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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Potato and Potato Beetle (Was: blister bugs?)

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  • From: "William H Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT illinois.edu>
  • To: <farmersue AT myfairpoint.net>, "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Potato and Potato Beetle (Was: blister bugs?)
  • Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 08:31:02 -0500

We’re having heavy rain this morning. I’m speculating, but when I see these cyclonic systems span the distance from the Gulf of Mexico to the prairie provinces of Canada, move slowly across the country with spiral bands that generate storms of this intensity repeatedly, I have to think this may be an element of climate change. Change is normal, and hopefully this is a brief cycle, but it sure is intense. Same thing was happening during winter and we had heavy snow to show for it. As market farmers, this group is more exposed than most to these changes. It may change the way we do things over time.

 

We worked hard yesterday as the ground began to dry. We spent some time in the vineyard at first, tying up shoots and shoot thinning. We also had to keep mowing just to stay on top of it. But then by mid-morning we were able to work open ground and plant our second sweet corn planting. After lunch we could lay plastic mulch and drip irrigation, and get in our first plantings of tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos and eggplant. I was sore last night but it was happy sore. Glad it was in before the rain. I’ll bet we’re going on an inch now since 7:00 am.

 

William H. Shoemaker

Sr. Research Specialist, Food Crops

University of Illinois - Crop Sciences

St Charles Horticulture Research Center

535 Randall Road, St Charles, IL, 60174

630-584-7254, FAX-584-4610

wshoemak AT illinois.edu

 

 

Things could be a whole lot worse, though, these farmers that are being hit by tornadoes, and bad flooding from the Mississippi River, just can’t imagine how they are doing.

I hope everyone that is having horrible weather problems is doing ok.

Sue

Vermont

 




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