RANSOMVILLE, N.Y. — Vegetable growers are invited to tour an on-farm plot of early generation Cornell downy mildew resistant pickle breeding lines. Dr. Michael Mazourek, Professor of Plant Breeding, and lab members, will be onsite to walk growers through the plot and review plant selections. All growers that attend will be an integral part of helping make selections for the next generation of pickle varieties released. The on-farm tour will be held Sept. 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Goodman Farms, 3701 Braley Rd, Ransomville, NY 14131.

In addition, Extension Vegetable Specialist, Darcy Telenko, will review the results from her two-year trial evaluating organic control options for downy mildew in cucumber. Dr. Christine Smart, Professor of Plant Pathology, will also be joining the event to talk about her research projects and answer further questions on the management of downy mildew in cucurbits or other diseases of concern in vegetables. The use of the disease forecast warning systems (Cucurbit Downy Mildew PIPE) will also be discussed. Information will be provided for both conventional and organic growers at all levels of expertise.

Growers that attend will be able to provide feedback on the pickling breeding lines to guide the downy mildew resistant pickle breeding program. Growers will be encouraged to actively participate, and ask questions.

This event is free. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information or special accommodations, contact Darcy Telenko at 716-697-4965 or email dep10@cornell.edu.

— Cornell Cooperative Extension