further intervention until next season. Apple maggot is still moving into orchards in plenty of sites (north and central)- keep those red sticky traps out. Spray if traps are catching >5 flies/trap. We haven’t had too many complaints about stinkbugs in orchards yet, but start trapping now if you are concerned.
Grapes
Herbicide drift damage in vineyards (as well as other specialty crops) is a continued problem. Cassie Brown and Doug Doohan of OSU created a series of fact sheets in the past that address properly preparing for and responding to herbicide drift damage. Find the collection of factsheets here.
Some growers are beginning to apply netting over grape vines to minimize losses from bird damage.
Auxin (group 4) herbicide damage on grapes resulting from spray drift can present as cupped leaves and distorted new growth. Photo by Chris Galbraith, OSU Extension.
If you are a new grower or have been growing pumpkins and squash for a few years, this field day is for you!
Pumpkin flower.
This year the Pumpkin Field Day will be on held on Thursday, August 24, starting promptly at 5:30pm ending at 8pm. The location remains at the Western Ag Research Station, 7721 S. Charleston Pike, South Charleston OH.
Topics include vole and mouse management (Gary Comer Jr. – ODNR), weed management (Chris Galbraith – MSU/OSU), pollinator protection and insect management (Ashley Leach – OSU), and powdery mildew fungicide trial (Jim Jasinski – OSU). There will be a small hybrid trial to also visit after the talks (small because mice and voles ate most of the seed and seedlings!). And plenty of discussion with the specialists and fellow growers during the field day.
We will provide refreshments and handouts, cost is $5 per person.
Farming can take a toll on your mental health and wellbeing, and when the season ramps up, it may feel like you don’t have the time or the energy to prioritize these needs. If you are looking for space to connect with peers about managing stress and supporting mental health and wellbeing for both farm owners and farm employees, consider participating in a virtual group discussion on August 3 from 7:30pm ET – 9:00pm ET (6:30pm – 8:00pm CT).
Bridget Britton, Behavioral Health Field Specialist with The Ohio State University Extension, will get the conversation started and share resources as the discussion unfolds. Bring your questions, experiences, and tips while also holding space for others to share.
Space is limited to keep this discussion more intimate. It will not be recorded. Farm owners, farmworkers, and farm adjacent professionals are welcome to attend. This event is planned by FairShare CSA Coalition and Midwest Vegetable Growers Network.
The OSU Extension Fruit & Vegetable Report is written/published collectively by OSU Extension staff across the state.
View a recording of the OSU Extension Bi-Weekly Fruit & Vegetable Report updates from 7-14-2023 at:
Ag Robotics
An exciting new area in agricultural innovation is the field of ag robotics. Integrating robotic implements into modern farming addresses numerous issues that hit specialty crop production particularly hard, such as the price, availability, quality, and dependability of farm labor. Autonomous equipment offers the possibility of achieving consistent, reliable results to routine fruit & vegetable production operations.
A recent field tour in Ontario put on by the Ag Robotics Working Group showcased a number of new robotic farming equipment from companies such as Naio Technologies, Agrointelli, Korechi Innovations Inc., and Carbon Robotics. The machines demonstrated at the event were mostly autonomous carriers for implements like planting units, cultivation tools, mowers, soil samplers, disease monitoring sensors, etc. This multi-functionality makes the robots more versatile than if they were designed to only perform a single task. At the field tour, the Carbon Robotics laser weeder stood out as the only machine that needed to be pulled/powered by a tractor. However, the laser weeder’s strength lies in its selectivity – the equipment was capable of differentiating weeds from the crop with “deep-learning-based computer vision”. Upon recognition, thermal lasers target the weed’s growing point while leaving the crop unscathed. The laser weeder that was demonstrated was not autonomous in its mobility, but in its ability to identify weeds for termination (and continuously improve its ID ability through experience) using AI programs.
What was striking about the field day was that many of the stops were not at testing facilities or factory floors. They were at farms where the robots were already out in the field working, performing tasks like strip tillage and cultivation. While the concept of a robot may still seem like a futuristic notion, their use in modern agriculture is becoming more established by the day and is leading to new possibilities for fruit and vegetable production, in the Midwest and across the globe.
Current developments in ag robotics – top to bottom: Naio Oz autonomous farming assistant, Agrointelli Robotti field robot, Naio Ted autonomous finger cultivator for vineyards, and laser weeder from Carbon Robotics uses AI to recognize and terminate weeds. Photos from Chris Galbraith, OSU Extension.
Rely 280 Label Update
The EPA has released a new supplemental label for Rely 280 herbicide (glufosinate) for controlling weeds in row middles with a hooded sprayer or for use as a burndown prior to transplanting for cantaloupe, cucumber, summer squash, watermelon, tomato, and peppers. This supplemental label is good through December 1st, 2025. Contact your local BASF technical service representative for more information on restrictions and to obtain the label.
Herbicide Drift
Thomas Becker, Lorain County Educator Over the course of the last month or so, there have been a number of calls about vegetable plants that don’t look very thrifty. They aren’t really showing signs of a disease, but the foliage looks distorted or twisted, and the plant just isn’t growing like it was before. One thing to be looking out for this time of year is damage from herbicide drift. If you suspect damage from herbicide drift, one of the first things to do is consider the potential sources of the drift. This can be difficult, as growth regulators like 2, 4-D, can volatilize and travel quite a long way. Chemicals like this are used in the lawn care and agriculture industries, or may even be used by homeowners. It is important that if you suspect herbicide injury, you consider what has been done on your own property and then have conversations with neighbors to see if you can determine the source of the drift. There are certain crops that are more susceptible to herbicide drift. The list includes but is not limited to grapes, tomatoes, fruit trees, watermelon, and certain ornamentals. Some of the signs of herbicide drift are distorted growth, leaf cupping, chlorosis, and the death of the plant in severe cases. Symptoms can vary depending on the chemical that was applied. If the plant does not die from the drift injury, yields may be reduced due to the exposure.
Herbicide drift symptoms in tomato. Photo from Thomas Becker, OSU Extension.
If you aren’t certain that what you are dealing with is injury from herbicide drift, you can always take a plant sample to our Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic in Wooster to help rule out the possibility of disease. There are some viruses that cause symptoms that can look similar to herbicide drift injury. If no pathogens are detected, then there could be a good chance you are dealing with drift injury. One way to help prevent injury in the future would be to make sure you plant your crops in a site that would be protected from surrounding yards or fields that are up-wind from your property. Be careful when applying herbicide to your yard – make sure that you are following the label instructions and being mindful of the weather conditions before you spray. You can also make use of resources like DriftWatch to help report areas that grow specialty crops so that applicators are more aware of the location of these important crops.
If you determine that you are dealing with injury from herbicide drift and can identify the source, the best course of action would be to try and work something out directly with the applicator. Beyond that, you can contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture and file a complaint as long as it is within 30 days of when the drift occurred.
See these resources for more information on herbicide drift:
Striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and squash vine borer are out at full force (check out the video below). Squash bugs can be difficult to kill. Pyrethroids and Neonicitinoids typically work best to control outbreaks. Make sure to continue to scout after application- sometimes these populations will need repeated interventions. Bacterial wilt has been sighted in cucumber, a pathogen which is vectored by cucumber beetles. Recent high winds in northwest Ohio have caused some stem damage to melons.
Cucurbit downy mildew has been detected in Ontario and recently in Michigan, but has not yet been detected in Ohio. Track the spread of the disease on The Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecast website.
Fruiting Vegetables
Viral diseases vectored by thrips and aphids are being seen on tomatoes. Aphids are exceeding economic levels in peppers, and whiteflies are also causing some damage. Please see the following piece for further information on thrips and aphids from Dr. Ashley Leach:
2023 Considerations for Aphids and Thrips
Dr. Ashley Leach, Professor and Extension Specialist, The Ohio State University
Normally, I don’t worry too much about aphids or thrips. Outbreaks of either pest typically arise as a secondary outbreak rather than being the primary pest concern. Often, aphids and thrips are checked by voracious natural enemies (Figure 1). But that’s not this year. Aphid and thrips pressure has been high across the board in 2023. In the right conditions- typically hot and dry- these insects can run rampant even in the presence of natural enemies. Although, it should be noted that natural enemies have a hard time in hot, dry conditions. For example, some Minute Pirate Bugs, will lay fewer eggs in hot, dry conditions. So, it can be a combination of factors, natural enemies struggling to establish in the hot, dry conditions while thrips and aphids take advantage of the weather to reproduce more rapidly.
Not sure if you have thrips and/or aphids? Thrips and aphids will impact leaf tissue in different ways. Aphid infested leaves typically curl in response to infestations (Figure 2). These guys have straw-like mouthparts and will typically stay in place and suck on plant tissues (like it was a Big Gulp). Aphids are normally found on the undersides of leaves. However, they will migrate to the tops of leaves if the infestations are large enough. Thrips, however, are highly mobile. If they see you checking them out, they will move quickly to make an exit. Thrips have rasping-sucking mouthparts, so the associated damage typically looks silvery (Figure 2). When thrips feed, they are puncturing multiple plant cells which makes for a lot of damage, giving way to a “bleached” appearance by the end of the season. Many thrips are thigmotactic (Word of the day!) which basically means they like to hang out in small, tight places like flowers or plant crevices.
If you have an infestation that needs treatment, consider the following insecticide options (table below) There are some really nice -highly selective- compounds that will provide excellent control without compromising the natural enemy community. Please keep in mind that these products are not listed in all crops, and products can have varying Pre-harvest intervals (PHIs). Mind your pyrethroids. Thrips and aphid populations can flare with repeated pyrethroid applications, so I would try to avoid this insecticide class (think Warrior, Bifenture, Capture). Pyrethroid insecticides are broad spectrum products and kill resident natural enemies, thus increasing the likelihood of outbreaks. Other pests in the field may force your hand, but make sure to scout the following weeks for aphids and thrips.
For further information on specialty crop entomology, check out Dr. Leach’s lab webpage.
Fruits
Apples
Second generation codling moths are hitting traps now, so it’s time to protect apples against codling moth infestations in fruit. San Jose Scale crawlers are likely active now, so time your sprays accordingly if you worry about infestations on fruit. Apple Maggot sprays should be timed now if traps are catching >5 flies/trap. Wooly apple aphid (WAA) populations are rising (more about aphids below). Japanese beetles have become a nuisance throughout the state. While annoying, these beetles are unlikely to cause significant damage. Typically, insecticide is recommended when we see defoliation exceeds 20-30%.
Small fruits
Herbicide damage from auxin herbicides (dicamba and 2,4-D) is being seen in grapes. Symptoms include twisting/curling of shoots and cupping of leaves. Learn more by checking out this factsheet from Oregon State University.
Dr. Gary Gao has numerous berry crop research projects in development. See below for an update on a project on growing long cane raspberries:
Long Cane Raspberry Production
Dr. Gary Gao, Professor and Extension Specialist, The Ohio State University
Long cane raspberry production is a very promising system for Ohio. Growers in Canada can produce around 22,000 lbs of raspberries per using the long cane raspberry plants from nurseries and grow them under high tunnel with fertigation. We are in the second year of our long cane raspberry project. This project is funded by an Ohio Department of Agriculture through a Specialty Crop Block Grant. Our project officially started in late 2021 and will last two years.
What is the long cane raspberry production? Long cane raspberry production system is a relatively new raspberry production method where raspberry bushes with long floricanes (5 feet and 10 inches) are produced in high tunnels or greenhouses, stored in coolers in autumn and winter and then shipped to growers in spring for planting and fruiting in summer. Growers can plant these “ready-made” plants with fruiting canes in a soilless media and a protected environment like a high tunnel or an unheated greenhouse or even under solar panels for fruit production in summer. This new and innovative system could help growers get around the problems of poor soil drainage that limit new cane growth and fluctuating spring temperatures that damage floricanes. The long cane production has been very popular in Europe and Canada. This approach has not been a viable option for growers in Ohio because there was not a nursery that grows and sells long cane raspberry plants.
Long cane raspberry trial plot at OSU South Centers at Piketon on July 12, 2023. Photo by Dr. Gary Gao, The Ohio State University.
As a part of this project, I took a field trip to the Onésime Pouliot Farm in Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans, Québec, Canada to learn how long cane raspberry production is done on a commercial scale. Their raspberry bushes were at the peak harvest when I visited the farm on August 11, 2022. It was neat to see the “walls” of raspberries. Instead of growing them in the traditional high tunnels, the growers there designed an umbrella like structure to protect plants and fruits from rain and wind. All plants were grown in coco coir and fertigated with water-soluble fertilizers. They have been doing this for three years now. They also grow long cane raspberry plants for sale in Canada and US. I got to taste some freshly picked raspberries that day. Bonnie Lewis, Glen Mor, Kwanza, Skye, and Tulameen were the featured cultivars. Bonnie Lewis, Glen Mor, and Skye are not available in the US yet. I was very impressed by their yields and fruit quality.
I was able to secure an import permit from USDA-APHIS in 2022. We were able to import several hundred plants from Canada in 2023. The plants came in large crates on a semi-truck in May 2023.
I am very happy to report that we made progress. We are able to grow the long cane raspberry plants extremely well. The plants are loaded with lots of green fruits as of July 18, 2023. They will start ripening around late July. Fruit harvest will likely last several weeks. I am very hopeful that the long cane raspberry production will become a standard production system for growers in Ohio and beyond.
If you want to learn more about long cane raspberry production system, register now for our free Specialty and Cover Crop Field Night by visiting: go.osu.edu/fieldnight
Come join us for a two-part, online and in-person, hybrid workshop to take a closer look at innovative production techniques for specialty crops, with a focus on long cane raspberries and tomatoes, and new types of cover crops to promote healthy soils. Part I will be online only via Zoom. Part II will be held in person at The Ohio State University South Centers in Piketon, Ohio. A meal will be included. Please see the event flyer for more information.
Hardin County – There is a segment of agriculture in southeastern Hardin County that specializes in commercial fruit and vegetable production. Hardin County is also home to the Scioto Valley Produce Auction near Mt. Victory where much of this produce is sold. Hardin County OSU Extension has planned a Fruit and Vegetable Crop Walk program on Wednesday, July 19 from 6:00-8:00 pm to help with fruit and vegetable production issues. The location of the program will be on a produce farm at 17956 Township Road 245, Mt. Victory. It is open to all fruit and vegetable producers, whether they are commercial or home gardeners.
Gary Gao, OSU Extension Small Fruit Production Specialist will provide information on growing raspberries. Matt Kleinhenz, OSU Extension Vegetable Production Specialist will provide a vegetable production update, Chris Galbraith, OSU/MSU Extension Vegetable Extension Educator, Northwest Ohio will provide a weed control update. Frank Becker, OSU Extension Educator, will provide a fruit and vegetable issues update from Wayne County. Tommy Becker, OSU Extension Educator, will provide a fruit and vegetable issues update from Lorain County.
The program will be held outside so bring your lawn chair and umbrella in case of rain. There will be a diagnostic table so be sure to bring along any weeds, plant nutrition problems, plant diseases, and insect specimens in a sealed plastic bag for questions and answers. The program will conclude with a walk through a produce field or hoop house, pointing out fruit and vegetable issues and steps to properly manage them. There is no cost to attend this event.
The season for field days, crop walks, twilight tours, tailgate chats, blog posts, phone calls from the field, and other ways to share and receive input is underway, and the goal is always the same – learn, and improve farm operations in some way. On-farm research contributes much to that learning and improvement process. That message has been driven home to my team and me many times through our years of working closely with vegetable growers in designing, completing, and summarizing and sharing findings from on-farm research they and we completed. The same message was also highlighted in a recent conversation among farmers, researchers, and educators (view/listen at https://www.youtube.com/@OSU-organic).
For background, the OSU Organic Food and Farming and Education and Research Program (https://offer.osu.edu/home) hosts monthly online discussions focused on recent, on-going, or future research pertinent to Ohio organic production. Participants include farmers, researchers, and educators and many comments also inform and are informed by experiences with conventional production. Recordings of the meetings are available at the YouTube channel URL above.
The conversation on July 7 featured a presentation by Stefan Gailans from Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI). Stefan leads PFI’s Cooperators’ Program (https://practicalfarmers.org/programs/farmer-led-research/cooperators-program/), where he helps farmers turn their research ideas into relevant and shareable knowledge. Information from Stefan’s presentation is below but taking in the entire presentation and follow-up discussion is encouraged (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpVAdWGG0w0).
1. PFI (https://practicalfarmers.org/), OEFFA (https://grow.oeffa.org/), and OPGMA (https://www.opgma.org/) have similar goals.
2. The PFI Cooperators’ Program helps farmers learn from each other through farmer-led on-farm investigation and information sharing.
3. The PFI Cooperators’ Program is a community of curious, creative farmers including scientific methods in how they improve their farms. Their investigations (e.g., paired trials) inform their decisions. The process involves putting ideas and farm practices to the test using simple but effective scientific methods. Intentional observation focused on what the farmer is keen to learn about and important to them is the foundation of the process.
4. Many questions are often straightforward “A versus B” or “yes versus no” types. Investigating them often leads to a-ha moments and other more complicated questions. A-ha moments can also reveal that some (new) practices reduce other costs, providing indirect but real benefits.
5. Asking “Can I …?” or “What about …?” and completing an investigation relies on curiosity, creativity, and commitment because extra work is required. Farmers receive a small stipend through program sponsors.
6. Farmer participants can discover that on-farm research helps them “train their eye” and look for or pay attention to other things then ask questions about them. They also become better able to evaluate other peoples’ research and its findings, allowing them to select and use information from industry, university, and other sources more effectively.
Comment from a PFI Cooperators’ Program participant.
7. The program is not all about only the investigations. Much effort is also put in to ensuring that lessons and findings reach other farmers through programs, publications, and YouTube videos offered on an ongoing basis.
8. About the 2022 research program –
(a) seventy-five trials were led by forty-five farmers.
(b) Most farmers had at least eleven years of farming experience and most of them took part primarily to improve their production.
(c) 88% of trials spurred new ideas or other observations. Seventy-six percent of participants reported a moderate to very large change in knowledge after completing a trial. Fifty-four percent of participants reported they will make a change on their farm following their trial but 22% said they would not make a change. Both outcomes are productive because they represent learning and increased confidence in decision-making.
It is never too late or early to start investigating a question important to you using on-farm research. If needed, consider connecting with another farmer, member of industry, or research-extension person familiar with the process.
The OSU Extension Fruit & Vegetable Report is written/published collectively by OSU Extension staff across the state.
Air Quality
With the recent poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke, questions were filtering into county offices regarding potential effects on crops. One of the major potential concerns is ozone damage to plant tissue if there are significant concentrations in wildfire smoke. Check out this article from University of Minnesota Extension for more information.
A question came in from the community asking if the smoke from the Canadian wildfires would affect the ability to eat lettuce from their garden. Information from Jennifer Little, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator in Hancock County, cited that according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that there should not be any issue with consuming the lettuce. Folks can follow normal harvesting/cleaning processes prior to consuming vegetables. Any harm to humans would be from breathing the smoke-filled air, which could cause respiratory issues. Therefore, the concern is not in consuming the lettuce but in spending time outdoors. It is wise to take precaution with the amount of time you are spending outside when air quality is poor, especially if you have underlying respiratory issues. More information on air quality can be found on the Ohio Department of Health’s website.
Crop updates
Vegetables
Beans/Peas
A number of insect pests are being found in bean plantings, including Japanese beetles, Mexican bean leaf beetles, and potato leafhopper. Aphids have also been found in beans, as they have been found in many other crops this year. With the extremely elevated number of aphids, there has been ample opportunity for natural enemies such as predatory and beneficial insects to also build their populations. Species such as lady beetles, predatory stink bugs, and parasitic wasps are being found in abundant numbers. Signs of natural enemy activity include “aphid mummies”, which are the remains of aphids resulting from parasitic wasps laying their eggs in the insect. When the eggs hatch, the wasp larvae consume the host from the inside, leaving behind only the dried outer shell of the aphid.
Aphid mummy present in an alfalfa field. Photo by Frank Becker, OSU Extension.
Brassicas
Cross-striped cabbage worm is being detected in eastern Ohio. Check out this article from Kansas State for a quick primer on this insect pest.
Cucurbits
Striped cucumber beetle pressure is sporadic across Ohio, with some farms showing high populations and levels of damage while others show very little. Even plantings where the Farmore FI400 (thiamethoxam) seed treatment was used are showing outsized amounts of feeding. For information on integrated cultural management practices to use, check out this article on non-chemical striped cucumber beetle control.
Mice and vole feeding on young cucurbit seedlings this year has been severe and exacerbated by the dry weather. Wildlife damage in fruits and vegetables persists as a problem for which there are no surefire solutions. Tactics for preventing wildlife damage include employing netting, fencing, repellants, trapping, and other lethal/non-lethal deterrents. Resources include the Ohio DNR Nuisance Animal Control Manual and Wildlife Management Factsheets from the USDA/Michigan State University Extension.
Root crops
High thrips populations are currently being observed in maturing onion crops.
Both homeowners and commercial garlic growers alike have been impacted by garlic bloat nematodes this growing season. This pest will damage other plants in the allium family as well, including onions, chives, and leeks. Some of the symptoms we see resulting from damage caused by garlic bloat nematodes are stunted leaf growth, distortion, yellowing, wilting, and premature dieback of the leaves, as well as bulbs that can look rotten since the damage opens up the plant tissue to be infected by other bacteria and fungi. As shown in the pictures (below), the roots can be partially or completely missing.
Garlic bulbs showing damage caused by garlic bloat nematode. Photos by Thomas Becker, OSU Extension
The best thing that garlic growers can do to prevent future crops from being infested is to rotate out of alliums and to use fresh seed every year. Mature, reproductive nematodes can live in the bulbs both during the growing season and while in storage. Growers that use saved seed from the previous year’s crop are risking re-infestation. Crop rotation is encouraged for many vegetable crop species to help break pest and disease cycles.
Colorado potato beetles are being sighted, primarily in organic and volunteer potatoes. Refer to the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for chemical options for Colorado potato beetle control.
Tuber quality in potatoes can be impacted by a number of variables over the course of a growing season. Specifically, tuber formation can be impacted by management factors like planting depth and hilling intensity- learn more in this recent article from Matt Kleinhenz of OSU Extension.
Potato flowering signals the start of tuber bulking period. Photo credit, Chris Galbraith, OSU Extension.
Sweet corn
First plantings of sweet corn around both Huron and Seneca Counties were wiped out by Spring frosts, with later plantings expected to have low yields from both frost damage and heat/drought. Corn earworm is being caught in traps near sweet corn plantings, while European corn borer catches are low.
Fruits
Tree fruits
Despite the dry spring, the pome and stone fruit crop is looking good for the season. Sporadic hail storms near the end of June have caused some damage in apple orchards, as well as to other crops.
Small fruits
Blueberry u-picks in southern Ohio have opened up to the public. Late frosts in north-central Ohio killed most strawberry blossoms in both matted-row and plasticulture systems, leading to a drastically reduced crop.
Gary Gao, OSU professor and small fruit specialist, received a few messages about the collapsing of blackberry floricanes before fruits reach full maturity. Miki and John Pringle sent him a few pictures of the dying canes. They said that the affected canes turned white and died. The problem was not widespread on their farm. The Pringles grow their blackberry bushes on a rotatable cross arm trellis (RCA). The plants had winter protection with row covers when most parts of Ohio experienced the low temperatures in December 2022. However, it was still possible that some spots of the blackberry patch were not protected well due to holes in the row cover and weaker bushes.
Gary attributed this problem to blackberry cane blight triggered by cold injuries. Cane blight is a fungal disease. Growers who grow blackberries on RCA are encouraged to put on a dormant spray like Sulforix before they cover the blackberry plants with row covers in December. This is probably the reason that Pringles only saw this problem on some bushes. Growers who grow blackberry bushes in a traditional hedge row without winter protection are not as lucky. Cold injuries induced cane blight are showing up around late June and early July. The affected canes will completely collapse before fruits ripen. It is very disheartening to see since growers invested a lot of time and money on managing the canes. This is why the use of Rotatable Cross Arm trellis with 3 oz. row covers is recommended if growers desire consistent production year after year.
Collapsing blackberry floricanes from cold injuries and possibly cane blight. Photo by John and Miki Pringle, Pringles Orchard, Goshen, Ohio.
A good way to assess the damage from cold temperatures is to cut the bark to see if the cambium tissue is healthy. Healthy cambium looks light green while dead cambium is dark brown. The ideal time for doing this is April. By then, growers can determine if it is worth all the time and expenses to manage the bushes. If the cambium tissue of the floricanes is damaged and the damage is widespread, growers may elect to cut out all of the damaged canes in April and call it a total loss.
Floricanes with light green healthy cambium tissue. Photo by Gary Gao, The Ohio State University.
Blackberry floricanes with dead cambium tissue. Note the dark brown area between outer epidermis or the bark and the xylem or the woody tissue in the middle of the cane. Photo by Gary Gao, The Ohio State University.
Blueberry and Raspberry Harvest Update: Blueberry and raspberry harvest is in full swing in early July. Most blueberry and raspberry growers do pick your own. The crops look quite good despite all of the weather challenges with cold temperatures in December 2022, warm winter, and a drought in spring. It is nice to see rain across Ohio. If you did not see much rain in your area, it is very important to irrigate the bushes to keep plants health and make the fruits grow.
Ripe Bluetta Blueberry ready for harvest. Photo by Gary Gao, The Ohio State University.
