ALBANY — Following much consideration, the New York State Vegetable Growers Association and Cornell Cooperative Extension announced they are transforming the annual Becker Forum and Empire State Producers Expo into a virtual conference scheduled for January 11-15, 2021. Register at: https://nysvga.org/expo/
2021 EXPO PROMOS
WEED MANAGEMENT
Tuesday, January 14, 2021 / 1:15 PM – 5:00 PM
Session Organized by Lynn Sosnoskie, Dept. of Horticulture, Cornell Agri-Tech, and Bryan Brown, NYS IPM
No new herbicide modes of action have been released in over 30 years. But with herbicide resistant weeds spreading rapidly, and technological advances aiding product exploration, that may change soon. Several companies have announced exciting new products in the pipeline. And with innovations in weed control using steam, electricity, and steel, weed management may look very different in coming years – especially as robotics and “intelligent” guidance systems become more accessible to farmers. These forward-thinking sessions aim to show farmers the state-of-the-art in weed control technology.
SOIL HEALTH: COVER CROPS AND REDUCED TILLAGE
Tuesday, January 12, 2021 / 8:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Session Organized by Ryan Maher, Cornell Small Farm Program
Attend the Soil Health Sessions at the virtual 2021 Empire State Producers Expo to hear farmer experiences and research on cover cropping and no-till practices from around the Northeast and beyond. In Session I, you will learn the latest research on selecting and managing summer cover crops in your rotation from Rebecca Brown (University of Rhode Island). Then Skip Paul (Wishing Stone Farm, RI) will talk about the advantages of cover crop interseeding and share his successes and failures with establishing cover crops in brassica cash crops on his farm. In Session II, Chad Cochrane (USDA NRCS-NH) and Nathan Johanning (farmer and University of Illinois Extension) will team up to get into the details of managing no-till vegetables and the decision points for different crops. You will learn about NT vegetable transplanters, tips for modifying equipment, and NT management practices for sweet corn and pumpkins. Bring your questions for discussion and walk away with ideas on how you can keep more of your soil covered, reduce your inputs, and improve productivity with less tillage on your farm.
A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF IPM – IPM SCHOOL PART 1
Wednesday January 13, 2021/ 8:45 AM – 10:30 AM
Session Organized by: Abby Seaman, Amara Dunn and Marion Zuefle, NYS IPM; Elizabeth Buck, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
This session will provide a quick overview of integrated strategies for managing pests while reducing risks. Growers will be asked to start by thinking about the IPM strategies they are currently using. Amara will give a brief overview of the diversity of IPM strategies, including: what, where, and how growers plant; practices that promote soil and plant health, monitoring for and correct identification of pests; using biological control; and choosing where and what to spray. Either in real-time or via pre-recorded video NY growers will share a bit about how and why they use IPM on their farms. The session will wrap up with an opportunity for participants to ask questions and also to reflect on what additional IPM strategies they could add to their farms to improve pest management while reducing risks to people and the environment. Throughout the remainder of the IPM School, growers will be encouraged to re-visit their list of current IPM practices and make plans to do more IPM in 2021.
KEEPING AHEAD OF THE PROBLEMS: IPM SCHOOL PART 2
Wednesday January 13, 2021/ 10:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Session Organized by: Abby Seaman, Amara Dunn and Marion Zuefle, NYS IPM; Elizabeth Buck, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
Informed decision making is a core tennet of IPM. Scouting allows growers to choose pin-pointed control tactics, while thresholds allow growers to time control actions for when they will have the most benefit. Together, scouting and threshold use in decision-making promotes greater control efficacy and heightens environmental stewardship.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could get a heads up when pests and diseases are about to show up and attack your beautiful plants? Wish no more! Learn how forecasting and tracking tools work and why they can make a big difference in pest control, yield, and economics. You’ll walk away with examples of forecasting and tracking tools that you can use next field season.
Oftentimes, the best way to learn tricks of the trade is by listening to peers. Growers will share their approaches to scouting, monitoring, and using forecasting models to share successful techniques and inspire attendee confidence in their abilities to adopt scouting, threshold, and forecast use on their home operations.
Mapping and recordkeeping – these two words have an uncanny power to inspire lots of glazed eyes, overwhelmed looks, dismissive handwaves, and assertions of superior memory ability. Let’s take a step back and look at why your Ag Service Providers insist you act on these two words. You’ll get tips for making mapping & record keeping digestible tasks rather than onerous chores.
OFF TO A GOOD START WITH VINE CROPS: IPM SCHOOL PART 3
Wednesday January 13, 2021/ 1:15 PM – 3:00 PM
Session Organized by: Abby Seaman, Amara Dunn and Marion Zuefle, NYS IPM; Elizabeth Buck, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
A strong, healthy crop is best situated to cope with stress or competition and resist pests and diseases. Cultural practices encompass the bulk of pro-active IPM strategies and aim to limit reactive IPM interventions later. For example, a high-organic matter, uncompacted soil will best limit the prevalence of root rots and promote crop resiliency to pests and diseases during drought stress. Another example is that excessive Nitrogen application can favor both weed and aphid pressure over crop performance. Steve Reiners, Cornell Vegetable Specialist will go over a suite of best management practices and tie them directly to their IPM implications.
For the past 40 years there has been an outsized emphasis on chemical weed management, and we’re collectively reaping the particularly challenging seeds born of that one-tactic approach. Thierry will present integrated weed management techniques that growers are using to combat increasing weed pressure.
Grower Nathan Johanning faces a suite of tough weeds in his grain-pumpkin cropping rotation. Herbicide use alone doesn’t provide full control of weeds on his Illinois farm, especially in the face of glyphosate and ALS (Group 2) resistance. A committed focus on whole-tool box weed control tactics is a signature of Nathan’s pumpkin production program. Come learn how reduced tillage, smart rotations, cover cropping, residue mulching, purposeful variety selection, and targeted nutrient application synergize with selective herbicide use to provide Nathan with enhanced efficacy and ecologically enlightened weed control.
KEEPING AHEAD OF INSECTS AND DISEASES IN VINE CROPS: IPM SCHOOL PART 4
Wednesday January 13, 2021/ 3:15 PM – 5:00 PM
Session Organized by: Abby Seaman, Amara Dunn and Marion Zuefle, NYS IPM; Elizabeth Buck, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
Ooman Bros. Inc. is a 4th generation, 2,000 acre family farm located just miles from Lake Michigan. They raise about 200 acres of zucchini, butternut and delicata for processing following conventional and organic production methods. They will describe their farm’s traditional IPM approach to managing pests & diseases, with an emphasis on soil-borne diseases, and discuss what they learned as they adjusted to growing organic cucurbits.
BRIGHT BRASSICA BEGINNINGS: IPM SCHOOL PART 5
Thursday January 14, 2021/ 8:45 AM – 10:30 AM
Session Organized by: Abby Seaman, Amara Dunn and Marion Zuefle, NYS IPM; Elizabeth Buck, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
Integrated weed management techniques for cole crops, including proactive and ecological weed management strategies, tools for mechanical, physical, and chemical reactive controls, and some discussion of the variable brassica crop tolerances to labeled herbicides.
Pedersen Farms raises about 600 acres of produce, mostly for fresh market uses. Over the years they’ve transitioned to producing cole crops organically, with a current focus on cabbage and kale. Rick & Laura are early and committed adopters of whole-farm management practices that double as strong, proactive IPM tactics. Rick Pedersen will share his knowledge on the interconnectedness of soil health practices and IPM success in avoiding weeds & other issues.
CLEAN COLE CROPS: IPM SCHOOL PART 6
Thursday January 14, 2021/ 10:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Session Organized by: Abby Seaman, Amara Dunn and Marion Zuefle, NYS IPM; Elizabeth Buck, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
Sang Lee Farms, the 2020 NY AEM-Leopold Conservation award winner, is a third generation mixed produce farm in Peconic Long Island. Fred & Karen Lee, who were recognized as NOFA-NY’s 2019 Farmer of the Year, and their family have raised brassicas for decades and have always been innovative in their approach. Fred Lee has farmed using conventional and organic production practices as he has shifted from shipping produce across the Eastern US to a direct-to-consumer business model. Drawing from his wealth of experience, Fred will provide insight into how he thinks about and conducts his successful brassica IPM program.
ONION BULB ROT
Thursday January 14, 2021/ 8:45 AM – 10:30 AM
Session Organized by: Christy Hoepting, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
If it were simple, we would have found a solution by now. Bacterial bulb rot has been the arch nemesis of the American onion industry for decades, including New York. Fortunately, the National USDA Stop the Rot project is set to change this trajectory. In the first year of this four-year project we are building a foundation of knowledge, upon which we can intelligently build management strategies in upcoming years. At 2021 Empire Expo, we’re going to Onion Rot School, and we’re bringing in the Nation’s Masters to teach the class. Lindsey du Toit is a hard working plant pathologist from WSU and the Stop the Rot project leader. Bhabesh Dutta is an award-winning UGA extension plant pathologist and his colleague UGA onion bacteriologist David Kvitko, are passionately pursuing bacterial bulb rot. Together these three onion enthusiasts will take us on a deep dive into the complexities of onion bulb rot. They will describe a pathway to tolerant onion varieties via a new technology on the verge of a breakthrough.
ONION CRITICAL ISSUES
Thursday January 14, 2021/ 10:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Session Organized by: Christy Hoepting, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
How are the fragile FRAC 7 fungicides like Luna Tranquility and Merivon holding up against Stemphylium leaf blight (SLB)? Did we lose our favorite SLB fungicides to resistance? Is there cross-resistance among the different sub-classes? The Cornell SLB team (Hay, Hoepting, Ayer and Heck) will present the latest field research and laboratory results regarding the future of FRAC 7 fungicide use for SLB by region in New York.
Finally, Greg Yielding, the Executive Vice President of the National Onion Association, will address the issue of cheap onion imports from Canada.
There will be two 1.5 hour onion sessions in the morning of Thursday, January 14, 2021. A total of 2.25 DEC recertification credits have been applied for these sessions.
Alt text: Close-up of onion bulb cut in half longitudinally. The outer 4 scales are firm while the inner scales are mushy and discolored (yellowish-gray). Photo: C. Hoepting.
SNAP BEANS
Common lambsquarters was, well, too common in snap bean fields this summer! Growers and crop consultants will want to find out the biological and environmental factors that impact lambsquarters control from Dr. Lynn Sosnoskie, Cornell weed scientist. Next, Dr. Brian Nault, Cornell entomologist, will discuss insect problems you might encounter in organic and conventional snap beans such as seedcorn maggot, potato leafhopper, and European corn borer. What’s new with the use of drones in snap beans? Cornell faculty continue collaborations with Rochester Institute of Technology to test the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to detect flowering in snap beans, the critical stage for application of fungicides for white mold control. Studies on plant spacing and canopy closure also predict the risk of a field for white mold. UAS technology is also being tested for prediction of plant growth stage and harvest maturity.
HEMP
The 3-session Hemp Program will have something for everyone. New and experienced producers should attend to hear about new research on the crop. Several Cornell staff and faculty will update the registrants with key new findings in genetics and pests. Session 1 will carry 0.75 pesticide recertification credits. During the day we will hear from eat other institutions such as Dr. Emily Leppien to talk about the physiology of cannabinoids and Dr. Tyler Mark to give an update on crop insurance for hemp and production in Kentucky. From private industry, registrants will hear from representatives from equipment companies focusing on hemp harvest and processing. And because hemp has a complex legislative and regulatory landscape, participants will hear about the latest news on those fronts for New York producers and processors.
HIGH TUNNELS
Wednesday, January 13, 2021/ 1:30 – 3 pm
Session Organized by Jud Reid, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program (CVP)/Harvest NY, and Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program
This year’s high tunnel session focuses on irrigation water quality and soil fertility practices to maximize tomato yield in high tunnels while avoiding common mistakes. We’ll discuss the importance of understanding your irrigation water pH and alkalinity with Neil Mattson (Cornell School of Integrated Plant Science), and preventing nutrient imbalances and optimizing your soil fertility program with Jud Reid (CCE CVP). Caitlin Tucker (CCE CVP) will present research results of a new cover cropping study aimed at improving soil health in high tunnels. Lastly, Lockwood “Pooh” Sprague will share insights from his many years growing great high tunnel tomatoes at Edgewater Farm in Plainfield, NH, where the Sprague family currently manages over 72,000 sq ft of mixed vegetable and ornamental crops grown under plastic.
Promo Piece: A Five Year Lens – How Growing Produce is Changing
A big challenge in farming and business is knowing how to position yourself to stay ahead of the curve. Join this session to find out what representatives at the forefront of agricultural management see as the key changes coming in the next five years. Topics will include crop protection, digital ag, weather resiliency, and pesticide regulations. Of note, our Canadian neighbors will share how pesticide de-registrations and restrictions are affecting their businesses and give valuable tips on how to work with regulators to receive better outcomes. Speakers include Larissa Smith (Syngenta), Abe Stroock (School of Engineering, Cornell University), Art Degaetano (Northeast Regional Climate Center), Jim Chaput (Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs), and Chris Duyvelshoff (Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association).
–New York State Vegetable Growers Association
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