Through today’s announcement, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is extending crop insurance flexibilities for producers amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, relief provided for electronic notifications and signatures is extended through July 15, 2021; organic certification, replant self-certification and assignment of indemnity are extended through June 30, 2021. [Read more…]
Archives for December 2020
December 30, 2020 Nick Polanin
USDA Extends Crop Insurance Flexibilities Amid Continuing COVID-19 Pandemic
December 16, 2020 Cesar Rodriguez-Saona
Grower Input Needed for the Spotted-Wing Drosophila Organic Management Project
Dear Fruit Growers and Industry Professionals:
Please take a few minutes to fill out this spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) survey:
https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3NVhWTGnleU3bP7
This multi-state survey aims to help us to evaluate our research and educational efforts. Your participation will help us determine how growers and industry professionals have benefited from this project by asking questions regarding best management practices and satisfaction with the team’s efforts to organically combat the SWD pest.
Your answers will help improve our research and educational efforts to address this pest as well as providing accountability to our funder, the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). All responses are anonymous. No personal information will be collected.
Thank you for your time and interest in our efforts.
Dr. Cesar Rodriguez-Saona (Entomology)
On behalf of The SWD Research and Extension Team
December 14, 2020 Hemant Gohil
Grower Input Needed to Help Understand the Role of Anthracnose Diseases
All growers of tree fruit and small fruit, please take a few minutes to fill out this fruit rot survey!
This multi-state survey aims to help us understand the role of anthracnose (fruit rot) diseases and to prioritize grower concerns and challenges. This short survey, linked below, is a part of a multi-state research collaboration that aims to help us understand the impact and role of anthracnose (fruit rot) diseases caused by the fungal pathogens in the Colletotrichum genus and to prioritize grower concerns and challenges.
The link https://go.rutgers.edu/liiy8uep takes you to the article from Penn State that has the survey link at the end of that article. All responses are anonymous. No personal information will be collected.
December 13, 2020 Steven K. Rettke
Primer on Anti-Transpirant Applications
Purpose
During the weeks of late fall & early winter, many landscapers apply their annual anti-desiccant sprays to broadleaf evergreen plants. Some of the common trade names of these liquid resin, spray-on products include Vapor-Guard, Wilt-Pruf, Stress Guard, and Nu-Film. Although plants go dormant during the winter, evergreens will continue to transpire given certain conditions. These applications help reduce excessive water loss from leaves during the dry winter months when the ground is frozen. An anti-transpirant is a film-forming complex of polyethylene’s and polyterpenes that when applied to foliage will reduce the moisture vapor transmission rate. Although much of the transpiration from leaves occur through small openings (stomates) under the leaves, a significant amount of water loss can also occur directly through the leaf cuticle or epidermis. The anti-transpirants function by increasing cuticle thickness of broadleaf evergreens.
This Rhododendron may have some winter injuries, but the primary cause for the plant decline is from wood borers. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
Desiccated holly leaves (Winter Burn) with obvious symptoms. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
December 8, 2020 Rick VanVranken
Creating Virtual Farm & Food Experiences Webinar Wed, Dec 9 at noon
The University of Vermont Extension and the Vermont Tourism Research Center is hosting a webinar on
Creating Virtual Farm and Food Experiences
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
9am Pacific time; 12pm Eastern time; 6pm Central European time; 10:30 Indian time
Whether it’s farm tours, private tastings, or conferences, we are all figuring out new ways to connect digitally with customers and colleagues. During this period of limited travel, farm and food businesses around the world are experimenting with innovative online formats to share their agricultural experiences and products. Join us to learn about lambing tours in Scotland and cider tastings in Vermont. Presenters will share their challenges, successes, and lessons learned as they have transitioned to virtual events during the pandemic.
Moderator: Lisa Chase, University of Vermont Extension and the Vermont Tourism Research Center
Speakers: Eleanor Leger, Eden Specialty Ciders, Vermont, USA; Caroline Millar, Balkello Farm and Go Rural, Dundee, Scotland.
To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Becky Bartlett at 802-257-7967 or Rebecca.Bartlett@uvm.edu so we may assist you.
Yonder, a new nature tourism platform, invites travelers to connect with the natural world and the people who steward it. Through the Yonder site and app, guests can discover and book overnight stays and activities at farms, ranches, vineyards, and other nature immersive escapes.
UVM Extension helps individuals and communities put research-based knowledge to work. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont. University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.
December 8, 2020 Kate Brown
Regional Survey Seeks Input from Strawberry Growers
A team of extension educators from the University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont, and Cornell University is seeking input from strawberry growers in the region on current practices and challenges faced in strawberry production. As part of the Northeast SARE project “Advancing Strawberry Production in the Northeast,” your feedback will guide research and outreach programs in the Northeastern U.S. and Canada.
The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete and be sure to submit your responses by December 31, 2020. At survey completion, you can also be entered into a drawing for some great prizes. The survey is available here: https://unh.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2nlFpEZhejOE0Pr
