On-Farm Trials: Three years of grower’s feedback

Reflecting on the 2022 Mesotunnel Research Trials in NY

As we have discussed in previous blogs, cucurbit growers, especially organic growers, can find it difficult to control pest populations. Pest control is important to reduce the risk to insect-transmitted pathogens that cause important cucurbit diseases. The main insect pests being evaluated in our trials were: (i) Cucumber beetles that transmit the bacterium, Erwinia tracheiphila, that causes Bacterial Wilt (BW); and (ii) Squash bugs that transmit the bacterium, Serratia marcescens that causes Cucurbit Yellow Vine Disease (CYVD). We also evaluated the impact of the mesotunnel treatments on powdery and downy mildew, and Alternaria leaf spot (ALS).

How did it stack up in 2022?

Who pollinates cucurbits?

Pollination concerns can be a struggle for producers, because sufficient pollination is crucial for getting a good yield. Most of our cucurbit crops have unisexual flowers, meaning that separate male and female flowers exist on each plant. These crops require pollination to occur to produce fruit. For pollination to occur, pollen must be transported from a male flower to a female flower.

How do I identify cucumber beetles?

With practice and patience, you will be able to easily distinguish spotted and striped cucumber beetles from similar-looking pests. This is critical for recognizing the pest and disease threats that cucumber beetles present to cucurbit crops.

What do squash bugs look like?

Locating and identifying squash bugs, both as adults and in their nymphal and egg forms, is very important to monitoring the health of your cucurbit crop

Reflecting on the 2021 Mesotunnel Trials in NY

2021 was our second year evaluating the mesotunnel system at Cornell AgriTech in New York. Our team expanded the trials this year to examine different factors that could impact cucurbit crop health and ultimately yield. This year we focused on how pollinators (naturally occurring or purchased bumblebees) behave in this system and its effects on yield in muskmelon. We also evaluated how different weed suppression methods impacted insect populations and disease pressure in muskmelon and acorn squash.

Details Matter: Using Row Covers for Pest Management in Cucurbits

How successful you are often depends on not only what you are doing, but how well you are doing that practice. The same is true with using row cover netting to manage insect pests of cucurbits and the pathogens they transmit. While the goal is to use the netting as a barrier to exclude the pests, success can be hidden in the details. With this article, we would like to discuss some of those details we consider keys to using row covers effectively.

What do Farmers and Researchers Think About Mesotunnels and Biological Controls for Cucurbit Crops? Responses from 2020 surveys

What do farmers and researchers in Iowa, Kentucky, and New York think about using new approaches for organic cucurbit-crop production – specifically, mesotunnel production systems and biological controls? Getting this feedback could help other growers who have some interest in trying out these technologies.

Do’s and don’ts when using mesotunnels in commercial organic acorn squash production

Mesotunnels are a new strategy for producing organic cucurbit crops in the Midwest. These fabric-covered tunnels protect the cucurbit crops from damage caused by pest insects and the diseases they spread.

Reflecting on University of Kentucky’s 2020 mesotunnel experiments

If you’ve been reading the last few blog posts, you will see that Cornell, Iowa State and the University of Kentucky have been collaborating on a project to optimize the efficiency of using a new barrier strategy called “mesotunnels” to help organic growers protect cucurbit crops from pests and diseases. Cucurbit crops can suffer from the severe feeding damage from cucumber beetles, squash bugs and squash vine borer, as well as the diseases that those insects transmit: bacterial wilt and cucurbit yellow vine disease (CYVD).

Looking back at Iowa field trials in 2020

Before we launch into the second field season in our 3-year project¹, let’s look back to the 2020 season and reflect on what we learned. This blog post focuses on the 2020 trials in Iowa; later posts will summarize the 2020 field trials in Kentucky and New York...

What are growers saying about mesotunnel systems for organic cucurbits?

Recently, we surveyed some of these cooperators via virtual interviews to learn their experiences and perceptions of mesotunnels for cucurbit crops...

Reflecting on the 2020 Preliminary Results of the Mesotunnel System in NY

We want to find ways to help growers produce the best quality produce and stress less about crop protection. That is why the EVADE lab at Cornell AgriTech was excited to test out the mesotunnel system in 2020 and understand the benefits for organic cucurbit growers in NY.

Crop Diversification as a Risk Management Strategy

Unexpected shifts in weather patterns and unpredictable market prices are risks and opportunities that cucurbit growers face in every growing season...

A look at 2020 muskmelon trial results from Iowa State University (ISU)

Organic growers of muskmelon and other cucurbit crops in the US lose millions of dollars every year due to bacterial wilt...

Optimizing weed control under mesotunnel systems: Iowa State’s 2020 experience with acorn squash

Weed control under mesotunnels is challenging, especially in organic systems because the use of synthetic chemical herbicides is not allowed...

Balancing pollination and pest control in mesotunnel cucurbit systems

The idea is simple. Cover your crops with a fine-mesh netting that limits pests and you will reduce insect damage to your crops...

How do we assess the economic efficiency of mesotunnels? An economist’s take

When hearing about a new agricultural technology, you may wonder whether it makes economic sense and whether it could fit into your farming operation...

Planning for success: IPM approaches in organic cucurbit production

Mesotunnels: Next Best Tool for Organic Cucurbit Growers in the Northeastern US?

Let’s talk about crop protection!