Woolly apple aphid remains a stubborn and surprising sap sucker, a pest that presses patience and provokes persistent problems for apple growers. Michigan State University researchers Martin Brubaker, Heather Lynch and Juliana Wilson are focusing on how this fuzzy foe behaves, where it hides and why...

Dr. Jason Smith, forest pathologist, University of Mount Union in Ohio, said it took a long time for one of the most recent and puzzling diseases of certain trees and shrubs to get anyone’s attention, primarily because the dead and dying trees were in swampy areas including the Florida Everglades. T...

Many people enjoy the tropical taste of passionfruit but are unaware there is another fruit in the same genus that can be grown closer to home. Maypop ( P assiflora incarnata) is a perennial vine that’s native to North America. It’s valued for its tropical fruit flavor, adaptability and resilience t...

Over 100 growers shared their successes and failures raising specific crops in high tunnels on the first day of the two-day High Tunnel Production Conference at the Fireside Inn in West Lebanon, NH. The conference was a sellout with 120 registrations (and a waiting list) plus 30 speakers and vendors...

An assortment of specialized tendons, ligaments and bones in the arms and hands allows humans to perform amazing work. Farmers’ daily tasks often lead to pain and weakness that can result in dangerous work conditions and accidents. Dr. Patricia Siegel, certified hand therapist and associate professo...

There’s more to building a farm than obtaining acreage, lumber, fencing and equipment. Some of the first steps for new and beginning farmers include gathering information and obtaining a loan. “First is your state’s land grant Extension service,” said Chris Laughton, director of knowledge exchange, ...

Human resources may seem like a department or set of duties for a business far different from your farm; however, it’s important to perform these tasks legally and consistently, both to protect your farm and to train new people correctly. Jess Skellie works for a small group of dairy farms. She rece...

Planning on hosting a music festival on your commercial farm? Or a wedding? Or a different agritourism event? According to Lindsey Pashow, to reduce the chance of agritourism-related conflicts with municipalities and neighbors, there are several factors to consider. Pashow is an agriculture business...

Happy International Year of the Woman Farmer, farm family! If someone had told me a decade ago that there would be an International Year of the Woman Farmer, I likely would have said something to the effect of, “Well, that’s the most unnecessary, gender-discriminatory thing I’ve ever heard of.” Some...