SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The biopesticide market has rapidly been expanding and many have become prominent tools in crop management. There are over 300 active ingredients registered with the EPA, with many approved for organic production. Interest in this new class of products is also occurring in conventionally grown crops.

Many growers who have already incorporated biofungicides into their disease management programs feel they are improving disease control and/or crop health due to resistance-inducing activity. Dr. Alyssa Collins from Penn State University will discuss how biocontrol can be used for soilborne diseases – how they work and when they don’t.  Mila Pearce from BASF will then talk about the different formulations of biologicals and how formulation can impact activity and success. Don’t miss out on this session about this rapidly expanding group of products and the best ways to incorporate on your farm.

Water and nutrient management are key to sustainable and profitable crop production. Join Dr. Jaume Lordan Sanahuja from Cornell as he talks about precision irrigation opportunities for growers – how and why we should irrigate. He will use an example of a NY apple orchard and how precision irrigation can help deliver large sized apples. Darcy Telenko, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program, will then give an update on partnership with Environmental Geophysicist, Erasmus Oware from the University of Buffalo in a NYFVI sponsored project in using soil electrical conductivity measurements for precision water management in vegetable crops in western NY.  This project aims to identify and account for sub-field soil variability for efficient water and nutrient management practices and is looking for additional cooperators for 2018. 

BIOPESTICIDES: HOW THEY WORK, WHY THEY DON’T, AND IMPORTANCE OF FORMULATION ON ACTIVITY AND USE
Wednesday, January 17, 2018 | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Session organized by Darcy Telenko, CCE 

PRECISION IRRIGATION
Wednesday, January 17, 2018 | 3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Session organized by Darcy Telenko, CCE

The 2018 Empire State Producers Expo is January 16-18 at the SRC Arena in Syracuse, NY. This annual show combines the major fruit, flower and vegetable associations of New York State in order to provide a comprehensive trade show and educational conference for New York producers, as well as neighboring states and Eastern Canada. In years past over 100 presentations were given by Cornell Cooperative Extension personnel and highly regarded speakers from across the country. Panel discussions feature some of the top industry experts and growers in New York. Between educational sessions, attendees can visit the trade show featuring over 150 commercial vendors and non-profit exhibitors.

Educational sessions topics include commodity specific programs in berries, cabbage, snap beans, peas, beets, carrots, fruiting vegetables (tomatoes, peppers), cut flowers, tree fruit, sweet corn, tomato, onion, Cole crops, root crops, vine crops, and emerging markets (hops, malting barley, mushrooms, hemp, hard cider); and multidisciplinary programs in precision irrigation, weed management, soil health, biopesticides, beginning farmer operations, marketing, greenhouse production, climate and forecast models, GMOs, and wildlife management. DEC pesticide recertification credits and Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) credits will be offered during the appropriate educational sessions.

For more information about the Expo and to register, visit the NYS Vegetable Growers Association website at nysvga.org/expo.

—Cornell Cooperative Extension Cornell Vegetable Program

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