AGRONOMY HUB

Tools and resources for functional sustainability.


TRIALS

A Deeper Look into Grafted Watermelon Production and Management
A Deeper Look into Grafted Watermelon Production and Management

In this blog and video presentation we will take a deeper dive into why we recommend grafted plants and fumigation as potential solutions to obstacles in watermelon production. I would like to focus on grafted plants as a tool and potential solution to grower obstacles.

10/14/2022

ARTICLES

Potatoes Following in Strawberries’ Footsteps, But Can Potatoes be as Nimble?
Potatoes Following in Strawberries’ Footsteps, But Can Potatoes be as Nimble?

The parallels between where we are in the potato industry today compared to where California’s strawberry industry was in the 1950s are quite amazing. Strawberries are very sensitive to verticillium. Do I think chloropicrin is coming in potatoes? Absolutely.

9/27/2023
Soil to Substrate: Key Irrigation and Fertigation Ideas for Long Cane Raspberries
Soil to Substrate: Key Irrigation and Fertigation Ideas for Long Cane Raspberries

PH is key in a soil system for berries. Traditional soil production for soft fruit crops is a buffered system that is slow to change. Think of substrate as a high risk, high reward type system where your attention to detail is very important.

6/13/2023
New Report Finds 97% of Fruits and Vegetables Sampled in California Meet Pesticide Safety Standards
New Report Finds 97% of Fruits and Vegetables Sampled in California Meet Pesticide Safety Standards

The DPR released the 2021 California Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program Report showing that 97% of produce collected in 2021 had no detectable pesticide residues. More than 98% of “grown in California” produce had no residues that exceeded allowable levels.

6/1/2023
Soil Health: An Overview For Growers
Soil Health: An Overview For Growers

Healthy soil is the foundation for successful agricultural production. One factor that can inhibit soil health is plant parasitic nematodes. Ee will discuss the importance of soil health, how nutrient cycling affects soil health, and the importance of soil fumigation in controlling nematodes.

3/15/2023
Fertigation in Substrate: Doing it Right? for Berries
Fertigation in Substrate: Doing it Right? for Berries

Change occurs slowly in a traditional soil production system. This allows berry growers to make fertigation mistakes that are not completely detrimental. Soil deficiencies are more difficult to correct. When fertigating in a substrate system, growers can change pH almost daily.

8/8/2022
Growing Long-cane Raspberries in the Southeast
Growing Long-cane Raspberries in the Southeast

NC State University started an on-farm research project with Lewis Nursery and Farms to investigate the feasibility of long-cane raspberry production in the state. Commercial production of this high value crop has been limited to the western part of the state where the temperatures are cooler.

7/18/2022
Soil Fumigation Treatment Zones — What You Don’t Know Could be Stealing from Your Investment
Soil Fumigation Treatment Zones — What You Don’t Know Could be Stealing from Your Investment

When growers apply Strike soil fumigant under their carefully managed field conditions, they get impressive results — control of rhizoctonia, black dot, common scab; boosted crop yield and improved sustainability.

3/29/2022
Tired Soils Aren’t an Inevitable, Unwinnable Battle
Tired Soils Aren’t an Inevitable, Unwinnable Battle

I receive countless from frustrated potato growers who tell me they are throwing costly inputs at their fields, yet not seeing the yields they need. Production costs are increasing while water resources grow tighter. If you’re not satisfied with your yields, it’s time for a change.

9/1/2021

VIDEOS