Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/21
Outputs
Target Audience:This project targets Alaskan gardeners and farmers growing vegetables as well as agriculture educators and researchers. Changes/Problems:Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some of the crops we have grown in the past were unable to be trialed in 2020 because of greenhouse facilities being closed to project staff in the spring. Access to facilities was regained in mid-May 2020 with the development of a Covid-19 mitigation plan and research exemption from University administrators. As a result, the majority of trials were carried out as planned throughout the life of the project. Likewise, our in-person public outreach and education activities were not possible/diminished (e.g. volunteer taste testing and extension-based research results workshops on the farm), however we found ways to make the research results available via virtual methods, and developed at-home taste testing procedures for project staff in order to capture that data. ? What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In September 2019 PI Rader and senior researcher Gannon completed a 9-day tour of research farms and seed companies conducting vegetable variety trials to gather best practices for variety trial design, data collection, as well as develop networks for possible collaboration or partnerships. Locations where research professionals were interviewed and project staff toured included: the Cornell University, Homer C. Thompson Vegetable Research Farm (Freeville, NY), High Mowing Seed Company (Wolcott, VT) and Johnny's Seed Company (Albion, ME). Gannon attended a One Health seminar entitled: "Climate Change Impacts on Alaska" in 2019, which included information about changing trends in Alaska related to agriculture including: growing degree days, annual precipitation, changes in ambient and soil temperatures and changes to permafrost conditions. Gannon attended the Producer Safety Alliance, Grower Training, an 8 hour course in which participants learned the regulatory requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule in February 22, 2020: Participation resulted in a training certificate. Gannon attended (and presented at) the 2021 Alaska SARE Conference and Farm Bureau Meeting: A two-day conference with state and national attendance that covered topics that pertain to high-latitude sustainable agriculture practices and agricultural issues specific to Alaska. Gannon attended NCAT ATTRA Soil Health Innovations Conference Spring 2021 (virtual): The Soil Health Innovations Conference live-streamed speakers and panels. The conference was an opportunity for producers, industry professionals, educators, and students to connect and learn about cutting edge soil health research and work across the country. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Demonstration plots of the actual trials were located at the Georgeson Botanical Garden which offered ample interaction with the public both through signage and also the opportunity to answer questions from visitors. The research staff regularly engaged with the public at this garden. In 2019 signage with cultivar information and general information about the Variety Trials was installed. The trials are now very well labeled offering anyone who visits the garden the chance to learn about the trials, compare varieties visually, and see how the various crops grow in Fairbanks, Alaska. Each year a report was published on the UAF Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension website, the newly revamped Georgeson Botanical Garden Website, and widely publicized on social media platforms used by UAF CES, AFES and GBG as well as partner organizations. Information about trials and results were further disseminated to individuals in Alaska. Individuals in Interior Alaska were exposed to information about the trials through several avenues including: Multiple presentations on the Variety trials to UAF Master Gardener Students, educational presentations for Cooperative Extension Stakeholders via virtual Facebook Live events hosted through the Matanuska Experimental Farm and Extension Center. Appearances by senior personnel were made on radio and television programs including the statewide radio program, "Talk of Alaska", and Television interviews that aired on local new stations (2018 - 2021). Results were also distributed through the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer, and the It Grows in Alaska Blog, and the Tanana Chiefs Conference newsletter. Information about the variety trials was also disseminated to wider International and national audiences through conference presentations given at: the Alaska Just Transition Summit in Fairbanks, Alaska (January, 2020), the 10th Circumpolar Agriculture Conference in Rovaniemi, Finland (May 2019), The Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Anchorage, Alaska (November, 2021). In light of the Covid-19 Pandemic, senior project personnel also produced several short informational videos on research results that were made available through the UAF Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension YouTube Channel. The PD filmed several YouTube videos with trial information as well. Workshops and taste tests (pre-COVID) also provided ample opportunities to get information out. Finally, information about the variety trials was shared with high school students in a 2-week experiential learning series. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1 - Reestablish the UAF cultivar trials Trials were reestablished and expanded over the 5 year time period of this project (2017 - 2021). Vegetable cultivar trials were conducted at the Alaska Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Farms in Fairbanks (64° 51'N, 147° 52'W) and in Palmer (61°33'N 149°15'W). The following vegetables were trialed: artichokes, beans, beets, Brussels sprouts, carrots, celery, corn, daikon radish, fennel, hot peppers, spinach, turnips, and winter squash. Additional funding to continue the cultivar trials at the UAF AFES for another 5 years was successfully obtained based on the work completed during this project cycle and the demonstrated need for long-term data sets to meet Alaska's growing agricultural sector. Objective 2 - Determine differences in growth and yields for vegetable cultivars The trials were conducted primarily to evaluate differences in growth and yield of various vegetable cultivars to determine their suitability for high-latitude environments. In addition to yield measurements, each cultivar was evaluated in terms of: plant vigor, bolting sensitivity (or susceptibility to bolt), uniformity, pest resistance, and disease resistance. These traits were evaluated on a scale from 1 to 9, 1 being very poor and 9 being excellent. Blind taste tests of all crops and varieties were conducted among AFES staff who rated each variety for flavor and texture on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being very poor and 5 being excellent). Objective 3 - Develop updated recommended cultivar lists for Interior Alaska The results from the trials were used to create multiple products aimed at informing stakeholders of the most suitable cultivars of many commonly grown agricultural crops for Alaska's growing conditions in Fairbanks (Interior) and Palmer (Southcentral). These products include: annual trial reports (print and electronic), YouTube videos, workshop/ presentations, newspaper articles, televised news segments, and updated Cooperative Extension publications (print and electronic). Objective 5 - Support a mobile app called Grow&Tell that allows gardeners and farmers to rate varieties where they live The Grow&Tell app which what created by PI Rader was widely advertised as a tool Alaskan citizen scientists could use to conduct at home trials which would broaden the coverage of the cultivar trials conducted at the Fairbanks and Palmer Farms. Some funds were used to support this effort. Objective 6 - Use the results of these trials along with historic trials to develop a method for measuring the progress of climate change in interior Alaska While this objective has not been fully met to date, efforts toward accomplishing this goal have been made in the following ways: A. Five years of data were collected which included replicate plots and replication across years and included historically "standard" cultivars to which newly bred cultivars and cultivars not before formally tested in Alaska were compared; B. Senior Personnel have developed a collaborative relationship with researchers from the UAF International Arctic Research Center (IARC) and UAF Scenarios Network for Adaptation Planning (SNAP) Program to apply for funding that would combine results from cultivar trials with Climate Change models to develop a means for measuring the northward expansion of suitable Agricultural crops as well as creating predictive models for Alaska (Applied for USDA CARE grant in 2020 (unsuccessful), and will continue to seek future funding opportunities).
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Rader, H. 2017. Vegetable Variety Trials 2017. University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources and Extension. VT 2017-01. Available at: https://www.uaf.edu/snre/research/publications/variety-trials/
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Rader, H., Gannon, G., and Dunham, N. 2018. Vegetable Variety Trials 2018. University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources and Extension. VT 2018-01. Available at: https://www.uaf.edu/snre/research/publications/variety-trials/
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Rader, H. Corn: The Holy Grail of Alaska Gardeners. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 6 July 2019, http://www.newsminer.com/features/sundays/gardening/corn-the-holy-grail-of-alaska-gardeners/article_d0795b4c-a073-11e9-9eac-8fc102dbea36.html
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Rader, H. A 2018 Interior Alaska Vegetable Variety Recap. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 27 Jan. 2019, http://www.newsminer.com/features/sundays/gardening/a-interior-alaska-vegetable-variety-recap/article_37bdc99c-2107-11e9-9843-1f7b65f4fb15.html
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Carter, D. Vegetable Variety Trials Research Highlight Published. SNRE Science & News Blog, 30 April 2019, https://afes-news.blogspot.com/2019/04/vegetable-variety-trials-research.html
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Presentation only: Rader, H. & Gannon, G. 2019, February 21. What Grows Well Where? Using a Mobile App Called Grow&Tell and Vegetable Variety Trials to Answer This Question. Sustainable Agriculture Conference, Anchorage, Alaska
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Gannon, G. & Rader, H. 2019. Vegetable Variety Trials, 2019. University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources and Extension. VT 2019-01. Available at: https://www.uaf.edu/snre/research/publications/variety-trials/
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Gannon, G., Powers, S., 2021. Palmer Vegetable Variety Trial Results 2020 - 2021. University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources and Extension. VT 2021-01. Available at: https://www.uaf.edu/files/snre/publications/varietytrials/
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Gannon, G., Maijala, A. Fairbanks Vegetable Variety Trials, (in review). University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources and Extension. VT 2021-02.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Rader, H.B. & Gannon, G. M. (2020, November). Vegetable Variety Trials and Outreach. Alaska Food Festival and Conference, virtual.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Gannon, G. (2021, November 12). Research in High-latitude Agriculture at the UAF Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station [Conference presentation]. Alaska SARE Conference and Farm Bureau Meeting, Anchorage, AK, United States.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Gannon, G. (2020, November, 5-6). Using Research and Outreach to Grow Alaska's Food System [Conference presentation]. Alaska Food Policy Council Conference, Virtual, AK, United States.
|
Progress 10/01/20 to 09/30/21
Outputs
Target Audience:This project targets Alaskan gardeners and farmers growing food crops as well as agriculture educators and researchers in Alaska. Changes/Problems:Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some of our normal in-person public outreach and education activities were not possible (e.g. volunteer taste testing and extension-based workshops on-farm), however we found ways to make the research results available via virtual methods, and developed at-home taste testing procedures project staff in order to capture that data. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Research Coordinator G. Gannon attended (and presented at) the 2021 Alaska SARE Conference and Farm Bureau Meeting: A two-day conference with state and national attendance that covered topics that pertain to high-latitude sustainable agriculture practices and agricultural issues specific to Alaska.Gannon attended NCAT ATTRA Soil Health Innovations Conference Spring 2021 (virtual): The Soil Health Innovations Conference live-streamed speakers and panels. The conference was an opportunity for producers, industry professionals, educators, and students to connect and learn about cutting edge soil health research and work across the country. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In 2021, demonstration plots of all the cultivars tested were planted within the Georgeson Botanical Garden, a public garden that is a popular destination both for tourists and locals in Fairbanks. Because of this, the research staff for this project regularly engaged with the public through answering questions and communicating results from the trials. Signage with cultivar information and general information about the Variety Trials was installed, offering anyone who visited the garden the chance to learn about the trials, compare varieties visually and see how various crops grow in Fairbanks, Alaska. The results from the 2021 growing season have been published in two AFES publications, the Palmer Vegetable Variety Trials 2020- 2021 Report (Gannon & Powers, 2021) and the Fairbanks Vegetable Variety Trial Report 2021 (in press). Both publications are available on the UAF School of Natural Resources and Extension website, the newly revamped Georgeson Botanical Garden Website, and widely publicized on social media platforms used by UAF CES, AFES and GBG as well as partner organizations. Information about trials and results were further disseminated to individuals in Alaska through several avenues including: Multiple presentations on the Variety trials to UAF Master Gardener Students (NRM 512); educational presentations for Cooperative Extension Stakeholders via virtual Facebook Live events hosted through the Matanuska Experimental Farm and Extension Center; updated CES Publication Recommended Varieties for Interior Alaska (in review); several articles that appeared in the School of Natural Resources Science and News Blog, the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer, and the It Grows in Alaska Blog. Information about the variety trials was also disseminated to wider state and national audiences through conference presentations given at: The Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Anchorage, Alaska (November, 2021). In the light of the Covid-19 Pandemic, senior project personnel also produced several short informational videos on research results that were made available through the UAF Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension YouTube Channel. ? What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Vegetable cultivar trials were conducted in the summer of 2021 at the Alaska Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Farms in Fairbanks (64° 51'N, 147° 52'W) and in Palmer (61°33'N 149°15'W). Trials were accomplished with the assistance of one field tech and two student employees. All cultivar trials were replicated at both locations except for corn, hot peppers andartichokes which were only tested at the Fairbanks site. In 2021, beans, carrots, beets and corn were grown in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Brussels sprouts, fennel, hot peppers, spinach and winter squash were grown in unreplicated, screening trials. In addition to yield measurements, each cultivar was evaluated at least once in terms of: plant vigor, bolting sensitivity (or susceptibility to bolt), uniformity, pest resistance, and disease resistance. These traits were evaluated on a scale from 1 to 9, 1 being very poor and 9 being excellent. An unreplicated bolting-sensitivity study of 10 spinach cultivars was conducted to assess the effect of long photoperiods associated with high-latitude summers on bolt- hardy spinach varieties. Each cultivar was evaluated at least once in terms of: days to first sign of bolting, bolting rate on a 1- 5 scale (1 being 1-20% of plot bolting to 5 being 81-100% of plot bolting), plant vigor, uniformity, pest and disease resistance. Blind taste tests of all crops and varieties were conducted among AFES staff who rated each variety for flavor and texture on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being very poor and 5 being excellent).
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Gannon, G., Powers, S., 2021. Palmer Vegetable Variety Trial Results 2020 - 2021. University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources and Extension. VT 2021-01. Available at: https://www.uaf.edu/files/snre/publications/varietytrials/
- Type:
Other
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Gannon, G., Maijala, A. Fairbanks Vegetable Variety Trials, (in review). University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources and Extension. VT 2021-02.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Rader, H.B. & Gannon, G. M. (2020, November). Vegetable Variety Trials and Outreach. Alaska Food Festival and Conference, virtual.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Gannon, G. (2021, November 12). Research in High-latitude Agriculture at the UAF Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station [Conference presentation]. Alaska SARE Conference and Farm Bureau Meeting, Anchorage, AK, United States.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Gannon, G. (2020, November, 5-6). Using Research and Outreach to Grow Alaska's Food System [Conference presentation]. Alaska Food Policy Council Conference, Virtual, AK, United States.
|
Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:This project will target Alaskan gardeners and farmers growing food crops as well as agriculture educators and researchers in Alaska. Changes/Problems:Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some of the crops we have trialed in the past were unable to be trialed in 2020 because of greenhouse facilities being closed to project staff in the spring. Access to facilities was regained in mid-May with the development of a Covid-19 mitigation plan and research exemption from University administrators, and as such the majority of trials could be carried out as planned. Likewise, our in-person public outreach and education activities were diminished (e.g. volunteer taste testing and research results workshops), however we found ways to make the research results available via virtual methods, and developed at-home taste testing procedures project staff in order to capture that data. We do not anticipate these challenges being a problem for the 2021 season, however if we do encounter similar obstacles, we now have strategies in place to mitigate disruptions to project activities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Research Professional (Gannon) attended the following trainings: February 20-21: SARE Conference: Two day conference with international attendance and presentations on topics that pertain to high-latitude sustainable agriculture practices and agricultural issues specific to Alaska. February 22, 2020: Attended theProducer Safety Alliance, Grower Training, an 8 hour course in which participants learned the regulatory requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule. Participation resulted in a training certificate. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In 2020, demonstration plots of all the cultivars trialed were planted within the Georgeson Botanical Garden, a public garden that is a popular destination both for tourists and locals. Because of this, the research staff for this project regularly engaged with the public by answering questions and communicating results from the trials. Signage with cultivar information was installed, offering anyone who visited the garden the chance to learn about the trials, compare varieties visually and to see how the various crops grew in Fairbanks, Alaska. The results are being published in the Vegetable Variety Trials 2020 Report (in progress) and will be available on the UAF Institute of Agriculture,Natural Resources and Extension website and widely publicized on social media. The 2019 report was published during this project period.Individuals in Alaska were exposed to information about the trials through several avenues including, an appearance by the Research Coordinator on the statewide radio program, "Talk of Alaska" (November, 2019). Eight articles were produced by the PD and published onthe Institute of Agriculture,Natural Resources and Extension Blog, the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer, the It Grows in Alaska blog, and the Tanana Chiefs Conference newsletter,The Council. Information about the variety tails was also disseminated to wider State and national audiences through conference presentations given at: the Alaska Just Transition Summit in Fairbanks, Alaska (January, 2020), The Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Anchorage, Alaska (February, 2020) and Extension Week Class Series (virtual, June, 2020). The PD filmed 8 short informational videos on research results that will be published on the UAF Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension YouTube Channel during the next project period. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period we will continue to trial the crops and varieties tested during the previous reporting periods and continue to expand the trials we conduct (by adding new crops/cultivars) as well as adding new trial goals now that we have relocated the trials to larger field setting at the Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station Farm. For instance, we anticipate replicating spinach bolting trials and how different compost applications affect performance and yield of certain crops in 2021. During the next reporting period we will also work to incorporate and/or collaborate with other research being conducted at the University of Alaska to both increase the relevance of the research we are currently preforming, and to reach a wider audience. We will continue to coordinate with the Palmer Experiment Station to have our trials replicated at that location. Finally, we will continue to disseminate information and results about the variety trials by presenting at conferences, such as the One Health, One Future Conference in February, 2021, and the Alaska Sustainable Agriculture Conference in March, 2021, and through other means of communication such as articles, YouTube videos, radio programs and workshops.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A survey tool was used to collect responses from stakeholders about which crops and cultivars were most important to include in future trials. The Survey was first advertised at the 2020 Alaska Sustainable Agriculture Conference (February 2020), and has been advertised via UAF Cooperative Extension Service social media accounts. A total of 62 responses were captured during this reporting period, and were used to help determine which crops gardeners and farmers would like us to trial.Additionally, three farmers from interior Alaska were interviewed during this reporting period to help inform the direction of future variety trials and identify challenges and/or opportunities Alaskan producers face which may help determine future research activities. Vegetable cultivar trials were conducted in the summer of 2020 at the Alaska Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Farms in Fairbanks (64° 51'N, 147° 52'W) and Palmer (61°33'N 149°15'W) where all cultivar trials were replicated at both locations except for corn. In 2020 beans, carrots, and corn were grown in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Beets, fennel and winter squash were grown in unreplicated trials. In addition to yield measurements, each cultivar was evaluated at least once in terms of: plant vigor, bolting sensitivity (or susceptibility to bolt), uniformity, pest resistance, and disease resistance. These traits were evaluated on a scale from 1 to 9, 1 being very poor and 9 being excellent. An unreplicated bolting-sensitivity study of 16 spinach cultivars was conducted to assess the effect of long photoperiods associated with high-latitude summers on bolt-hardy spinach varieties. Each cultivar was evaluated at least once in terms of: days to first sign of bolting, bolting rate on a 1-5 scale (1 being 1-20% of plot bolting to 5 being 81-100% of plot bolting), plant vigor, uniformity, pest and disease resistance. Blind taste tests of all crops and varieties were conducted among AFES staff who rated each variety for flavor and texture on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being very poor and 5 being excellent).
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Presentation only: Rader, H. & Gannon, G. 2019, February 21. What Grows Well Where? Using a Mobile App Called Grow&Tell and Vegetable Variety Trials to Answer This Question. Sustainable Agriculture Conference, Anchorage, Alaska
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Gannon, G. & Rader, H. 2019. Vegetable Variety Trials, 2019. University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources and Extension. VT 2019-01. Available at: https://www.uaf.edu/snre/research/publications/variety-trials/
|
Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:This project targets Alaskan gardeners and farmers growing food crops as well as agriculture educators and researchers in Alaska. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In September 2019 the PD and lead research technician completed a 9-day tour of research farms and seed companies conducting vegetable variety trials to gather best practices for variety trial design, data collection, as well as develop networks for possible collaboration or partnerships. Locations where research professionals were interviewed and project staff toured includes: the Cornell University, Homer C. Thompson Vegetable Research Farm (Freeville, NY), High Mowing Seed Company (Wolcott, VT) and Johnny's Seed Company (Albion, ME). The lead research technician attended a One Health seminar entitled: "Climate Change Impacts on Alaska", which included information about changing trends in Alaska related to agriculture including: growing degree days, annual precipitation, changes in ambient and soil temperatures and changes to permafrost conditions. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In 2019, the trials were conducted within the Georgeson Botanical Garden, a public garden that is a popular destination both for tourists and locals. Because of this, the research staff for this project is regularly engaging with the public, answering questions about the trials, and communicating results from the trials. Also, labeling and signs were further improved in 2019, offering anyone who visited the garden the chance to learn about the trials, compare varieties visually and to see how the various crops grew in Fairbanks, Alaska. The results will be published in the Vegetable Variety Trials 2019 Reportavailable on the UAF School of Natural Resources and Extension website and publicized on social media. Individuals in Interior Alaska were also exposed to information about the trials through several radio interviews with the project director in August 2019, as well as through three articles that appeared in the School of Natural Resources Science and News Blog, the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer and the Tanana Chiefs Conference, The Council newsletter. Information about the variety tails was also disseminated to wider international and national audiences at presentations given at the 10th Circumpolar Agriculture Conference in Rovaniemi, Finland (May 2019), The Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Anchorage, Alaska (November 2018) and The Tanana Valley Master Gardeners Group in Fairbanks, Alaska (May, 2019). Finally, information about the variety trials was shared with high school students in a 2-week experiential and classroom-based course offered through the Alaska Summer Research Academy in Fairbanks, Alaska (July, 2019). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period we will continue to trial the crops and varieties tested during the previous reporting periods. We will also be relocating the trials to a larger field setting and both expanding the trials we conduct (by adding new crops) as well as adding new trial goals. For instance, we anticipate trialing how transplanted corn performs compared to direct seeded corn, or how difference mulch applications affect performance and yield of certain crops. During the next reporting period we will also work to incorporate and/or collaborate with other research being conducted at the University of Alaska One Health Research Center to both increase the relevance of the research we are currently performing, and to reach a wider audience. We will continue to collaborate with the Palmer Experiment Station to have our trials replicated at that location. Finally, we will continue to disseminate information and results about the variety trials by presenting at conferences, such as the One Health, One Future Conference, March2020, and the Alaska Sustainable Agriculture Conference, February 2020, and through articles, local radio programs and workshops.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Vegetable cultivar trials were conducted in the summer of 2019 at the Georgeson Botanical Garden (GBG) at the Alaska Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (64° 51'N, 147° 52'W). In 2019 beets, beans, carrots, celery and corn were grown in replicated trials in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Brussels sprouts were grown in unreplicated or preliminary trials. Each cultivar was evaluated at least once in terms of plant vigor, bolting sensitivity (or susceptibility to bolt), uniformity, pest resistance, and disease resistance. These traits were evaluated on a scale from 1 to 9, 1 being very poor and 9 being excellent. Taste tests were conducted with volunteers who rated for flavor and texture on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being very poor and 5 being excellent).
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Rader, H. A 2018 Interior Alaska Vegetable Variety Recap. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 27 Jan. 2019, http://www.newsminer.com/features/sundays/gardening/a-interior-alaska-vegetable-variety-recap/article_37bdc99c-2107-11e9-9843-1f7b65f4fb15.html
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Carter, D. Vegetable Variety Trials Research Highlight Published. SNRE Science & News Blog, 30 April 2019, https://afes-news.blogspot.com/2019/04/vegetable-variety-trials-research.html
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Rader, H., Gannon, G., Dunham, N. 2018. Vegetable Variety Trials, 2018. University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources and Extension. VT 2018-01. Available at: https://www.uaf.edu/snre/research/publications/variety-trials/
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Rader, H. Corn: The Holy Grail of Alaska Gardeners. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 6 July 2019, http://www.newsminer.com/features/sundays/gardening/corn-the-holy-grail-of-alaska-gardeners/article_d0795b4c-a073-11e9-9eac-8fc102dbea36.html
|
Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:This project targets Alaskan gardeners and farmers growing vegetables as well as agriculture educators and researchers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The trials take place at a public garden, the Georgeson Botanical Garden which is a popular destination both for tourists and locals. Because of this, the research staff for this project are constantly engaging with the public, answering questions about the trials, and communicating results from the trials. Also, the trials are well labeled offering anyone the chance to compare varieties visually and to see how the various crops are faring in Fairbanks, Alaska. The results were published in the Vegetable Variety Trials 2018report (https://www.uaf.edu/snre/research/publications/variety-trials/) available on the UAF School of Natural Resources and Extension website and publicized on social media. Three workshops were given to the public which gave participants the opportunity to learn about each crop. A presentation about the trials was given at the Alaska Sustainable Agriculture Conference in November 2018.The PD also shared information about the Grow&Tell app. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we will continue to test many of the crops and varieties tested during this reporting reporting period but will eliminate the lowest performers or those crops that did not mature.A newspaper article will also be published on the variety trials. Work will continue on the Grow&Tell app to make it work more smoothly and easily for users.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Vegetable cultivar trials were conducted in the summer of 2018 at the Georgeson Botanical Garden (GBG) at the Alaska Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (64° 51'N, 147° 52'W).In 2018 beets, carrots, and celery were grown in replicated trials in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Brussels sprouts, beans, corn, and watermelon were grown in unreplicated or preliminary trials.Each cultivar was evaluated at least once in terms of plant vigor, bolting sensitivity (or susceptibility to bolt), uniformity, pest resistance, and disease resistance. These traits were evaluated on a scale from 1 to 9, 1 being very poor and 9 being excellent. Taste tests were conducted with volunteers who participated in a workshop and a taste test. As many varieties of each crop as possible, and rated for flavor and texture on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being very poor and 5 being excellent).
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Rader, H., Gannon, G., and Dunham, N. 2018. Vegetable Variety Trials 2018. University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources and Extension. VT 2018-01. Available at: https://www.uaf.edu/snre/research/publications/variety-trials/
|
Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:This project will target Alaskan gardeners and farmers growing food crops as well as agriculture educators and researchers in Alaska. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results were published in the Vegetable Variety Trials 2017 report (https://www.uaf.edu/snre/research/publications/variety-trials/) available on the UAF School of Natural Resources and Extension website and publicized on social media. At the Alaska Food Policy Council Conference in November 2017, the PD shared results from the trials in a presentation as well as disseminated information about the Grow&Tell app. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Alaskans were surveyed to determine which crops were most important to them to be tested. They were asked to, "Please rank the following crops. Rank the crops highest that you think are most important to test. Rank the crops lower if you think they are less important to test. If you have just a couple of crops that you think are important to test, you can skip this question and simply list them in the following question. To rank them, simply drag and drop the crops to your desired ranking order." More than 40 Alaskans completed the survey. We will try to test the top 10 crops and will use the survey to determine which crops to test. Trials will also be conducted in Palmer at the Experiment Station there.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In 2017, four varieties of beets, carrots, radishes and turnips (16 cultivars total) were tested. The vegetables were direct seeded on June 16. Two carrot varieties (Yaya and Sugar Snax) and one beet variety (Detroit Dark Red) germinated poorly. Any plots with empty spaces were reseeded. Carrots, beets and turnips were reseeded on June 30 and daikon radishes were reseeded on July 3. Prior to planting, 10-20-20 slowrelease fertilizer was applied at a rate of 4 pounds per 100 square feet. A randomized complete block experimental design was used and plots were replicated three times. All cultivars wereplanted according to recommended commercial spacing guidelines in twin rows. Rows were 5 feet wide on center. Plot sizes were designed to be large enough so that there were about 20 to 30 plants in each plot. They varied from 24 inches long for carrots to 90 inches long for daikon radishes.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Rader, H. 2017. Vegetable Variety Trials 2017. University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources and Extension. VT 2017-01. Available at: https://www.uaf.edu/snre/research/publications/variety-trials/
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