Vegetable Pest and Cultural Management Field Meeting - Seneca County

July 17, 2013


This course will demonstrate pest management in fresh market vegetables in both field and greenhouse (high tunnel) vegetables; primarily for those growing for wholesale auction. A hands-on demonstration of weed, insect and disease identification in vegetables including management options such as inter-row cover crops, grafting and where appropriate, spray options will be used to educate growers. Judson Reid, Senior Extension Associate with the Cornell Vegetable Program will instruct participants and facilitate peer-based learning. Cooperating farms will be selected to host the meetings as the season progresses. Details on each topic will focus on field observations at these farms. Addresses to be provided.






7:30 Welcome

7:35 Weed control in row crop vegetables
Why?
o Moisture completion
o Insect and disease management
o Labor efficiency

How?
o Cultivation
o Herbicides
o Inter-row cover crops: spring seeding or winter rye; pros- and cons

8:15 Tomato and potato disease updates
Late blight and early blight updates

Grafting for improved root-zone disease resistance in greenhouse and high tunnels

8:45 Cucurbits
Greenhouse cucumber grafting for vigor and yield

Downy mildew management: cucumbers, cantaloupes and watermelon
o Tunnels/greenhouses
o Effective fungicide programs

Cucumber beetle, squash bug, stink bug

Powdery mildew
o Resistance
o Effective fungicide programs

9:15 Questions and answer/other farm specific crop observations/food safety news

9:30 Adjourn