Source: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY submitted to
EXPANDING RESILIENT CLIMATE AND PEST PROTECTION SYSTEMS FOR DIVERSIFIED ORGANIC SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCERS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031200
Grant No.
2023-51300-40855
Cumulative Award Amt.
$3,477,477.00
Proposal No.
2023-04463
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2023
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2027
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[113.A]- Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative
Project Director
Gonthier, D. J.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
500 S LIMESTONE 109 KINKEAD HALL
LEXINGTON,KY 40526-0001
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Diversified fruit and vegetable growers are a hallmark of the organic agriculture industry and movement. Diversification opens market opportunities, hedges risks, conserves biodiversity, and grows healthy communities and local economies. At the same time, diversified organic growers must master the production of many specialty crops with a limited set of tools to combat pests, diseases, weeds, and a changing climate. Some of these tools, like OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute)-listed pesticides perform sub-optimally and fail to reduce damage from pests and diseases. Mounting evidence suggests mesotunnel protection systems limit pests, diseases, and some extreme weather conditions. However, while mesotunnels reduce the use of OMRI-listed pesticides, consumer concerns over plastic use in agriculture may present new social challenges to the adoption of these plastic-based systems. The overall goal of this four-year project is to expand the organic tool kit to overcome biotic and abiotic challenges to specialty crops in the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast. Field experiments and on-farm trials with brassica (greens, broccoli), cucurbit (melons and squash), and solanaceous crops (eggplant) will optimize the use of mesotunnel protection systems to control biotic and abiotic stressors (Objective 1). Innovative strategies to incorporate mesotunnels into diversified organic fruit and vegetable rotations will aim to maximize the benefits to growers in each region. Data generated from experiments will be used to determine which mesotunnel-crop combinations maximize grower profits (Objective 2). To understand marketing, policy, and adoption barriers, we will assess grower and consumer acceptability of mesotunnels through surveys, interviews, and consumer preference experiments (Objective 3). Growers and industry stakeholders will provide continuous input to guide the project through an Advisory Panel, surveys, listening sessions, and on-farm trials. Finally, a coordinated regional and national outreach program will reach thousands of growers and millions of consumers to highlight the most promising protection systems (Objective 4). Together, these objectives address five OREI goals and will help the organic specialty crop industry to grow resilient to changing climates and consumer demands to insure the sustainability of the organic industry.
Animal Health Component
70%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
70%
Developmental
30%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2161499113015%
2161499116015%
2161499114015%
1321499106015%
6011499301020%
8031499308020%
Knowledge Area
601 - Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management; 803 - Sociological and Technological Change Affecting Individuals, Families, and Communities; 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems; 132 - Weather and Climate;

Subject Of Investigation
1499 - Vegetables, general/other;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1160 - Pathology; 1140 - Weed science; 3010 - Economics; 3080 - Sociology;
Goals / Objectives
GoalsThe proposed work will aim to increase the sustainability of the organic specialty crop industry in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast regions. Specifically, this project will aim toexpand the organic tool kit to overcome production challenges including pests, diseases, weeds, and social acceptability, while also building resilience to climate change related stressors.The long-term goalsof the proposed project are to:(1) Develop strategies for integrating protection systems into diversified organic specialty crop operations to prevent biotic and abiotic stressors.(2) Developprotection systems to prevent biotic and abiotic stressors that maximize cost-effectiveness.(3) Understand the social acceptance of plastic-based protection systems to guide market, policy, and adoption strategies for the organic specialty crop industry.(4) Showcase the success of these protection systems through outreach to growers and consumers to increase the adoption and social acceptance of these practices.ObjectivesFocusing on organic cucurbit (squash and melons), brassica (kale, greens, broccoli), and solanaceous (eggplant) crops, we will assess mesotunnels (plastic-based fine-mesh protection systems) as they relate to the following objectives:1. Optimize the use of mesotunnels to protect organic specialty crops from biotic and abiotic stressors.2. Assess the economic efficiency of mesotunnels systems for organic specialty crops.3. Evaluate grower perceptions of and barriers to mesotunnel systems relative to other organic protection systems and assess consumer preferences for vegetables produced with mesotunnels versus organic pesticides.4. Outreach: Share the advances in new production systems with organic growers, extension professionals, and other stakeholders through a diverse set of outreach initiatives.
Project Methods
Activity 1.1. Mesotunnel system efficacy for control of pest, disease, and weather extremes. During Years 1-3, we will conduct field trials on certified organic land at the University of Kentucky (UK) Cornell University AgriTech (CUA) and Iowa State University(ISU). To determine the agronomic efficiency of mesotunnel systems for diversified specialty crop growers, each regional team will assess the impact of mesotunnel systems on spring (brassicas), summer (eggplant or muskmelon), and fall crops (brassicas) produced in each region. Three treatments will be deployed with four replicates per treatment per crop-season:(1) Mesotunnel system(2) OMRI-listed pesticide system (uncovered)(3) Control treatment (uncovered, untreated)Crop pests and diseases will be monitored weekly by visually observing all plant material in quadrats (3 x 3 ft) every 10 feet in the center bed of each plot. Sticky cards will be deployed 1-week after planting for a 7-day period and 1-week before harvest (for 7-days) to monitor insect pest abundance.Abiotic stressors. We will place temperature, humidity, and dew point loggers within each plot and record climate variables continually for the duration of the experiment (Watchdog). Micro-weather stations (Davis) will collect rainfall, solar radiance, and wind speed estimates. Any extreme weather event (e.g., heavy rain episodes, drought, windstorms, hail) during experiments will be noted to determine if mesotunnels improved productivity in the face of a climate challenge.Yield and produce quality. Total, non-marketable, and marketable yield will be recorded from quadrats (3 x 3 ft) of the center bed every 10 feet in the center bed of each plot. Produce will be weighed and graded according to current USDA commercial standards to determine marketable yields and unmarketable yields related to biotic and abiotic related losses.Activity 1.2. Weed management under mesotunels. Weed management treatments will be integrated into experiments to optimize weed control under mesotunnel systems. For each spring, summer, and fall crop studied, we will use plastic mulch on raised plastic beds and we will implement three weed management strategies (n=4 per treatment) for control of weeds within the inter-bed spaces (furrows):(1) Mesotunnel system + Living mulch(2) Mesotunnel system + Landscape fabric(3) Mesotunnel system + BaregroundLiving mulches will consist of teff in Iowa and Kentucky, while New York will utilize an annual rye/clover mixture.Weed and cover crop density will be measured in two randomly placed quadrats (1 x 1 ft) within the inter-bed space at harvest. All plant biomass will be cut at ground height, sorted, and dried to measure the dry biomass of weeds (broadleaf and grass) and cover crops.Data analysis for Activities 1.1-1.2. For each crop species, an analysis of variance for blocked designs will determine how treatments impacted pests, pathogens, abiotic stressors, weeds, or yield. Additionally, multivariate general linear mixed models will be used to determine relationships between biotic and abiotic stressors and marketable yield.Activity 1.3. Building mesotunnel rotational systems. The timing of each experiment in the spring, summer, and fall will allow for the re-utilization of mesotunnel materials for two to three times per year. Utilizing the marketable yield data from each crop experiment, and the selling price of each crop we will standardize yields across the different crop species by calculating revenue. We will use general linear mixed models to assess which crops generate the most revenue from utilizing mesotunnel systems and how increasing the number of uses per year will increase the revenue generated.Activity 2.1. Cost-effectiveness of mesotunnels. Using the experimental trials performed in Activity 1.1, we will perform a partial budget analysis and develop enterprise budgets to compare costs across labor, supplies, pest/disease control application, fuel, and machinery depreciation and compare these costs to economic efficiencies including marketable yield, profit, average cost ratio, and relative cost-efficiency ratio.Activity 2.2. Cost-effectiveness of weed management strategies. Using the weed management treatments from Activity 1.2, we will compare the profitability and cost effectiveness of weed management strategies under mesotunnel systems. Following economic approaches described in Activity 2.1, we will compare the economic efficiencies of the different weed management strategies.Activity 2.3. Cost-effectiveness of mesotunnel rotational systems. Using the combined results of all experiments in Activity 1.3, we will compare economic efficiency of these diversified systems as described above in Activity 2.1.Activity 3.1. Understanding grower's perceptions of barriers and incentives for adopting mesotunnel systems. In Year 1, we will develop a baseline survey instrument to measure growers' local knowledge of systems, perceptions of pests, disease, and weather risks, and current decision support strategies to manage these risks. Growers that will receive outreach material or participate in on-farm trials will be selected for this survey. In Year 4, an end-of-project assessment will document changes in grower knowledge and adoption behavior as well as to determine what drove these changes.Activity 3.2. Nation-wide survey of perceptions of organic pest, pathogen, weed and climate protection practices. A national level survey will be developed to assess the perceptions of organic growers related to the effectiveness of: (i) OMRI-listed insecticides and fungicides, (ii) row covers and mesotunnel systems, and (iii) other alternatives. We will also collect information on the strategies that growers use to mitigate extreme weather events. Questions will include growers that have used technologies such as mesotunnels or row covers, growers that have heard of these technologies but have not used them, and growers that have never heard of these technologies. The universe of organic growers will be amassed through extension contact lists as well as through Organic-, Fruit-, and Vegetable-Growers Associations.Data Analysis. We will use a variety of quantitative methods to analyze the survey data and assess the future likelihood of adopting mesotunnels and other associated production technologies, including Technology Acceptance, Diffusion of Innovation Theory, factor analysis and Structural Equation Modeling, and Discrete Choice Models.Activity 3.3. Framed laboratory experiment of consumers' acceptability of and preferences for organic vegetables produced in mesotunnels and other plasticulture production systems. In Years 2 and 3, we propose to use framed laboratory experiments to elicit consumers' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for organic and local vegetables produced using mesotunnel production systems. We will employ Becker-DeGroot-Marschak (BDM) auctions that have been used extensively to elicit maximum truthful consumer WTP for food attributes. University students and general public consumers will be recruited through the Cornell University Experimental Economics Research Laboratory. They will be presented with four organic vegetable varieties to perform sensory evaluation of muskmelon (1) produced in mesotunnel systems from NY trials in obj.1, (2) locally produced without row covers, (3) non-locally produced in IA mesotunnel trials, (4) and non-locally produced without row covers. Each option will be accompanied by pictures of production scenes, and how plastics are used in these production systems. Following the affective test method, the consumer participants will observe the appearance, taste the four muskmelon varieties, and then be asked to place sealed bids for a pound of each variety in the auction. Analysis will reveal consumer's willingness to pay for local-ness of organic vegetables and isolate the potential impacts of the use of mesotunnels in consumer valuation.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:There are three target audiences for this project: Organic produce growers, consumers, and industry leaders across the supply chain. The organic grower's audience is focused in the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast regions of the U.S. Efforts to inform this audience focus on face-to-face and online outreach activities, including on-farm demonstration trials, in-person presentations at grower meetings, a project website, virtual field days (videos), and short social media posts. In year 1, teams focused on building a project website and network building via social media platforms in addition to in-person presentations at growers' meetings and on-farm collaborations. Through a national-level outreach campaign led by The Organic Center (TOC) that utilizes social media outlets, in partnership with Organic Voices, to expose consumers and industry to the efficacy of protective row covers for not only organic farmers but also for backyard gardens and homesteads. In the first year of this project, TOC focused on the produce industry and consumers as their primary target audience. TOC created a micro-website for the project to engage industry and consumers. The outreach activities' main messaging goals this year were to engage the industry with the project launch and to update the public on experimental progress. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Kathleen Fiske, Post Doctoral Scholar, Department of Entomology, UK: Project team coordination, field research and outreach coordination, mentoring of graduate and undergraduate research assistants, developing educational content Elaine Losekamp, MS student, Department of Entomology, UK: Field research experience, mentoring of undergraduate research assistants, developing outreach educational content Alexis Gauger, PhD student, Department of Entomology, UK: Field research experience, mentoring of undergraduate research assistants, developing outreach educational content Mario Reyes, PhD student, Department of Entomology, UK: Field research experience Simon Aaronson, Undergraduate researcher, Department of Entomology, UK: field research experience, developing educational content Yuuki Cherian, Undergraduate researcher, Department of Entomology, UK: Field research experience, developing educational content Kylie Ryan, Undergraduate researcher, Department of Entomology, UK: Field research experience, developing educational content Turner Siddens, Undergraduate researcher, Department of Entomology, UK: Field research experience Smriti Chaudhary, MS student, Department of Horticulture, ISU: Field research experience, mentoring of undergraduate research assistants Ariana DeCleyre, Undergraduate researcher, Department of Horticulture, ISU: Field research experience Joe Hollis, PhD student, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, ISU: Development of National survey Ivy Lawson, Undergraduate researcher, Department of Horticulture, ISU: Field research experience Quang (Peter) Ngo, Undergraduate researcher, Department of Horticulture, ISU: Field research experience Akshaya Thinakaran, MS student, Department of Horticulture, ISU: Field research experience, mentoring of undergraduate research assistants Raymond Wilmes, Undergraduate researcher, Department of Horticulture, ISU: Field research experience Kaitlin Diggins, PhD student, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University: Field research experience, mentoring of undergraduate research assistants Sean Murphy, Research Associate, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University: Supervisor for field research Yu Ping Chang, PhD student,Cornell University: Development of the economic cost data gathering Qualtrics survey How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?To reach the target audiences of organic growers, consumers, and industry leaders across the supply chain, online and in-person dissemination was initiated. In-person dissemination to organic growers was focused in the three focal regions of Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast. Thirteen face-to-face presentations were given at grower's meetings. Two presentations were given at industry-facing conferences focused on the sustainable use and recycling of agricultural plastics. Three presentations were presented to academic audiences in departmental seminars or conferences. Three presentations were presented to governmental agencies through governmental visits or conferences. Additionally, two on-farm trials with participating growers were undertaken in year 1. For online dissemination efforts, two websites and two social media accounts were launched to house and highlight the project findings and outreach materials. A press release announced the project's initiation. While the project has only just begun to release video content, aschedule of video releases has been created for year 2. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?OBJECTIVE 1. Each state team will proceed with protective row cover experiments in the spring, summer, and/or fall to study pest protection, weed management, and climate protection as described in the proposal. Analysis of year 1 (2024) data will be summarized into reports for outreach materials, manuscripts, and graduate student theses. OBJECTIVE 2. The economic analysis of year 1 (2024) data will be completed before the start of the year 2 field season. The economic data will be collected for year 2 experiments and analysis will begin. OBJECTIVE 3. The national organic grower's survey will be distributed to growers, analyzed, and summarized into a report. In the summer of year 2 (2025), a consumer field experiment will be conducted in Lexington, KY, at farmer's markets to assess consumer perceptions and willingness to pay for vegetables produced with plastic-based row covers. In conjunction with on-farm collaborations with growers, a before and after survey will be conducted to assess organic growers' willingness to adopt protective row covers. OBJECTIVE 4. Outreach activities and efforts surrounding the synthesis of year 1 results will continue. The results of each year 1 experiment will be translated into video, infographics, and short reports for the online grower, consumer, and industry audiences. Online outreach will be disseminated via social media accounts, the Crops Under Cover! Website, and The Organic Center project micro-website. Students and faculty will report results at grower's and academic meetings, workshops, and field days across the three states. On-farm collaborations with growers will be conducted across all three states. In Kentucky, 10-20 grower collaborators will participate in two workshops in the spring of 2025, and a before-after survey will document the grower's perceptions of and willingness to adopt these practices. An advisory panel meeting will take place in January of 2025 to report year 1 results and seek direction for years 2-4.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? OBJECTIVE 1: Kentucky. Experiments tested the efficacy of protective row covers for pest, weed, and climate management in spring-bok choy, summer-eggplant, and fall-napa cabbage (all plots 30ft long, triple rows, N=4 per treatment). Pest control experiments compared two fine-mesh row cover treatments, controls, and organic insecticide treatments. In spring-bok choy, row covers (85g) + org. insecticides increased marketable yield compared to row covers alone, org. insecticides, and control treatments. In summer-eggplant, row covers (85g, tunnel-ends opened at flowering) had higher marketable yield than control, org. insecticides, and row covers (entirely removed at flowering). In fall-napa cabbage, row covers (both 85g & 25g) increased marketable yield relative to control, while org. insecticides did not differ from the other treatments. Weed management experiments compared living mulch (teff or perennial ryegrass), bare-ground control, and landscape fabric within the furrows between plasticulture raised beds (all covered with row covers 85g). There was no difference in weed biomass or marketable yield between treatments in the spring-bok choy or fall-napa cabbage experiments. However, in summer-eggplant, weed biomass was lowest with landscape fabric, intermediate with teff-living mulch, and highest with bare-ground. Marketable yield was higher with landscape fabric compared to the teff-living mulch. Climate protection was monitored by comparing uncovered controls to row cover treatments, however results are still pending. Summer pilot studies were carried out to explore alternative vegetable crops that may benefit from fine-mesh row covers (all plots 30ft long, triple rows, N=1 per treatment; except for green beans [30ft long, single row, N=4 per treatment]). Fine-mesh row covers increased marketable yield in patty pan summer squash, slicing cucumbers, watermelon, and brussels sprouts compared to controls. However, fine-mesh row covers did not impact yield in red bell peppers, basil, and green beans. Iowa. Experiments tested pest, weed, and climate management in spring-broccoli, summer-eggplant, and fall-napa cabbage (all plots 30ft long, triple rows, N=4 per treatment). Pest control experiments compared fine-mesh (85g) row cover, organic insecticides, and control treatments. In spring-broccoli, pest damage was higher in the control compared to the row cover and org. insecticide. Marketable yield of round heads was not different across treatments. However, fine-mesh (85g) row covers had more hollow, but marketable heads than org. insecticide treatment. In summer-eggplant, row covers (85g) had lower unmarketable yield compared to org. insecticide and controls. However, there was no difference between marketable yield between treatments. The fall-napa cabbage experiment is still on going. Weed management experiments compared living mulch (teff or annual ryegrass+crimson clover), bare-ground, and landscape fabric treatments within the furrows between plasticulture-raised beds, all under 85g row covers. In spring-broccoli, there was no difference in marketable yield of round heads between treatments. However, the landscape fabric had significantly greater hollow, but marketable heads compared to the bare-ground control and annual ryegrass+crimson clover. In summer-eggplant, marketable yield was higher in the landscape fabric than in the bare-ground and teff-living mulch. Climate variables were monitored, but results are still pending. New York. Experiments combined pest, weed, and climate management in summer-muskmelon and fall-mini red cabbage (30ft long, triple row, N=4 per treatment). Pest management treatments were applied as fine-mesh (85g) row cover, org. insecticides, or control. Weed management treatments were applied in the furrow between plasticulture-raised beds as annual ryegrass-living mulch or landscape fabric. The experimental design compared (A) ryegrass+row cover; (B) ryegrass+uncovered; (C) landscape fabric+row cover; (D) landscape fabric+uncovered; (E) org. pesticides+landscape fabric+row cover; and (F) org. pesticides+landscape fabric+uncovered. In summer-muskmelon, the dry weight of the ryegrass cover crop biomass was higher in uncovered compared to row cover treatments. However, more than 99% of all aboveground biomass was weeds. Uncovered treatments D and F had higher numbers of striped cucumber beetles compared to row cover treatments A and C. Treatment B had lower Alternaria leaf spot severity (AUDPC) compared to all other treatments. Treatment F and C had more unmarketable fruits compared to other treatments. Treatment E had more marketable fruits compared to all other treatments.The fall - mini red cabbage experiment is still ongoing. Climate variables were monitored, but results are still pending. OBJECTIVE 2: Economic assessment of pest and weed management. For all Obj. 1 experiments, each state team tracked labor, materials, machinery, and input costs related to field preparation, pest and weed management, and harvest activities. Yield and produce price point was also collected. A Qualtrics survey was designed and field-tested to gather all production costs. The survey and data collection process was refined and field-tested with KY and NY data. Profitability estimates for each treatment in each experiment are currently being analyzed. OBJECTIVE 3: Social acceptance of plastic-based protection systems. A national survey questionnaire was developed to understand organic grower use and perception of row covers and other plastic uses in organic production. This process included surveying all research team members for topics and questions, collaborating with the ISU's Center for Survey Research to compile a sampling framework for organic fruit and vegetable growers across 10 states, designing survey dissemination protocol, and IRB submission and approval. The survey will be administered in Januaryof 2025. Consumer perceptions of plastic-based protection systems. A consumer field experiment was designed to study consumer perceptions and willingness to pay for organic vegetables produced with plastic-based protection systems. This field-based study solicits real customers of farmer's markets and their preferences for cucumbers grown using plastic-based row cover technologies versus conventionally grown cucumbers. Participants will be randomly assigned to treatment groups with varying levels of information, presented with a price level, and assessed for their willingness to purchase produce. The experiment will take place in the summer of 2025 at farmers markets in Lexington, Kentucky, and aims to recruit at least 500-600 respondents. OBJECTIVE 4: Outreach. An organic grower-facing outreach strategy was developed, including the launch of the 'Crops Under Cover!' (https://cropsundercover.ca.uky.edu/) website, social media accounts, short project videos, and in-person presentations at grower's meetings. The Organic Center (TOC) offered professional development opportunities to all research team members that included training in developing effective social media content, posts, and publication strategies and helped design the research project logo and branding. TOC also developed a consumer-facing website: https://www.organic-center.org/site/enhancing-efficacy-protective-netting-climate-and-pest-resilience and social media posts. See outreach products described under Products and Other Products.

Publications

  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Organic farmer outreach website Crops Under Cover! (https://cropsundercover.ca.uky.edu/). University of Kentucky. Launched July 10, 2024.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Organic consumer, farmer, and industry outreach website. https://www.organic-center.org/site/enhancing-efficacy-protective-netting-climate-and-pest-resilience. The Organic Center. Launched June 27, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Sciligo, A. Addressing the Use of Plastics in Organic Agriculture. Organic Association of Kentucky Annual Conference, Frankfort, KY. Organized grower panel. January 27, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Gonthier, D. Plastic Use in Organic Production Systems. Organic Association of Kentucky Annual Conference, Frankfort, KY. Presentation. January 27, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Gonthier, D. Crops Under Cover! Row covers as a potential dual solution to pest and climate challenges. The 7th Agricultural Plastics Recycling Conference & Trade Show. San Diego, California. Poster presentation. August 14-16, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Gonthier, D. Plastic Use in Organic Production Systems. Organic Association of Kentucky Annual Conference. Frankfort, KY. January 27, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Sciligo, A. and Cardozo, I. Taking a whole systems approach to reducing plastic in the supply chain. The 7th Agricultural Plastics Recycling Conference & Trade Show. San Diego, California. Poster presentation. August 14-16, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Gonthier, D. Using Row cover for low- and meso-tunnels. Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference. Bowling Green, KY. January 4, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Pethybridge, S. J. Mesotunnels for cucurbit production. UConn Extensions Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers Conference. Storrs, CT. January 9, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Pethybridge, S. J. Feasibility of mesotunnels for cucurbit production. 43rd Annual LI Agricultural Forum, Riverhead, NY. January 11, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Chaudhary, S. and Nair, A. Eggplant Insect and Weed Study. AgDiscovery. Horticulture Research Station, Ames, IA. July 16, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Chaudhary, S. and Nair, A. Eggplant Insect and Weed Study. Costa Rica Study Abroad Group. Horticulture Research Station, Ames, IA. July 25, 2024.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Fiske, K. Addressing the trade-offs of pest protective row covers for integrated pest management in vegetable production. Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky. Departmental seminar. March 28, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Dentzman, K. Life is Plastic, its (sometimes) fantastic: A consideration for the socio-economic costs and benefits of agricultural plastics from a growers perspective. Annual Agriculture Food and Human Values conference, Syracuse, NY. June 6, 2024
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Chaudhary, S. and Nair, A. Eggplants in Mesotunnels. GPSS Symposium. Bessey Hall, Iowa State University. March 18, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Chaudhary, S. and Nair, A. Eggplants in Mesotunnels. ISU Fruits and Vegetable Field Day. Horticulture Research Station, Ames, IA. August 6, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Chaudhary, S. and Nair, A. Pest Management Using Insect Netting in Organic Vegetable Productions Systems. Iowa Specialty Producers Conference. FFA Enrichment Center, Akeny, IA. December 8-9, 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Thinakaran, A. and Nair, A. Effects of Mesotunnels on Pest and Disease Management in Brassica Species. Great Lakes EXPO. Grand Rapids, MI. Poster. December 4-6, 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Thinakaran, A. and Nair, A. Effects of Meostunnels on Pest and Disease Management in Brassica Species. Iowa Specialty Producers Conference. Akeny, IA. Poster. December 8-9, 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Diggins, K., Damann, K., Murphy, S. P., and Pethybridge, S. J. 2024. Enhancing organic acorn squash resilience with mesotunnel production systems. Squash bug (Anasa tristis). Proc. APS Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN. P-310. Presentation. 2024.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Gonthier, D.J. Building resilience to pests and climate with protective row covers. Kentucky Congress Aid Policy Tour. University of Kentucky. Presentation. April 24, 2024.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Gonthier, D.J. Building resilience to pests and climate with protective row covers. USDA-NIFA Tour. University of Kentucky. Presentation. April 24, 2024.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Diggins, K., and Pethybridge, S. J. NY field trial plants  mesotunnel research. USDA-NIFA OREI Project Advisory Meeting. Virtual presentation. January 11, 2024.