Vegetables

Vegetable and Fruit News-2025 (Volume 16, Issue 3). Topics include the following: , and Vegetable Crop Insect Scouting.

In This Issue: 2- UMD Bee Lab and the New UMD Bee Squad 3- Fundamentals of Soil Science Course - Catena in the Field 3- Cool Season Turf Abstract 3- Micro Clover Abstract 4- Spring termination of cover crops - how timing affects crop stands and yields 8- Sweet Corn Sentinel Monitoring Network: 2024 Results and Trends with Previous Years

Precision downforce management techniques in corn planting stand as indispensable elements within contemporary agricultural practices, profoundly influencing the success and productivity of this pivotal crop. The increase in vertical loads on the row units is usually done by a system known as downforce.

3- New Mesonet Weather Station at Upper Marlboro 3- SECU Joins UMD Athletes to Spread Kindness at Terp Farm 4- Pilots on the ground: UMD Researchers take a bird’s eye view into the future of agriculture 6- Harvesting pumpkins at the Upper Marlboro Terp Farm 8- An educational experience through the Advancing Careers in Agriculture and STEM (ACAS) Internship Program 9- Crops Research Twilight Barbecue & Ice Cream Social 9- Combining Biosolarization, Cover Cropping, and Strip Tillage for Weed Management in Vegetables 13- Integrating Real-Time Sensing for Smart Irrigation Strategies 18- Drinking Wells, Water Quality and Septic Systems 20- Terp Farm Increases Sweet Potato Yield and Deepens Community Bonds 23- Developing Integrated Weed Management Approaches for CBD Hemp Production 26- Effect of Downforce and Irrigation Management on Corn 30- Impact of Pre-Harvest Water Stress on Enteric Pathogen Persistence on Baby Leaf Romaine Lettuce and Kale 31 - The first field season of the Tomato Lab at the University of Maryland, College Park! 32 - Service Day for Environment, Technology, and Economy (ETE) Program of College Park

Bean leaf beetles (BLB), C. trifucata, are showing up in snap beans in some areas of the Eastern Shore. This sporadic pest has the potential to cause serious damage to snap beans, soybeans, and other legume crops.

Growers across the state should begin scouting for cross-striped cabbageworms (CSCW). Unlike the more common brassica caterpillar pests which lay their eggs individually, CSCW females lay eggs in clusters of 3 to 25. As a result, a single plant can quickly become infested with numerous hungry caterpillars, resulting in faster, more severe damage. In recent years, we’ve seen CSCW activity ramp up earlier in the season, and this year is no exception. Egg masses and mid-stage caterpillars have already been found in Eastern Shore counties.

IpM Scouting Tips posted in the Fruit and Vegetable News.

Join us for our upcoming twilight/field day meetings to explore the latest agricultural developments and innovations. These informal gatherings offer interactive discussions on new technologies, sustainable practices, and upcoming trends in the agricultural sector. Connect with industry experts, network with fellow farmers, and gain valuable insights to enhance your farming operations.

A list of meetings for Urban Agriculture growers.

A list of meetings for fruit and vegetable growers.