Rideout: Preventing tomato issues - The Gleaner

ersa.indah.link

Andy Rideout, Special to The Gleaner Published 7:00 p.m. CT July 31, 2020

CLOSE

Blossom end rot on a tomato.

 (Photo: Marisa Y. Thompson)

With the warm summer season upon us you are hopefully finding your vegetable plants in good health and in full production. It does seem this year however, that the prized tomato has been having a few growing problems. Foliar diseases have been fairly rampant but as harvest begins to peak, grower’s attention will likely be more focused on the fruit. Although various diseases affect tomato fruits, noninfectious disorders are common.

By far the number one question concerns blossom end rot. Blossom end rot is not caused by bacteria or fungus but is a result of a calcium deficiency. Symptoms first appear as dark brown or water-soaked spots at the blossom-end of the fruit. As these spots enlarge; they become sunken and often dry rot. Applications of lime or calcium fertilizers before planting can help reduce this problem. A soil test, testing for pH and calcium, would tell you exactly how much lime or calcium to apply. Certain tomato varieties are tolerant of a calcium deficiency and may make a better choice if your garden is prone to this disorder. Other conditions that could increase incidence levels include excessive soil salts, especially in container gardens, root damage, and uneven watering. Keeping adequate moisture will help more than anything.

Catfacing causes misshapen fruit with scars often near the blossom end. It results from high nitrogen levels or during cold weather breaks earlier in the season. Cracking can appear as radial or concentric cracks in the fruit. Cracking occurs most often during extreme environmental changes such as periods of dry weather followed by wet weather or hot day temperatures dropping to low night temperatures. Proper plant nutrition and irrigation will help to avoid both of these environmental disorders.

Although not a disease, cloudy spot or ghost spot is caused by a pest. Feeding damage by the stink bug causes yellowish irregular spots to occur just below the tomato peel. Close inspection of the damaged area may reveal a small hole caused by the stink bug’s piercing mouthpart. Control requires a garden insecticide where excessive damage occurs. Tomatoes are still edible if you cut away the damaged tissue.

During hot, sunny weather, sunscald may occur on the exposed sides of mature green fruit. A white discoloration will develop and damaged tissue will become sunken with a black mold frequently occurring. This disorder is more common on plants that have lost branches due to breakage or disease. Reducing damage to branches that provide shade to the fruit will eliminate this problem.

Herbicides used to control weeds in lawns can wreck havoc on tomato plants. Systemic herbicides can be translocated through the plant resulting in stunted growth, yellow foliage, or twisted stems and leaf cupping. Contact herbicides may cause yellowish or dead spots wherever they are sprayed. Fruits may become excessively enlarged or irregular shaped. Catfacing or fruit nippling may occur on the blossom end of some tomatoes. Following the label on herbicides is your best way to avoid these conditions. Herbicide damage occurs most often during high temperatures or on windy days since certain chemicals may drift during these conditions. Plants exposed to light herbicide contact may outgrow the symptoms; however plants do not recover from severe herbicide damage.

Even though many disease and insect issues can affect your tomatoes, generally, most plants will produce edible fruit without applying pest control products. Following best practices will also be your best preventative measure you can take!

If you have questions about your tomatoes, give us a call at the Henderson County Extension Office; we are happy to help!

Read or Share this story: https://ift.tt/30hBPnb

The Link Lonk


August 01, 2020 at 07:00AM
https://ift.tt/30hBPnb

Rideout: Preventing tomato issues - The Gleaner

https://ift.tt/2VAxJ6V
Tomato

[Listen] Gordy Market Recap Tough Week For Corn - kdhlradio.com

ersa.indah.link

This last week we finally got what the corn market was waiting for, China buying a huge amount of corn. However, it did not make any difference, or maybe it just kept the market from moving lower? Traders just assume that with crop ratings for corn going up 3 percent in the good to excellent category the crop is getting bigger. Beans held better this week and China bought a lot of beans too. So, all the market advisory services are recommending farmers sell corn and beans before prices go much lower.

My question is, if corn and beans are going much lower why is China buying so much grain? Many analysts have said "don't pay any attention to what China says, pay attention to what they are doing." Why would China be buying all that grain if prices were "going to zero?"

GORDY RECAP 7-31

We see this year after year during this time in the growing season. Traders continue to hype about how good the corn and bean crops are. Yield estimates just keep going higher. Then we get into harvest and find the yields do not match all the lofty projections. We find out we have a very good crop, but maybe not an all time record? Click on the link and listen to Gordy's comments.

gallery gallerytitle="Can You Identify These Rice County Places From Above?" galleryid="684:197298"]

The Link Lonk


August 01, 2020 at 02:15AM
https://ift.tt/30eEldS

[Listen] Gordy Market Recap Tough Week For Corn - kdhlradio.com

https://ift.tt/3gguREe
Corn

Here are tools wine grape growers need to legally protect their interests - North Bay Business Journal

ersa.indah.link

A lot goes into the making of great wine, and when a winery becomes financially unstable, there are multiple competing interests that need to be satisfied, including the banks that provide the winery with financing, the growers that provide the winery with grapes, the employees who provide services to the wine maker and the company that bottles and/or stores the wine.

Although a grower may be in a better position to ensure payment than other parties, it must take steps to protect their interests.

What’s a grower’s lien?

Under California law, every producer of farm products, including grapes, who sells “product” to a licensed processor automatically has a lien on all of the product sold and all processed items made from the product until the grower is paid in full for its product.

The grower’s lien is “perfected” (valid against third parties) automatically upon delivery of the grapes to the processor (winery), without the need for filing or recording any document or providing any notice to third parties.

Furthermore, a grower’s lien extends to all product and processed items in the possession of the processor, which includes wine that is stored in a warehouse by the winery, and no segregation of a particular grower’s product is required.

Therefore, unless the winery segregates the grapes received from different growers (for example, using only one grower’s grapes in the winery’s cabernet sauvignon), the grower’s lien extends to all the wine in the winery’s “possession” that contains any of that grower’s grapes.

How to fully secure your lien

However, simply because a grower’s lien extends to all the winery’s finished product containing the grower’s grapes does not necessarily mean the grower is “fully secured.” If the total amount of multiple grower’s liens exceeds the total value of the finished product, the growers will share in the collateral pro rata, regardless of when the grapes were delivered.

Importantly, once the grapes or wine leave the winery’s possession, the grower’s lien is extinguished, and it is currently unclear whether the grower would have a continuing lien in the proceeds from the sale of the finished wine. Although a winery that sells farm products, including wine, without paying the grower that provided the grapes is subject to criminal liability and may face suspension or revocation of its producer’s license, this may not be sufficient to stop the sale or transfer of the wine.

A grower’s lien generally has priority over all other liens or claims, except labor claims for services rendered to the winery after delivery of the grapes and warehouse liens for any warehouse that may be storing the winery’s wine. Although the producer’s lien is considered a preferred lien in California, if a grower goes unpaid for its grapes and seeks to enforce its lien, generally the grower’s only option is to initiate a lawsuit to reclaim the grapes, juice or wine from the winery.

Once a lawsuit is initiated, such lien shall remain in effect until the final determination of such proceeding. A grower also can seek a preliminary injunction and/or temporary restraining order to prevent the winery from selling or otherwise transferring the grapes or wine. And once their claim is reduced to a judgment, the grower can execute on the judgment by levying on the grapes and or wine (i.e., having the sheriff seize the wine and sell it to pay off the grower).

Because a grower’s lien arises automatically upon delivering the grapes to the winery, it is considered a “secret lien” – as it is not publicly recorded, so other creditors may be unaware of its existence, including other growers. As a result, a secured lender may be able to foreclose on all the winery’s collateral without notifying the growers who provided the grapes.

Therefore, growers dealing with a slow paying winery would be wise to have the winery affirmatively grant the grower a security interest in the wine in a written agreement, and also file a UCC-1 financing statement to provide notice to third-parties of their lien.

The Link Lonk


August 01, 2020 at 03:58AM
https://ift.tt/3jTHjwd

Here are tools wine grape growers need to legally protect their interests - North Bay Business Journal

https://ift.tt/3eO3jWb
Grape

Fruit World's organic Thomcord grapes arriving in early August - TheProduceNews.com

ersa.indah.link

July 31, 2020

Fruit World Co., a family-owned, flavor-focused grower-shipper of organic and conventional fruit and one of the largest California growers of organic Thomcord grapes, expects to begin shipping this popular variety the first week of August in new high-graphic two-pound recyclable paper totes. Known for being especially aromatic and flavorful, Thomcord grapes are a hybrid of Concord and Thompson Seedless grapes.

"We’re about a week away from harvesting our Thomcords and the crop is looking great," said CJ Buxman, co-founder of Fruit World. "We expect consumers who eagerly await the arrival of these unique and delicious grapes each year are going to be thrilled with them when grocers start stocking their shelves. Demand is always high for this variety, and we anticipate that trend to continue this year."

Fruit World is forecasting strong Thomcord grape volumes with promotable numbers available in late August. The supply is expected to last until mid-October.

This season’s crop will be available in 10 x two-pound recyclable and compostable paper totes, with new, bold and colorful graphics. In previous years, this paper tote packaging was popular among consumers for its portability and sustainability, and the new high-graphic bag is anticipated to stand out at retail. The company will be shipping 20 x one-pound clamshells as well, to meet current consumer demand for packaged premium products.

The company will continue a consumer engagement program first used in 2018 and then again last year that encourages consumers to text Fruit World about their Thomcord grape eating experience. Dubbed "Thomcord Tales," the campaign involves "Text-me" cards being added to packages, and has proven to be a fun and easy way for consumers to provide feedback.

"We try to reply to every Thomcord Tales text we get from consumers, and they seem to enjoy the interaction as much as we do," said Bianca Kaprielian, Fruit World co-founder. "Consumers’ love for Thomcords really comes across in their messages, and retailers have shared that this personal touch drives significant repeat sales."

In addition to Thomcord grapes, Fruit World will be shipping 10 other organic grape varieties to retailers and wholesalers, including a limited supply from the heritage vines of grower partner Pete Wolf, one of California’s first organic growers and a recognized grape expert. Fruit World is accepting orders now for its high-demand specialty grape varieties.

The Link Lonk


August 01, 2020 at 12:10AM
https://ift.tt/2XdWmao

Fruit World's organic Thomcord grapes arriving in early August - TheProduceNews.com

https://ift.tt/3eO3jWb
Grape

Grape Creek Eagles aiming for playoff spot in 2020 - Standard-Times

ersa.indah.link

CLOSE

A countdown of top players to watch in West Texas in the upcoming football season. San Angelo Standard-Times

The Grape Creek Eagles are aiming for a playoff spot in the 2020 football season with a strong senior group. 

The Eagles will start their season on Aug. 28 in Stanton with head coach Tanner Thiel, who has a 4-16 record in two seaons at Grape Creek.

The 2-3A Division II team has six returning starters on defense and seven on offense, with 14 returning lettermen.

Buy Photo

Grape Creek's Jorge Rodriguez (in white) brings down the ball carrier in a football game in 2018.

 (Photo: Standard-Times File)

Last year, the team went 1-9 overall and 0-6 in district. The Eagles have never had a district title and its last playoff appearance was in 2017.

Thiel said the team's strengths are athleticism, leadership and a strong senior class. However, the weakness of the team is size and numbers. 

Senior Jorge Rodriguez is the team's leading rusher and passer.

"This year, he will be a two-way starter, so he will have to be in really good shape," Thiel said. 

Senior leaders on the offensive line include Adam Farmer and Brandon Proctor. Junior Isaiah Briones was an All-District linebacker in 2019. 

"We have good leadership on the line," Thiel said. "Briones will be another two-way player; he is one of our best defensive players."

Junior Landon Crow and senior Lucky Vargas will be the top receivers for the team. 

Thiel said the sophomore group coming up will make a big impact on the team, including Cougar Jetton and Colton Walker.

"Our JV had a lot of success last year," the Eagles' third-year head coach said. "We have some guys coming up who will definitely help us." 

Grape Creek is competing in a district with Ballinger, Bangs, Brady, Ingram Moore and Sonora.

"We feel like we can be very competitive with everyone in our district," Thiel said. "Ballinger is well coached and always really good. Bangs has gotten so much better the last few years and Brady and Sonora are always very competitive, also."

Thiel said the only team he doesn't know much about is Ingram Moore, since they have never played the Warriors before.

"We feel like we are a playoff team," he said. "If everything works out the way it should and everyone stays healthy, the we can fight for one of those playoff spots."

Grape Creek hits the road to open the season against Stanton on Aug. 28. The Eagles will start district play at home against Bangs on Oct. 9.

Grape Creek Eagles

District: 2-3A Division II

Head coach: Tanner Thiel (4-16, all at Grape Creek)

Last year’s record: 1-9; 0-6 in district

Last district title/playoff appearance: Never/2017

Enrollment: 310

Stadium: Eagle Stadium

Returning lettermen: 14

Returning off./def. starters: 6/6

Base offense: Single wing

Base defense: Multiple

Team strength: Athleticism, strong senior class, leadership

Team weakness: Numbers

Players to watch

ATH Jorge Rodriguez (6-0, 185), RB/LB Isaiah Briones (6-1, 200), REC/DB Koby Wilhelm (5-8, 150), ATH/DB Landon Crow (5-9, 140), REC/DB Lucky Vargas (5-9, 145), TE/DE James Penland (5-11, 170), RB/DB Levi Wilson (5-8, 145), RB/LB Joel Ruiz (5-9, 180), OL/DL Brandon Proctor (6-2, 240), OL/DL Dante Huerta (5-10, 215), OL/DL Adam Farmer (6-0, 190).

2020 schedule

Date    Opponent

Aug. 28    at Stanton

Sept. 4    Christoval

Sept. 11    at TLCA

Sept. 18    Coleman

Sept. 25    at Early

Oct. 9    Bangs*

Oct. 16    at Ballinger*

Oct. 23    Brady*

Oct. 30    Sonora*

Nov. 6   at Ingram*

*District game

2019 results

Opponent    Score

Maypearl L 0-28

Christoval    L 0-47

Rocksprings    W 40-0

Coleman    L 8-49

Bangs    L 16-46

TLCA    L 6-8

Ballinger    L 6-33

Cisco    L 0-53

Merkel    L 18-34

Anson    L 0-60

The Link Lonk


August 01, 2020 at 12:26AM
https://ift.tt/30eVd42

Grape Creek Eagles aiming for playoff spot in 2020 - Standard-Times

https://ift.tt/3eO3jWb
Grape

Bonnie Blodgett: Focus on the fruit, tomato plant! - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

ersa.indah.link

A sharp-eyed reader scolded me for failing to mention (in a recent column) the importance of pruning to encourage a tomato plant to focus on making tomatoes, not leaves and flowers that will never fruit.

My focus was on how to water tomatoes (hardly an urgent issue this summer). But my critic’s point is well-taken.

How to prune Solanum lycopersicum depends on whether it’s determinate (bush-type), producing its fruits all at once, or indeterminate (vine-type), fruiting indefinitely as the vine grows ever taller.

In our climate, with its relatively short window of growing opportunity, many gardeners prefer the all-at-once shrubs, on the theory that their plants will give them a bumper crop before winter sets in. Leftover tomatoes can always be canned for winter enjoyment.

Vining tomatoes reward those willing to bet on an endless fall. The bigger the tomato, the longer its maturity time. Some big fat heirlooms and beefsteak varieties take 80 days or more to fully ripen.

To get a head start, some aficionados begin their vines under lights and hold off planting outdoors until June.

If you plan ahead in this way, your plants will keep the tomatoes coming from August until October, weather permitting.

In other words, indeterminate BLTs.

(Smaller tomatoes such as the cherry and grape varieties are ideally suited to the vining style because they take half as long as the big boys to mature.)

I grow tomatoes whose labels promise that if all goes well, I’ll be dining on mozzarella and tomatoes garnished with shredded fresh basil and drenched in olive oil in a mere 70 days from start to finish.

Of course, I cheat. My plants come from the garden center, not my basement incubator. And I buy them big, that is, on the verge of (or already) flowering.

Then I plant them deep, so that only the topmost leaves are above ground. This method makes for more robust plants and the kind of abundant leaf growth that feeds the roots that feed the fruits.

Pruning encourages the plant to build tomatoes instead of surplus leaves and flowers with no chance of bearing ripened fruit before the snow flies.

No sense spending precious energy on a lost cause. Off with their heads!

My apologies to those who swear by their practice of harvesting green tomatoes and letting them ripen indoors in the fall. I’ve never found the results worth the effort, fried-green-tomato recipes notwithstanding. For me, there’s no substitute for a fully ripened, fresh-off-the-vine (or bush) tomato.

Which is why I am determined not to let any more varmints (such as my chickens) get to my tomatoes before I do.

Having coughed up the first of this year’s harvest, each of the tomato rings that support my vining plants is now imprisoned head to toe in stainless steel wire mesh.

Suck it up and saw it off

Even if I didn’t grow tomatoes, pruning would be my main task at this time of year. I have learned to suck it up and saw it off — yes, even the languid limbs of the pagoda dogwoods that, as I mentioned last time, self-seed vigorously in my garden.

My practice is to remove the current season’s growth on both dogwoods and viburnums (cranberry bushes). This encourages the plants to fruit heavily instead of growing new leaves and stems.

I like to think the wrens and chickadees are thanking me as they feast on the pretty blue and red berries that are, I admit, way too bitter for my taste.

The crabapple trees get the same treatment, though I’m trying to persuade mine to develop a more “natural” shape. They are in recovery from my having forced them for years to resemble gigantic lollipops.

Andre le Notre I am not. (He designed Louis XIV’s gardens at Versailles.)

I can’t say enough about a pruning tool that enables me to do all this myself, even though my trees are now four times my height.

The Finether long-handled pruner is probably made by a Chinese company. Though the website artfully obscures this fact, the price is a dead giveaway. I bought it at Home Depot for less than a third of what I’d expected to pay. It is adjustable to three different lengths, the thinnest and most distant from the user being, of course, the lightest.

In this way it reminds me of a fishing rod that tapers to a narrow tip capable of bending under the weight of its thrashing prey without snapping.

The pruner doesn’t bend, but it is surprisingly maneuverable. The sharp (bypass) jaws hold and snip stems and branches with authority. The plastic handle not only squeezes them shut but also enables them to swivel, a vast improvement over long-handled pruners whose jaws are operated by ropes.

It comes with a pruning saw for thicker branches.

My hots for hydrangeas

I had intended to write about hydrangeas this week. Oh, well … to summarize, I am continually amazed at how they salvage the otherwise (despite all my pruning and weeding) sad situation in my garden as it struggles through the summer doldrums.

For novices, “summer doldrums” refers to the hot (and usually dry) period in July and August between early bloomers and the glories of fall.

What a blessing are the sprightly panicles of the peegee hydrangeas (H. paniculata). My old-fashioned “Annabelle” (H. arborescens) seems to sense the competition, or maybe it’s all that rain, but instead of toppling over per usual, she is standing tall beside (supported by?) newcomers like H. paniculata “Quickfire,” “Pinky Winky” and “Pink Diamond.”

“Incrediball” was bred to correct “Annabelle’s” terrible posture. I find its blooms (like its name) a bit too robust for my taste, but the stronger stems do prevent drooping under all that weight.

My romance with the “forever” blooming bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla) that flowers on both old and new wood is over. “Let’s Dance Starlight,” a charming lacecap with purplish-pink flowers, remains a love interest, but these hydrangeas just aren’t meant for our climate.

The bloom time is off, with the flowers on last season’s stems too often getting nipped by an early spring freeze and the flowers on new wood coming too late.

Also, the plants seem to struggle with our slightly warmer but still endless and increasingly erratic winters.

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 07:01PM
https://ift.tt/3gsFST2

Bonnie Blodgett: Focus on the fruit, tomato plant! - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

https://ift.tt/2VAxJ6V
Tomato

Really ripe: Know when to pick your peppers, tomatoes - Record Searchlight

ersa.indah.link

Leimone Waite, Master gardeners Published 5:00 a.m. PT July 31, 2020

CLOSE

A selection of ripe tomatoes and peppers from the garden of master gardener and columnist Leimone Waite.

 (Photo: Leimone Waite, master gardener)

Q: I am a first time gardener. I would like to know when my bell peppers and tomatoes are ready to pick.

A: There is nothing better than a tomato ripened on the vine, picked fresh from the garden. When you pick and how often you harvest can make a big difference in the flavor of the vegetable and also how much the plant will produce.

Tomatoes are best picked when they turn the color they should be when ripe, but are still firm. For a red tomato, this would be when they turn from orange to deep red. For a yellow tomato, it's when they turn from light green to yellow.

Tomatoes are best picked when they turn the color they should be when ripe, but are still firm.

 (Photo: Getty Images / iStockphoto)

With hot temperatures, tomatoes will sometimes stay orange and not turn fully red. If you find this is happening with your tomatoes, you can pick them once they turn orange, bring them inside and set them on the counter to finish ripening. This works with other color tomato varieties as well.

Sweet peppers can be picked once the green fruit gets to the mature size described on the label. If left longer on the plant, they will turn red; or if yours is one of the more exotic varieties, it will turn purple, black or orange. Most varieties will become sweeter once they turn from green to red.

Like your cuisine super spicy? Hot peppers get hotter the longer they are left on the plant.

 (Photo: Robert Scheer / The Star)

Hot peppers such as jalapeño can also be harvested green, but many varieties are left and harvested when they turn red or orange. Hot peppers get hotter the longer they are left on the plant.

I like to leave my peppers longer on the plant because I like all the different colors. I'm growing black, orange, red and purple peppers this year. However, I will harvest them as green peppers if we are going to get temperatures above 110 degrees because I have found that the peppers usually get sunburned when it is this hot — even though I have them shaded from the afternoon sun.

More feature stories:

Here are shade-loving plants that do well in North State heat

Stamping out starthistle a prickly problem

Since 1950, all California's 14 shark-related fatalities are white shark incidents

Here are some general rules to keep in mind when harvesting:

• Bigger is not always better. Most vegetables are best harvested before they fully mature and are at their peak flavor and tenderness when they are slightly immature. Examples are summer squash, eggplant, snap beans and peas.
• Pick frequently. Many types of vegetables will produce better if you harvest often. Vegetable crops such as snap beans, eggplant, zucchini and cucumbers will produce more and with better quality if picked regularly.
• Use a knife or garden shear to pick peppers, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, and larger types of tomatoes so that you do not damage the plant while harvesting. If the plant suffers a broken stem or is wounded when you harvest, it allows for disease to enter the plant. Some crops do not require using a garden shear to harvest and can be picked by hand; such as beans, kale and lettuce.
• Pick early in the morning, as vegetables will stay fresher longer when picked during the cooler temperatures and are at their most crisp early in the day.

For more information about when to harvest other types of vegetable crops, visit seed catalog sites such as Burpee or Rene’s Seed, or check out the detailed vegetable harvest chart at Iowa State University Extension at https://bit.ly/3f4PySy.

The Shasta Master Gardeners Program can be reached by phone at 242-2219 or email mastergardener@shastacollege.edu. The gardener office is staffed by volunteers trained by the University of California to answer gardeners' questions using information based on scientific research.

Read or Share this story: https://ift.tt/30g9DRo

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 07:00PM
https://ift.tt/30g9DRo

Really ripe: Know when to pick your peppers, tomatoes - Record Searchlight

https://ift.tt/2VAxJ6V
Tomato

Gardening Tips: Tomato woes | Columnists | hudsonvalley360.com - Hudson Valley 360

ersa.indah.link

Few homegrown vegetable crops are as eagerly anticipated as fresh, ripe tomatoes, and for good reason!

I have never tasted a supermarket, hot house, greenhouse, or any other commercial tomato that even comes close to the flavor of a homegrown, ripe tomato. As a kid growing up in Jersey City, NJ, we bought “hard ripe Jersey tomatoes” from a street vendor, who sold them from his horsedrawn wagon as he chanted the previous refrain over and over. (Yes, I am that old!) Jersey tomatoes helped make the “Garden State” famous for its produce.

Today lots of produce is still grown in southern New Jersey, but most of the spine of the most densely populated state in America, along the New Jersey turnpike, is far too urbanized to allow farming. That is a pity.

Sadly, the best land for agriculture is also the best land for housing and industrial development. Flat land, well-drained soils, proximity to transportation alleys and major areas of commerce have pushed many farms out of business. In Canada, the best agricultural land is protected from such development. Farms must remain farms and development is prohibited without serious tax consequences. This is partly why you see so much produce in your local supermarket being grown in Canada.

With the huge increase in backyard gardening I have observed in this COVID climate, I imagine lots of local people are growing tomatoes for the first time. In general, first time crops in “virgin” soil do quite well under such conditions, but by this time of the growing season, pest problems do begin to appear.

Last week I mentioned “blossom end rot,” or BER, as a common problem that shows up just as those first, eagerly anticipated fruit begin to ripen. As I often mention, it is much easier to prevent pest and other problems than it is to cure or rectify them once they occur. Since BER cannot be cured once it occurs, I will elaborate on the disorder.

Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium in the plant, but most of the time, that is not due to a lack of calcium in the soil. Early in the season tomato plants tend to grow lots of leaves. This is especially true when there is excess nitrogen applied as is often the case with backyard gardens.

Fertilizer is cheap and many think if a pound is good, then 10 pounds is better! This is not true, of course. It is just the opposite. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer sometimes prevents fruit from forming or ripening until very late in the season. I often hear of eight foot tall plants that have no ripe fruit in September even.

Plants sold at garden centers in cell packs or even in individual pots usually have tops that are five times or more larger than the roots. They look nice, and these are the ones that shoppers prefer to buy, but in reality, they are totally out of proportion to what a “normal” transplant should look like. The root system of a normal, healthy, plant is about as big as the top growth, or even bigger. The plants will continue to grow leaves in their container, as long as they are kept well-watered and fertilized, but once they start to flower and set fruit, the roots cannot absorb enough calcium from the soil to allow the fruit to develop normally.

Calcium is not actively or selectively absorbed as is nitrogen, or phosphorus, or potassium. It is passively absorbed in the water that the roots absorb. As the season progresses, the root system expands and is able to absorb enough calcium, but by that time, the developing fruit ends up “donating” some of its calcium to the rest of the plant. That produces the black spot on the bottom of the tomato. Blossom end rot almost always “cures” itself later in the season as root systems expand. Root growth is directly influenced by soil temperature. Cool soil still allows for top growth, but roots grow much slower when the soil is colder.

Research has demonstrated that yields of tomatoes are much higher when small transplants, with only two or three sets of true leaves, are set in the ground and when the soil is 70 degrees or higher.

Human nature tells us we want quick results, so we tend to set out the biggest transplants we can buy, as early as possible. This may result in some earlier harvest, but in the long run, yields will be greatly reduced. Home gardeners who start their own transplants from seed should wait until mid-April to sow tomato seed. It takes about six weeks to grow an optimal-sized tomato transplant, which allows for transplanting in late May to early June when soils have warmed to 70 degrees. Some of us, who garden at higher elevations, do not set out our tomatoes until mid-June.

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 10:44PM
https://ift.tt/30dRzaK

Gardening Tips: Tomato woes | Columnists | hudsonvalley360.com - Hudson Valley 360

https://ift.tt/2VAxJ6V
Tomato

What’d life be without homegrown tomatoes | Sow There! - Chico Enterprise-Record

ersa.indah.link

The time of the great tomato harvest is upon us. This time of year, I often write four columns in a row about red tomatoes, followed in the fall by eight columns about green tomatoes.

I love tomatoes as much as anyone, but as often as I write about them, I seldom eat them.

Tomatoes are best eaten red and warm, one after another, as if you’re on the show “Survivor” trying to eat your fill before someone suggests you share with the group.

When I eat tomatoes, I’m standing in my yard.

Many gardeners know that tomatoes are best when they are not refrigerated. They lose their flavor and texture when cooled, and end up tasting like tomatoes you would loathe buying at the grocery store. Yet, sometimes you get a huge batch of ripe and ready fruit all at once.

The Steamy Kitchen website suggests keeping tomatoes at room temperature if you’re going to gobble them up within a few days. Cooling is OK if you pop the ripest of fruit in the cool storage, and then eat them within four days. When you take them out, let them return to room temperature; Some, but not all, of the flavor, will return.

The modern bad habit of cooling tomatoes is exactly why store-bought tomatoes taste like a communion wafer, and why summer fruit is such a treat.

When I taught third grade I brought tomatoes to the classroom and tried to teach the class John Denver’s version of the “tomato song,” The children laughed at me, and did not sing because their mouths were full. This did not stop me from dancing and singing by myself.

Too much of a great thing

I don’t mean to be ungrateful, but I have plenty of tomatoes, thank you very much.

Recently I visited Mandy and Larry in Red Bluff for a backyard barbecue. Another gracious host was Eloise, age 6, who must have soon sensed that I love all things garden. Eloise gave me an extended tour of the yard, the birdhouses, the cement alligator, the spider shack, her grandfather’s music studio, the place where the dog leaves droppings … She was queen of her domain and clearly enjoying sharing every fact she knew.

Due to the pandemic, the gathering was outside, which meant the tour could have been completed within minutes. That’s why we toured the yard three times.

You can learn a lot about your friends when their loquacious 6-year-old granddaughter has an audience and wants to extend the conversation.

The family lost their home in the Camp Fire, and bought a “new home,” whose hearthstone was set in 1898. Each time I visit, there’s a new home improvement project underway.

Mandy and Larry are so madly in love that it could make you sick if their happiness was not contagious. It seems like everyone within their circle is kind and thoughtful to each other. I’ll need to visit more often so I get in the habit of sharing love and joy with all those I encounter.

Before the visit, I had worked most of the day organizing my new classroom in Tehama County. With all that busy, busy work, I had forgotten to eat. I set down my purse and demanded food before Mandy could finish setting out the appetizers.

Perhaps the family concluded I was incapable of feeding myself. When I left, they tried to send me on my way with potato salad and fruit from their backyard trees.

Their tomatoes were stacked in a mound, in various sizes and colors. I could take as many as I wanted, they urged, grabbing large containers.

Ummm. No thanks.

Someday I may invest in one of those portable freezers, where other people’s summer fruit can be stored. But for now, my freezer has met with maximum capacity.

Storage tips

Tomatoes, by the way, can be frozen whole, which takes almost zero prep.

Some folks like to dip them in boiling water and yank the skin away. I don’t bother. In winter, when you’re trying to find room for frozen pizza and leftover turkey, you’ll find the frozen tomatoes shoved in the back covered with a haze of frost. Plop them in a skillet with zucchini and lots of garlic and you have a mighty fine stovetop stew.

Garden enthusiast Heather Hacking loves when you share what’s growing on. Reach out at sowtheregardencolumn@gmail.com, and snail mail, P.O. Box 5166, Chico CA 95927.

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 05:30PM
https://ift.tt/2EE0SII

What’d life be without homegrown tomatoes | Sow There! - Chico Enterprise-Record

https://ift.tt/2VAxJ6V
Tomato

Grape Seeds Show How A Pandemic And Climate Change Contributed To Past Economic Crisis - Forbes

ersa.indah.link

A researcher studying sedimentary layers preserved in a garbage pit of the ancient city of Elusa in ... [+] modern Israel.

FURKS et al. 2020

The coronavirus pandemic and anthropogenic climate change are two pressing socio-economic issues of our times. Societies of the past had to deal with similar problems, and not always successful.

A research team from Israel discovered evidence suggesting that a combination of diseases and climate change, triggered by a volcanic eruption, contributed to a system-wide economic crisis in the Mediterranean region around 540 BC.

The researchers excavated and studied the remains of three settlements in the modern Negev Desert. The city of Elusa was the cultural center of the region, as the discovery of ruins of great temples, public baths and theaters shows. A complex irrigation system contributed to the wealth of the city, making it possible to grow wine in the desert. Contemporary sources praise the quality of the wine exported from the harbor of Gaza into the entire Mediterranean region.

Counting grape-seeds preserved in the sediments deposited on the bottom of former garbage pits and comparing them to the remains of grain found in the same layers, the researchers were able to reconstruct the city's economic evolution between the 4th to the 6th century. A surplus of grape-seeds suggests wine production for export was the most important economic factor at the time. A surplus of crop remains suggests that vineyards were transformed into grain fields to feed the local population.

Recommended For You

The research shows a continuous growth of wine export until the middle of the 6th century, followed by sudden collapse and abandonment of the settlements.

The 6th century was a time of general crisis in the Mediterranean region. The Justinian plague struck the Byzantine Empire between 541 and 750 CE and is estimated to have killed between 30 and 50 million people. Especially cold years around 541 CE caused widespread crop failures, resulting in widespread migrations of peoples within or into Europe fleeing famine, diseases and war.

Geologists believe that two powerful volcanic eruptions, the largest in the last 2,000 years, are to blame for the cold snaps. If an eruption is powerful enough to send volcanic ash and gases high into Earth's atmosphere, the resulting haze can shield the surface from the sunlight, causing a worldwide drop in temperatures. It remains uncertain to this day which volcanoes erupted in 536 and 540/541 CE. Some geologists argued that the volcano was located in Iceland, others argue that the volcanic eruption happened somewhere along the equator, based on traces of sulfur preserved in ice-layers recovered from the ice shield of Greenland and Antarctica. Possible candidates include the Tavurvur in Papa-Neuguinea, the Ilopango in El Salvador, the Krakatau in Indonesia and other volcanoes from Java to Sumatra.

The Israeli research team thinks that two factors were involved in the demise of the city of Elusa. As the climate cooled down in 541, less rain fell in the Negev region, making it impossible to grow wine of good quality any longer. More important was the political crisis experienced in the countries of the northern Mediterranean region. The reduced demand of imported wine resulted in an economic crisis in the Negev, leading finally to the abandonment of the settlements.

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 05:08PM
https://ift.tt/2PeaUCu

Grape Seeds Show How A Pandemic And Climate Change Contributed To Past Economic Crisis - Forbes

https://ift.tt/3eO3jWb
Grape

Finger Lakes grape growers say 2020 harvest could be one to remember - whcuradio.com

ersa.indah.link

ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – Finger Lakes grape growers say this fall’s harvest could be one to remember for years to come.

Alex Jankowski and the team at Wagner Vineyards in Lodi are keeping fingers crossed, thus far weather conditions have been ideal.

“Around these parts people talk about 2016 as the last great grape growing season in terms of consistent sunlight and we’re projecting pretty close to 2016 so a couple years down the road you might be looking at bottles of 2020 Wagner wines and they’re going to taste delicious because of this growing season,” said Alex Jankowski of Wagner Vineyards.

Jankowski says long days of prolonged sunlight are ideal for viticulture.

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 05:14PM
https://ift.tt/3i0FcFb

Finger Lakes grape growers say 2020 harvest could be one to remember - whcuradio.com

https://ift.tt/3eO3jWb
Grape

Ag News: California Grape Market Good - newstalkkit.com

ersa.indah.link

**California grape marketers will benefit from strong retail sales through the balance of the year and should weather the COVID-19 in good shape.

Rabobank’s senior fresh produce analyst, David Magaña tells thepacker.com about 65% of California’s table grapes are marketed in the U.S, and they expect strong retail sales will boost prospects in the months ahead.

Foodservice sales typically represent about 20% of grape volume.

https://www.thepacker.com/article/report-grapes-will-weather-covid-19-storm?mkt/

**As part of its commitment to ensure fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, the USDA released a report on its Boxed Beef and Fed Cattle Price Spread Investigation.

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says the closure of the Tyson beef packing plant in Kansas AND the pandemic clearly disrupted the markets and processing systems.

He wants to assure producers that work continues to determine if there are any violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act.

**A coalition of 15 states, and Washington, DC, announced their intention to push the adoption of electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks.

According to modernfarmer.com, agriculture is the single largest sector user of freight shipping, which means an awful lot of trucks would be impacted if this new, or beginnings of a plan, is enacted.

The coalition came together following an announcement from California about a month ago, laying out plans to require increasing percentages of electric vehicles.

https://modernfarmer.com/2020/07/15-states-move-to-require-trucks-and-other-heavy-vehicles-to-be-electric/

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 08:36PM
https://ift.tt/39IL4ji

Ag News: California Grape Market Good - newstalkkit.com

https://ift.tt/3eO3jWb
Grape

Global Tomato Juice Market 2020 Analysis, Types, Applications, Forecast and COVID-19 Impact Analysis 2026 - Counter Current

ersa.indah.link

The latest addition to the MarketsandResearch.biz entitled Global Tomato Juice Market 2020 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2026 explores the essential factors of the global market such as industry situations, market demands, market players, and their growth scenario. The report serves market analysis that comprises present and traditional growth analysis, competitive analysis, as well as the growth prospects of the central regions. The report offers a thorough evaluation of the driving forces of the global Tomato Juice market. The report is monitored based on separation by type, application, key players, and end-user.

Enumerating Some of The Most Important Pointers Addressed In The Report:

The report sheds light on core business values, market trends, revenue growth patterns market shares, and demand and supply, production, key regions, revenue rate, and key players. After reading this report, the key stakeholders can know about the major trends, drivers, investments, vertical player’s initiatives toward the segment in the upcoming years along with details of the companies entering the global Tomato Juice market. The report demonstrates product launches, promotional activities, and brand tendencies, as well as ventures, acquisitions, and mergers and consolidation.

DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE REPORT: https://www.marketsandresearch.biz/sample-request/57650

NOTE: Our report highlights the major issues and hazards that companies might come across due to the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19.

Market Competition By Top Manufacturers:

The competitors are segmented into the size of their individual enterprise, buyers, products, raw material usage, and consumer base. The raw material chain and the supply chain are described to make the user aware of the prevailing costs in the market. The market research report classifies the competitive spectrum of this global Tomato Juice industry in a comprehensive manner. These details help the companies to garner market revenue by understanding strategies and approaches.

According to the document, the competitive spectrum of the market comprises of companies including: Beijing Huiyuan Beverage Food Group, Shaanxi Jintai Biological Engineering Co., Ltd., Hunan NutraMax Inc., Rita Food & Drink Co., Ltd., TISOK LLC, KIZIKLI GIDA SANAYI VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETIÊÊ, NAM VIET PHAT FOOD CO.,LTDÊÊ, Foshan Shuokeli Food Co., Ltd.ÊÊ, Nam Viet Foods & Beverage Co., LTD, TEREV FOODS LLC, Uni-President Enterprises Corporation,

Segment by product type, this report focuses on consumption, market share, and growth rate of the market in each product type and can be divided into: Pure, Mixed

Segment by application, this report focuses on consumption, market share, and growth rate of the market in each application and can be divided into: Retail, Catering

Further, each regional market is comprehensively studied with a key focus on import and export, leading players, production value growth rate, and production growth rate: North America (United States, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.), Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)

ACCESS FULL REPORT: https://www.marketsandresearch.biz/report/57650/global-tomato-juice-market-2020-by-manufacturers-regions-type-and-application-forecast-to-2026

This Study Will Address Following Critical Questions:

• What is the market size of the global Tomato Juice market at the global level?
• Who are the major players operating in the global market?
• Which is the leading region/country for the growth of the market?
• How are the emerging markets expected to perform in the coming years?
• How is the consumption pattern expected to evolve in the future?

Customization of the Report:

This report can be customized to meet the client’s requirements. Please connect with our sales team (sales@marketsandresearch.biz), who will ensure that you get a report that suits your needs. You can also get in touch with our executives on +1-201-465-4211 to share your research requirements.

About Us

Marketsandresearch.biz is a leading global Market Research agency providing expert research solutions, trusted by the best. We understand the importance of knowing what global consumers watch and buy, further using the same to document our distinguished research reports. Marketsandresearch.biz has worldwide presence to facilitate real market intelligence using latest methodology, best-in-class research techniques and cost-effective measures for world’s leading research professionals and agencies. We study consumers in more than 100 countries to give you the most complete view of trends and habits worldwide. Marketsandresearch.biz is a leading provider of Full-Service Research, Global Project Management, Market Research Operations and Online Panel Services.

Contact Us
Mark Stone
Head of Business Development
Phone: +1-201-465-4211
Email: sales@marketsandresearch.biz
Web: www.marketsandresearch.biz

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 02:47PM
https://ift.tt/3hWsV4C

Global Tomato Juice Market 2020 Analysis, Types, Applications, Forecast and COVID-19 Impact Analysis 2026 - Counter Current

https://ift.tt/2VAxJ6V
Tomato

California Grape Market Good and 15 States Push for Electric Trucks - AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST - AGInfo Ag Information Network Of The West

ersa.indah.link

Bob Larson

From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.

**California grape marketers will benefit from strong retail sales through the balance of the year and should weather the COVID-19 in good shape.

Rabobank’s senior fresh produce analyst, David Magaña tells thepacker.com about 65% of California’s table grapes are marketed in the U.S, and they expect strong retail sales will boost prospects in the months ahead.

Foodservice sales typically represent about 20% of grape volume.

https://ift.tt/3hWdyJs

**As part of its commitment to ensure fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, the USDA released a report on its Boxed Beef and Fed Cattle Price Spread Investigation.

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says the closure of the Tyson beef packing plant in Kansas AND the pandemic clearly disrupted the markets and processing systems.

He wants to assure producers that work continues to determine if there are any violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act.

**A coalition of 15 states, and Washington, DC, announced their intention to push the adoption of electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks.

According to modernfarmer.com, agriculture is the single largest sector user of freight shipping, which means an awful lot of trucks would be impacted if this new, or beginnings of a plan, is enacted.

The coalition came together following an announcement from California about a month ago, laying out plans to require increasing percentages of electric vehicles.

https://ift.tt/2X91CvZ

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 02:08PM
https://ift.tt/3gl0LzG

California Grape Market Good and 15 States Push for Electric Trucks - AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST - AGInfo Ag Information Network Of The West

https://ift.tt/3eO3jWb
Grape

U.S. sells record amount of corn to China as tensions rise - Agweb Powered by Farm Journal

ersa.indah.link
[unable to retrieve full-text content]

1. U.S. sells record amount of corn to China as tensions rise  Agweb Powered by Farm Journal
2. China is buying more corn. That's good news for American farmers.  Business Insider
3. GRAINS-Corn edges up after four days of losses, soybeans soften  Successful Farming
4. China Accelerates U.S. Corn Buying With Record Purchase  Yahoo Finance
5. Corn ends nearly flat as crop prospects offset big sales to China  Marketscreener.com
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 03:09AM
https://ift.tt/3jYww3S

U.S. sells record amount of corn to China as tensions rise - Agweb Powered by Farm Journal

https://ift.tt/3gguREe
Corn

5 easy ways to cook sweet corn perfectly every time - MSN Money

ersa.indah.link
© Provided by TODAY

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, corn is the No. 1 crop grown in the U.S.

However most of that corn, which is also known as field corn, is not eaten by people — it's turned into feed for cattle, pigs and other farm animals, as well as transformed into ethanol and used in manufactured goods.

The corn that humans eat off the cob is known to farmers as sweet corn and, unlike its heartier counterpart, it actually tastes sweet.

Sweet corn is harvested at its peak when the tassels turn brown, the husks are healthy and green and the kernels are plump and sweet. Field corn is much taller and has fuller leaves than sweet corn. It is harvested later in the year than sweet corn, when the husks dry out and turn brown, the tassels turn dark brown and the kernels dry out.

In most parts of the country, cooking sweet corn is synonymous with summer. And whichever sweet corn recipe folks prefer — from a sweet creamed corn to accompany barbecued meats or a hearty, sweet corn soup — there are plenty of ways to prep this popular veggie for the plate.

How to microwave sweet corn

Microwaving sweet corn is a quick, easy and mess-free method. First, remove any dry outer leaves from the husk. Place up to four ears of corn in the microwave in a single layer. Cook them on high for four minutes. Remove the corn from the microwave with a hot mitt or kitchen towel, then let the ears cool slightly before peeling back their husks and removing the silks.

How to boil sweet corn

© Getty Images Boiling Sweet Corn (Getty Images)

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil on the stove. Meanwhile, shuck the corn, removing both the husks and silks. Gently lower the sweet corn into boiling water and cook for four minutes. When the corn is done, remove the ears and drain on a paper towel before serving. To add flavor as the corn cooks, add butter, herbs, garlic or even milk directly to the pot of water.

How to sauté sweet corn

If you’re making salsa or a summery corn salad, it’s a good idea to sauté just the kernels instead of cooking the entire cob.

First, shuck the corn, removing all of the husks and silks. Cut the kernels off of the cob (we love Ina Garten's corn-cutting trick!). In a medium-sized skillet, melt butter (about one teaspoon of butter per cob) over medium heat. Add the corn kernels, salt and pepper to taste, and sauté for eight to 10 minutes. Add fresh or dried herbs for additional flavor as the kernels cook.

How to roast sweet corn in the oven

© Anton Eine Close-Up Of Grilled Corn (Anton Eine / Getty Images)

As with grilling corn, you can roast sweet corn in the oven three different ways. For all variations, first preheat the oven to 375 degrees and arrange cobs on a rack in the center of the oven.

• In the husks: Remove any dry, outer leaves and cut off any tassels sticking out of the husk (they will burn in the oven). Place the cobs in a single layer, directly on an oven rack. Roast for 30 minutes and carefully remove them with tongs.

• Without the husks: Shuck the corn, removing both the husks and the silks. Place them in a single layer directly on an oven rack. Roast for 20 minutes and carefully remove them with tongs.

• Wrapped in foil without the husks: If you are wrapping shucked ears of corn in foil, take this opportunity to create flavor packets by adding butter, spices and herbs to each. First, shuck and clean the corn. Then wrap each cob in foil and place the foil-wrapped cobs directly on oven rack. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes and carefully remove each packet with tongs.

Antoni's Summer Corn with Chorizo and Cilantro by Antoni Porowski

How to blanch sweet corn and freeze it

Want to enjoy that wonderfully sweet summer corn throughout the winter? Freezing it is the answer! You can freeze entire cobs of sweet corn or you can freeze only the kernels, which makes it easier to whip up recipes like homemade sweet corn queso all year long. Either way, you’ll need to blanch the corn first.

Blanching is a process in which vegetables are submerged in boiling water and then plunged into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Blanching cleans the corn of dirt, helps it to retain its vibrant color and stops enzymes from causing spoilage, so it's better than just freezing the raw stuff.

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with water and ice. Shuck the corn, removing both the husks and silks. Gently lower cobs into boiling water and cook for three or four minutes. Remove the cobs with tongs and place them into a bowl of ice water immediately. Let them cool completely before cutting the kernels off and storing them in a freezer-safe container. Don't forget to date and label that container so you don't forget about that sweet corn months later.

Video: Ali Rosen serves up shrimp 3 ways (TODAY)

Replay Video

UP NEXT

• 

  Former President Obama to give eulogy for Rep. John Lewis

  The late congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis is being laid to rest Thursday at an historic church in Atlanta, and former President Obama is set to give the eulogy. NBC’s Blayne Alexander reports from Atlanta for TODAY.

  TODAY
• 

  Colleges reassess fall semester plans as coronavirus continues to surge

  Some colleges are set to begin the new school year in a matter of days, but many are still trying to figure out if students will actually return to campus as a new survey finds more than 6,300 coronavirus cases linked to campuses. NBC’s Kerry Sanders reports as TODAY’s series Coronavirus and the Classroom continues.

  TODAY
• 

  Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has nonsurgical procedure for bile duct stent

  Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is reportedly resting comfortably in a New York City hospital this morning after undergoing a nonsurgical procedure to correct a bile duct stent. The 87-year-old announced earlier this month that she is receiving chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer.

  TODAY

SETTINGS

OFF

HD

HQ

SD

LO

UP NEXT

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 06:21AM
https://ift.tt/3ffVkk7

5 easy ways to cook sweet corn perfectly every time - MSN Money

https://ift.tt/3gguREe
Corn

Corn has reached tassel stage, pollination not far behind - MyWebTimes.com

ersa.indah.link

The summer crop and rainfall report, which features crop condition and rainfall updates from La Salle County farmers, is published regularly during the growing season. The following report covers July 20 through July 26 and is provided with assistance from the La Salle County Farm Bureau.

David Hall, Serena — We received 1 inch of rainfall this past week. Late soybeans are shading the rows, and early soybeans are setting pods. Second crop hay is wrapped up, and fungicide is about done being sprayed on corn. The fungicide may just pay off if the wet humid weather persists. Fungicide will provide the crops about three weeks of protection against several plant diseases, which have the potential to rob yield in humid and hot conditions.

I would like to clarify something that I mentioned last week. Every flower a soybean plant produces has the potential to produce a pod. But depending on conditions, approximately half of the flowers will not set pods.  

We are starting to think about fall and pull out some equipment. Have a safe week everyone!

Barry Beetz, Mendota — We had 2.4 inches this past week, with 2 inches of that in one storm on Sunday night. It was a great rain. The crops all look terrific and the soil is charged to get through two more weeks. Several growers were baling second cutting hay right before the rain. Detasselling is going strong again this week with a chance that it may be slowing down by next week. 

David Myer, Marseilles — Summer 2020 extreme heat may be behind us as cooler temps are seen coming in the next week to 10-day period. We were fortunate to receive about 1/3 inch of rain this past week. The later planted corn has reached the tassel stage and pollination not far behind, Fungicide spraying continues but future forecasts may show the need isn’t as great. Soybeans looked to have grown nearly a foot in height this week and the early planted beans have many pods already set and still blossoming and will set more pods. Fungicide and insecticide spraying on the beans are being applied, but not as many acres as the corn. We've been alerted already that the LaGrange lock project will take at least two weeks longer than planned, so grain shipment this October may not happen. USDA reports crop condones improving, which in turn drives the markets lower. August is here, but will there be in class schools to start, only time will tell.

Bill Gray, Tonica/Lostant — Last week I received 0.8 inches of rain. The corn and soybean crops continue to mature and look pretty good. The planes have been applying fungicide to some of the corn and soybean fields in my area. Roadsides are being mowed and soon we will be getting ready for harvest. We’ve seen several fawns and antler growth on some of the local bucks looks pretty good. Archery season will be here before we know it. Been hearing coyotes howling too, guess we didn’t get them all last year.

Have a good week and be safe.

Ken Bernard, Grand Ridge — For the week we received 2.3 inches of rain. That topped it off nicely, beans really took off but where water is sitting in ponds the beans are starting to turn yellow. We sprayed fungicide over the weekend on the beans with our sprayer. We also put fungicide on some corn mostly with the airplane. Corn is pretty well all pollinated with the last planting just starting to tassel and start pushing out the silks on the ear. Looks like right now there will be a good crop in both corn and beans. We combined some oats for a couple of neighbors this last weekend and they were okay as far as yield. Also got a field of hay baled. The hay crop was a little too mature that made it a little coarser. Hope everyone stayed cool and hydrated this last week, looks like cooler weather will move in with less humidity. Stay safe and be careful.

Geoffrey Janssen, Rutland — It was another warm week. We did receive 0.8 inches of rain, which is very beneficial to the crops. Corn is moving right along with pollination. Soybeans are also growing rapidly, starting to get some very good height and bushing out, and really looking nice. Aerial application of fungicide still going on in corn.

Rainfall (in inches):

David Hall 1

Barry Beetz 2.4

David Myer 0.33

Bill Gray 0.8

Ken Bernard 2.3

Geoffrey Janssen 0.8

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 08:52AM
https://ift.tt/3hTkkPS

Corn has reached tassel stage, pollination not far behind - MyWebTimes.com

https://ift.tt/3gguREe
Corn

Fruit World's organic Thomcord grapes shipping in early August - Produce Blue Book

ersa.indah.link

Reedley, CA (July 29, 2020) — Fruit World Co., BB #:187196 a family-owned, flavor-focused grower-shipper of organic and conventional fruit and the largest California grower of organic Thomcord grapes, has announced that it expects to begin shipping this popular variety the first week of August in new high-graphic 2 lb. recyclable paper totes.

Known for being especially aromatic and flavorful, Thomcord grapes are a hybrid of Concord and Thompson Seedless grapes.

“We’re about a week away from harvesting our Thomcords and the crop is looking great,” said CJ Buxman, co-founder of Fruit World. “We expect consumers who eagerly await the arrival of these unique and delicious grapes each year are going to be thrilled with them when grocers start stocking their shelves. Demand is always high for this variety, and we anticipate that trend to continue this year.”

Fruit World is forecasting strong Thomcord grape volumes with promotable numbers available in late August. The supply is expected to last until mid-October.

This season’s crop will be available in 10 x 2 lb. recyclable and compostable paper totes, with new, bold and colorful graphics. In previous years, this paper tote packaging was popular among consumers for its portability and sustainability, and the new high-graphic bag is anticipated to stand out at retail. The company will be shipping 20 x 1 lb. clamshells as well, to meet current consumer demand for packaged premium products.

The company also announced that it will continue a consumer engagement program first used in 2018 and then again last year that encourages consumers to text Fruit World about their Thomcord grape eating experience. Dubbed “Thomcord Tales,” the campaign involves “Text-me” cards being added to packages, and has proven to be a fun and easy way for consumers to provide feedback.

“We try to reply to every Thomcord Tales text we get from consumers, and they seem to enjoy the interaction as much as we do,” said Fruit World co-founder Bianca Kaprielian. “Consumers’ love for Thomcords really comes across in their messages, and retailers have shared that this personal touch drives significant repeat sales.”

In addition to Thomcord grapes, Fruit World will be shipping 10 other organic grape varieties to retailers and wholesalers, including a limited supply from the heritage vines of grower partner Pete Wolf, one of California’s first organic growers and a recognized grape expert. Fruit World is accepting orders now for its high-demand specialty grape varieties. Call (559) 650-0334 for more information or visit fruitworldco.com.

About Fruit World Co.

Fruit World Co. is a fresh and creative produce company with generations of history. Fruit World Co. grows and ships the most flavorful fruit in California—including organic and conventional citrus, organic grapes, organic stone fruit, and more—and works with customers who share a passion for quality and taste. They’re all about honoring their growers, staying true to their farming heritage, and keeping family farming thriving into future generations. Visit fruitworldco.com.

Contact:
Fruit World Co.
Bianca Kaprielian
(559) 650-0334 x2
bianca@fruitworldco.com

CJ Buxman
(559) 650-0334 x1
cj@fruitworldco.com

The Link Lonk


July 31, 2020 at 01:43AM
https://ift.tt/311jY2R

Fruit World's organic Thomcord grapes shipping in early August - Produce Blue Book

https://ift.tt/3eO3jWb
Grape