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Showing posts from June, 2021

Weekly vegetable update 6/30/2021

Author: Natalie Hoidal, UMN Extension educator, local foods and vegetable crops   Some growers finally got some needed rain this week, with scattered pockets of showers leaving over an inch behind. Others got no rain at all, while a few growers got deluged by over 4" of rain in a single evening, and a few others experienced hail. Crops seem to be equally variable - I've been to a few farms where crops are growing quickly and things are looking great, and others where plants are really struggling with the drought and hot weather. We're continuing to see elevated insect pressure this week, and the forecast is showing minimal rain for most of the state (with the exception of West Central MN). Crop updates Cole crops: Harvest continues for most spring cole crops, and planting is underway for fall crops. I received more photos of bolting broccoli this week than usual, despite temperatures being a bit lower than they have been in the weeks prior. Given the projects for continued

Leafhopper Watch: Hot Weather and Aster Yellows Risk

Author: Marissa Schuh , Integrated Pest Management Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension. Reviewed by Natalie Hoidal. You don’t need me to tell you that it has been a hot and dry growing season. The season’s weather has increased the chances that we will run into certain pests .  One heat-loving pest whose numbers have been increasing in field crops is leafhoppers.   Scouting data from Southwest Minnesota reported an unusually high number of leafhopper nymphs, and scouting has shown a large number of adults.  While their populations in some part of the state seem to be on the decline, for growers of carrots, celery, garlic, lettuce, and onions, it is worth being look out for leafhoppers and aster yellows , a disease they sometimes transmit. Aster Leafhoppers Can Move Aster Yellows Around Aster leafhoppers are small, quick-moving, and innocuous in appearance.  They have piercing-sucking mouthparts that they use to feed on plant juices. Aster leafhoppers are small and yel