Allium Leafminer Spring Update: May 15, 2017

Does Allium Leafminer dislike rainy days too? Or is the population truly declining?  The allium leafminer adult population is potentially starting to decline as of the second week of May.  We are unsure if this is due to the cooler rainy weather or a true population...

Unlocking Yield Potential of Tomatoes

Breeding in plants and animals typically involves straightforward addition. As beneficial new traits are discovered — like resistance to drought or larger fruits — they are added to existing prized varieties, delivered via cross-breeding. But every once in a while,...

Detecting Optimum Ripeness in Tomatoes

The portable Raman spectrometer, a device used in very different fields such as metallurgy, archaeology and art, allows data to be obtained on the variation in the composition of the tomato fruit during its various ripening phases, according to the results of a study...

Orchard Offers Vegetable Breeding Course

An intensive, two-day vegetable breeding workshop will take place on June 17 and 24 from 9 a.m. to noon at North Star Orchard. The workshop, geared toward the more experienced gardener, will be led by NSO Garden Manager Kevin Booth and NSO Greenhouse Manager Lena...

Time to Advocate for Agriculture in the State Budget

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is hard at work ensuring that agriculture priorities are considered as state leaders finalize the 2017-18 budget. But we need help from members too. Lawmakers respond most to their constituents so it’s important that members contact...