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Top Horticulture Stories
For tree farms, less is more when it comes to pesticides
Some commercial tree farm managers who are used to applying large volumes of pesticides to control insects and diseases on their operations are trying a new management system using half the amount.
Horticulturalists with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture are part of an effort led by The Ohio State University (OSU) to teach nursery and farm managers how to cover more plants with less pesticide, thereby saving money and becoming more environmentally aware.
At a recent field day at the Green Ridge Tree Farm in Elizabethtown Amy Fulcher, UK nursery crops extension associate, gathered a group of Kentucky nursery owners and managers together to learn about the Half-Rate Pesticide approach. The Half-Rate Pesticide Program started at OSU about seven years ago, and OSU educators have traveled around the country ever since showing people how less spraying can work for them.
Participants listened to Heping Zhu, an agricultural engineer from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Randy Zondag, OSU extension educator, talk about calibrating sprayers to more efficiently apply pesticides. Zondag said many times growers have never calibrated their sprayer, and that leads to uneven coverage of the tree or crop. It may, unfortunately, also lead growers to believe need to spray more.
"But the issue is not how much can...
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UK All Commodity Field Day returns to Princeton in July
It's time for the biennial showcase in Princeton of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture's latest research and extension work - work that is not only conducted on its western Kentucky research station, but throughout the entire college. This...
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UK College of Agriculture names new horticulture department chair
Long-standing faculty member and researcher Bob Houtz recently assumed leadership duties as chair of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture's Department of Horticulture.
Since coming to UK in 1985, Houtz established and continues to lead a nationally and internationally distinguished research program in biochemistry and physiology of photosynthesis. He has served in multiple leadership roles...
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Sunny Acres Farm hosts soggy Funfest for rural and urban guests
More than 200 people braved soggy, muddy conditions to learn about agriculture at Sunny Acres Farm in Louisville. The biennial "Crossroads: Farm-City Funfest" went on despite torrential downpours at times. The weather didn't distract volunteers and vendors from their purpose, however - to show rural and urban folks alike what's happening...
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Festival to spotlight Kentucky vineyards and wineries
Celebrating its fifth year, the Kentucky Wine and Vine Fest will offer many opportunities for visitors to experience the state's growing grape and wine culture May 15 and 16. In 2005, the inaugural festival came on the heels of a grape revival in Kentucky, once known for its quality grape and wine production. Since then, the industry and the festival itself have grown by leaps and bounds....
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Community Supported Agriculture model evolving, growing
Community Supported Agriculture is blooming in Kentucky. With its mix of farms and metropolitan areas, Kentucky has a near-perfect environment for the local foods system of production and distribution, said Mark Keating, a lecturer in sustainable agriculture in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.
Community Supported Agriculture is a...
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Proper management early on can lower disease risks in gardens
Each growing season, many different diseases threaten Kentucky vegetables. However, by practicing good management techniques before and during planting, home vegetable growers can minimize disease risks, said Kenny Seebold, plant pathologist with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.
Diseases usually are caused by fungi, bacteria or viruses. While they can appear anytime during the growing season, many favor wet, cramped conditions for development.
"The longer the leaves stay wet and the more plants that are jammed together in one...
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Turf workshop provides support, tips to survive current economy
Sports are big business in Kentucky. Each year, hundreds of sports turf managers prepare countless ball fields for everything from Little League through college sports events. It takes many skilled people to get those fields ready for safe competition. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension agents in Campbell, Boone and Kenton counties recently...
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Kentucky Farms are Fun -- especially in tough economic times
More and more, Kentucky farmers are inviting their neighbors, school groups and the general public to come have fun on their farms.
In the past several years, agritourism or "agritainment" has really taken off in the Bluegrass state as former tobacco farmers try to diversify and hobby farmers look for niches to supplement family-supporting income. Even amidst...
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UK cell wall research success could impact biomass efficiency
When Seth DeBolt and his research colleagues in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture's horticulture department began researching a common weed, they hoped the results would have the potential to positively affect the efficiency of non-food crops for biofuel. After nearly a year of tedious processes with miniscule seeds, DeBolt and crew were more than encouraged as the results...
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