Sweet Pea Harvest in Central Iowa

Kristine Neu and Ajay Nair,
Department of Horticulture,
Iowa State University

Yesterday we were invited to check out the harvest of 100 acres of sweet peas on a farm in Central Iowa. The harvest began at 5:00 a.m. and would be completed by early afternoon. The crew included 7 harvesters, 2 transport carts, 2 teams of mechanical support, and a crew of 10 semi trucks on a continuous rotation. The drivers were transporting the peas 180 miles to a processing plant in southern Minnesota; each semi truck load contained approximately 28,000 lbs of shelled peas.

Rye Cultivar Trial - Anthesis and Roller Crimping

Kristine Neu and Ajay Nair,
Department of Horticulture,
Iowa State University


Cereal rye plots at anthesis on May 21, 2016.

Early summer has kept us busy with our cereal rye cultivar trial located at the ISU Horticulture Research Station near Gilbert, IA. This study is comparing five cultivars of cereal rye (Aroostook, Elbon, Prima, Wheeler, and Wrens Abruzzi) for their performance as a cover crop in a roller crimping system. Each cultivar was planted on two dates last fall - September 16 and October 13. 

Pollen being shed at anthesis.

One of our primary questions of interest is, "When does each cultivar reach anthesis?" This question is important because cereal rye cannot be successfully killed with a roller crimper until it has reach flowering stage, also known as anthesis. We saw Aroostook reaching anthesis on May 17 with Elbon and Wrens Abruzzi following two days later. Prima and Wheeler both reached anthesis on May 21.

Cereal rye being terminated with the roller crimper.

   










Due to recent rain our roller crimping was slightly delayed, and all plots were terminated with the roller crimper on Friday, June 3. The plots were evaluated on Tuesday, June 7 to assess the success of the kill with the roller crimper. Aroostook and Wrens Abruzzi appear to have the best rate of kill and would be ready for strip tilling and planting of a vegetable crop. Wheeler and Prima appear to be standing back up, and would require another round of roller crimping to be a viable mulch bed.

Prima (left) and Aroostook (right) on June 7.

For more information on cereal rye and roller crimping, please visit reference our extension publication Strip Tillage in Vegetable Production.
  

Carrot harvest from soil benches

Ajay Nair
Department of Horticulture
Iowa State University

Today (4/21/16) we harvested carrots (cultivar Nelson) and parsnips (cultivar Javelin) from the soil benches. These were planted by students in HORT 471 class (Vegetable Production and Management). Carrots were seeded on 12 January, 2016.

From a 4ft by 4 ft section we harvested between 25-30 lbs of carrots. Parsnips did not do that well and produced smaller roots and yielded around 5-8 lbs from a similar area.

Commercial Potato Production Guide

Ajay Nair

Department of Horticulture
Iowa State University

A new publication providing information on all aspects of potato production is now available at the Iowa State Extension and Outreach Online Store. The Commercial Potato Production Guide, The publication discusses all aspects of potato production, beginning with choosing the correct type of potato to grow, size of seed potatoes, spacing, fertility, and pest management. Click on the link below to download the guide

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/commercial-potato-production-discussed-new-publication

Salad greens- Vegetable Production class

Dr. Ajay Nair
Department of Horticulture
Iowa State University

Students in HORT 471 (Vegetable Production and Management) course are growing variety of vegetables in HORT greenhouse. Crops were seeded/transplanted on soil benches with medium consisting of soil, compost, and peat. The course provides students with theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience required for successfully producing vegetable crops. Some of the crops being grown include leafy greens (arugula, tatsoi, lettuce, mizuna, bok choy), summer squash, carrot, pepper, tomato, pole bean, bush bean, sweet corn, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, brussels sprout, and radish. Students had a great time collecting data, harvesting greens, and enjoyed a full-service salad bar yesterday (24 February, 2016). Check out the pictures:

Thrips damage and control strategies

Ajay Nair
Department of Horticulture
Iowa State University

Thrips are very small, slender insects that are common in greenhouses at this time of the year when growers are gearing up to grow transplants. Thrips can cause damage with their feeding, which distorts plant growth, deforms flowers, and causes white-to-silvery patches on leaves (figure below). regular, frequent, and thorough scouting is important to keep a tab on this pest. Use sticky cards and hand lens to trap and properly identify the insect. 





One can use products that have low toxicity such as azadirachtin (Neem-based products, BioNeem), insecticidal soaps (Safer), horticultural Oil, or neem oil (Safe Brand Neem Oil). Biological control is very effective if the infestation is detected early. Biological control includes Predatory mites (Typhlodromips montdorensis, Amblyseius cucumeris, Amblyseius swirskii, Eurseius ovalis) and predatory bugs (Orius laevigatus, Orius majusculus and Orius insidiosus)

Stronger synthetic insecticides such as neonicotinoids, pyrethroids, and organophosphates should be used if the infestation is heavy. 

Iowa Organic Conference to Feature One-on-One Mentoring

Focus on helping farmers interested in transitioning to organic

AMES, Iowa—The 15th annual Iowa Organic Conference will give farmers who are interested in transitioning to an organic operation the opportunity to meet individually with experts in the field. The conference will be held Nov. 22-23 at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, as a joint effort between Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the UI Office of Sustainability.

Farmers will have the chance to participate in farmer-to-mentor round tables with organic producers and those experienced with organic certification.  In addition, event speakers will provide advice on organic grain crops, vegetable production, fruit cultivation and certification how-to tips.

“The U.S. market for organic products reached $39.1 billion in 2014 and the demand for organic grains and produce continues to exceed supply,” said Kathleen Delate, ISU Extension and Outreach organic agriculture specialist and professor in horticulture and agronomy. “Growers everywhere are encouraged to consider the potential for organic production.”

A local foods expo will kick off the conference on Sunday, Nov. 22, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the UI Memorial Union. On Monday, the keynote speakers are Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens, who grow and market over 10 varieties of organic grains and have received numerous commendations for their biodiverse organic farm (http://www.lakevieworganicgrain.com/meet.html) in upstate New York.

The conference lunch on Monday afternoon highlights local and organic produce, meats, and dairy products assembled into a gourmet meal by UI award-winning executive chef, Barry Greenberg, and his team.

Organic producers and experts from across the country will share tips about organic production, weed management, livestock production and methods to enhance organic operations. Over 50 exhibitors, including organic seed sellers, local food system non-profits and government offices working with transitioning and certified organic farmers, will be on site to meet with producers. Growers are encouraged to bring their grain samples to the grain buyer exhibitors.

Conference information and directions to the event are available online at http://sustainability.uiowa.edu/2015-iowa-organic-conference. To register, access https://www.signmeup.com/108970. For additional information, contact Delate at kdelate@iastate.edu.

Additional conference partners are the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, New Pioneer Food Co-op, Organic Valley and Practical Farmers of Iowa.

Related links:

Sustainable Vegetable Production Lab 

www.extension.iastate.edu/vegetablelab

Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

www.leopold.iastate.edu

Practical Farmers of Iowa

Practicalfarmers.org

Related publications:

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

“Fundamentals of Organic Agriculture,” PM 1880

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Extension Store, Cover crops in Vegetable Production Systems