VegNet Vol. 13, No. 19. September 13, 2006
Ohio State University Extension Vegetable Crops
On the WEB at:  http://vegnet.osu.edu
If experiencing problems receiving this fax, Call 614-292-3857

 

In This Issue

1. Ornamental Field Corn Day, Sept. 14th

2. Horticulture High Tunnel Workshop: November 14, 2006

3. EPA Cancels Carbofuran

4. Human Resource Managers' Forum Will Feature Job Description and At-Will Employment Guidance

5. Grafting for Vegetable Crops and Survey

 

Ornamental Corn Field Day September 14 Brad Bergefurd
The fall season is quickly approaching and with that comes the second most home decorating season of the year, next to Christmas. With the increased interest in fall decorations, this has opened up many marketing opportunities for farmers to grow those crops most in demand.
One of these farm products most in demand during the fall season is Ornamental Corn. The Ohio State University South Centers has been evaluating many new varieties of ornamental corn for the past 9 years in cooperation with seed companies and breeders from throughout the United States.
“The striking colors that have been bred into these ornamental corns is just fantastic”, “Ten years ago there may have been some red, blue, brown and orange colored kernels, today the kernels are every color of the rainbow”, said Bergefurd.
”Compared to ornamental corn varieties of ten years ago, today’s cultivars are much more resistant to lodging in the field with great stalk quality, tip covers are much better resulting in less insect and bird damage and the overall plant vigor is much better allowing for high quality corn even under severe drought or rainy seasons”, says Bergefurd.
To view several new ornamental corn selections and to tour one of this years field trial evaluation sites, plan on attending the Ornamental Corn Field Day that is scheduled for Thursday September 14th from
10 am till 2 pm. The site for this years Field Day will be Rainbow Valley Seed Farm, owned and operated by Douglas and Charlene Woodruff in West Liberty, Ohio. To get to the field take U.S. Route 68 to State Route 245, approximately 2 miles east of west Liberty, the field will be on the right side of the road. If you have any questions regarding this years field day contact Doug or Charlene Woodruff at 937-465-6608 or Brad Bergefurd at 740-289-3727 extension 136.

 

Horticulture High Tunnel Workshop: November 14, 2006

sponsored by The Ohio State University Vegetable Team, OSU IPM Program, and Allied Vegetable Industries.

 

Fisher Auditorium at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, Ohio.

 

This is the first of two planned workshops focused on season extension in vegetable production. Farmers and others will examine high tunnel design and construction, integrated crop management, and pest and disease management issues. We will also address questions such as “What are the realistic expectations for yield and profit?” and “What role do high tunnels have in meeting local market opportunities?” Growers will share their experiences with high tunnels. A vendor’s show and, weather-permitting, a tour of high tunnels on site will also be part of the day’s activities.

 

The second Season Extension workshop will take place at the Ohio Fruit, Vegetable and Potato Growers Congress to be held in Columbus, Ohio January 15-17, 2007.

 

For more information or to receive a brochure about the Horticulture High Tunnel workshop, contact Leah Miller at Small Farm Institute, 28550 SR 621, Fresno, Ohio 43824, 740 545-6349, leah@smallfarminstitute.org or Matt Kleinhenz Ohio State University Extension Vegetable Specialist at 330 263-3810, kleinhenz.1@osu.edu

 

 

EPA CANCELS CARBOFURAN from PEP-Talk and Jim Jasinski

EPA has cancelled all uses of carbofuran (Furadan), a systemic, broad-spectrum carbamate insecticide. Crop uses included wheat, alfalfa, grapes, oats, potatoes, ornamentals, sweet corn, field, popcorn, soybeans and sugar beets. There will be a four-year phase out for curcurbits and sunflowers. The pesticide was originally registered in 1969 and is restricted-use. A fact sheet about carbofuran is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/carbofuran_ired_fs.htm

 

 

Human Resource Managers' Forum Will Feature Job Description and At-Will Employment Guidance
Mid American Ag and Hort Services (MAAHS) is pleased to announce the fifth Ohio Ag and Hort Human Resource Managers' Forum for fostering professional development and advancing effective human resource practices for human resource managers in agricultural and horticultural businesses. The Forum will be held Wednesday, November 8 at the Franklin County Farm Bureau office in Hilliard, Ohio from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The featured topic at the Forum will be "The Value and Common Sense of Job Descriptions," presented by Bernie Erven of Erven HR Services LLC. Erven has 35 years of experience in teaching, extension and research focusing on employee management and family business relations.
In the afternoon, Cheryl Basinger with Competitive Edge HR will present "Employment-At-Will Issues." Basinger has a 25-year track record of success in diverse assignments in human resources, sales and marketing.
The program will include opportunities for open discussion and networking for those with human resource responsibilities in ag and hort businesses.
The registration fee of $50 for MAAHS members and $70 for non-MAAHS members includes lunch and materials. Participation in the Forum is limited to the first 40 registrants and reservations are requested by November 1. Contact MAAHS at 614-246-8286, maahs@ofbf.org or visit www.midamservices.org for more information.

John Wargowsky

Grafting for Vegetable Crops and Survey by Alba A. Clivati McIntyre
We are experimenting with the use of grafted plants to improve fruit yield and quality for sustainable and organic horticulture production systems. Grafting in horticultural plants is increasing as a means to improve plant growth, control disease, impart tolerance to temperature and salt stress, and increase nutrient uptake.  The practice is increasingly common in Asian vegetable production systems. As you are aware, grafting vegetables in the US is largely restricted to high input hydroponic production. Information related to production of grafted vegetables and behavior of rootstocks under field conditions is very limited. I have created a website http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/graftingtomato to help us spread the concept of vegetable grafting. In this website, there is a short survey where we hope growers will give us input on research directions relative to grafting for vegetable production. Alba A. Clivati McIntyre, Hort. & Crop Sci. Dep. OARDC-OSU, e-mail: clivati-mcintyre.1@osu.edu