Vegetable and Fruit News-2026 (Volume 17, Issue 3)

2026  |  Volume 17, Issue 2

Inside this issue:

• Asparagus Beetles
• End of Gramoxone: What Growers Should Know
• IPM Vegetable and Fruit Scouting Tips
• Recommended Slicing Cucumber Varieties
• USDA Designates Nine Maryland Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Following Severe Drought
• Recent Increase in Tomato Prices
• University of Maryland Extension Events

End of Gramoxone: What Growers Should Know

Kurt Vollmer, Ph.D., University of Maryland Extension Specialist, Weed Management

Syngenta recently announced it will stop manufacturing Gramoxone at the end of June. The product contains paraquat, a widely used herbicide for controlling weeds before planting, at planting and post-directed after crops emerge. Paraquat is an important tool for managing tough weeds, including herbicide-resistant weeds such as Palmer amaranth. Only the Gramoxone brand of paraquat will be discontinued. Based on current estimates, Gramoxone supplies should be adequate for 2026, but growers may want to begin exploring alternative brands.

Other paraquat brands may not be labeled for all the applications listed on the Gramoxone label. For example, only certain formulations allow post-directed applications in cucurbit crops such as watermelon. Because labels vary, fruit and vegetable growers should carefully review each paraquat label and follow all state requirements before applying.

Upcoming UME Events!

University of Delaware and University of Maryland Launch Free Virtual H-2A Farm Labor Seminar Series

The University of Maryland Extension (UME), the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC), and the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension will host a free virtual seminar series titled “Exploring H-2A Farm Labor in the Mid-Atlantic Region.” The three-part series will take place from March 31 through April 21, 2026, and is designed to help agricultural employers better understand the complexities of the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program. 

As labor challenges continue to impact agricultural operations across the region, the H-2A program has become an increasingly important option for securing seasonal workforce needs. This seminar series will provide participants with practical insights into the financial, legal, and regulatory considerations associated with the program.

“Producers are facing increasing pressure to secure reliable labor, and the H-2A program can be a valuable tool when used correctly,” said Paul Goeringer, Principal Faculty Specialist and Extension Legal Specialist with the University of Maryland. “This seminar series helps farmers understand not just the costs, but also the legal and compliance responsibilities that come with participating in the program.”

The virtual seminar will be held via Zoom from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the following date:

• April 21, 2026 — State Department of Labor Considerations. 
  Speakers: Ross Weiner, Maryland Department of Labor; Ellen Romero, Delaware Department of Labor 

The seminar series is offered at no cost; however, advance registration is required. Participants can register online at https://go.umd.edu/H2AWebinars.

This program is supported by the Northeast Extension Risk Management Education Center through USDA-NIFA award no. 2024-70027-42540.

This collaborative effort reflects the ongoing commitment of University of Maryland Extension and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension to provide timely, research-based information to agricultural producers across the Mid-Atlantic region. This program is offered by land-grant institutions committed to equal opportunity and access. Individuals requiring accommodations should contact program organizers at least two weeks prior to the event.

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Event: Online Agricultural Tax Workshop for Professionals (6 CE Credits) 
Date: May 5, 2026  |  Tuesday
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.  |  Location: Online
Cost: Early Bird:  $200 plus platform fee (through April 15); Regular: $230 plus platform fee (beginning April 16)
The fee covers the cost of intensive instruction, presentation slides and both a PDF and a printed version of the 2025 Agricultural Tax Issues book, published by the Land Grant University Tax Education Foundation. The book will be mailed before the program.
Description: This 6-hour online intensive course is designed for income tax professionals and practitioners who work with farmers and agricultural businesses. The program provides a comprehensive update on recent legislative and regulatory changes to federal and state income tax laws affecting agricultural tax returns.

Participants will review core income tax principles and explore their application to common and complex farm tax situations. Through practical examples and real-world scenarios, attendees will strengthen their ability to address both individual and business agricultural tax issues with confidence and accuracy.

In addition to tax preparers and CPAs, this workshop will benefit agricultural lenders, farm management instructors, Extension educators, and other agricultural professionals seeking a deeper understanding of farm taxation and its practical implications.

Join us for this focused, practice-oriented program designed to keep you current, compliant, and prepared for the evolving agricultural tax landscape.

Registration: https://26May05AgTaxWorkshop.eventbrite.com

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IPM Webinar Series:
The series meets on the third Thursday of every month from 12 to 1 pm. For more details and registration, visit https://go.umd.edu/ipmwebinar. Maryland Pesticide Credits are available. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Hayden Schug at 301-226-7502.
 

• May 21, 2026: Vegetable Pest Control with Beneficials - Dr. Veronica Yurchak, University of Maryland Extension Specialist, Vegetable Production
• June 25, 2026: Spotted Wing Drosophila: Management in Berries and Small Fruits - Dr. Kelly Hamby, Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland

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Hiring and Retaining Farm Employees – What you Need to Know and Do

Are you trying to find, hire and keep great employees? Is it a bit confusing and time-consuming? Do you know where to start and who to involve? Are you worried about the legal considerations when having non-family members employed? This course will help you sort through all these questions and concerns. Navigating this process doesn’t have to be difficult as this course will share with you. Through the four modules of this course, you’ll get important information and resources you can adapt for your own operation. For more information, go to https://agrisk.umd.edu/grant-proposals/hiring-and-retaining-farm-employees

Vegetable & Fruit News Volume 17 Issue 3, April 2026 Downloadable PDF

Vegetable & Fruit News is a research-based publication for the commercial vegetable and fruit industry available electronically from April through October.  Published by the University of Maryland Extension Agriculture and Food Systems team.

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EDITOR

Emily Zobel University of Maryland Extension Agent - Dorchester County
501 Court Lane, Room 208 
Cambridge, MD 21613 
Phone: (410) 410-228-8800 
Email: ezobel@umd.edu

Note: Registered Trade Mark® Products, Manufacturers, or Companies mentioned within this newsletter are not to be considered as sole endorsements. The information has been provided for educational purposes only.