Growers are looking for sustainable alternatives to methyl bromide as a soil fumigant that are effective and economical. Increased demand for organically produced fruits and vegetables has also contributed to the need for environmentally friendly soil-borne disease control methods. Grafting may be a valuable tool for vegetable growers to cope with pest management challenges in production of cuc...

Protection from parasites is an important factor in agricultural operations, and calls for continual monitoring and prompt action when needed. In many cases, the equipment, pesticides and manpower required for this purpose account for the majority of production expenses. Though the use of chemicals has had a major influence on the development of agriculture in the twentieth century, bringing si...

Risk theory tells us if an insurer can effectively pool a large number of individuals to reduce the total risk, he then can provide the insurance by charging a premium close to the actuarially fair rate. There is, however, a common belief that the risk can be effectively pooled only when the random loss is independent, so that crop insurance markets cannot survive without government subsidy bec...

Highbush blueberry yields are dependent on pollination by bees, and introduction of managed honey bees is the primary strategy used for pollination of this crop. Complementary pollination services are also provided by wild bees, yet highbush blueberry is increasingly grown in regions outside its native range where wild bee communities may be less adapted to the crop and growers may still be tes...

Agricultural crop, one of the biological entities, is sensitive to its environmental condition including various soil and crop inputs. Alteration in environmental condition causes reduction in crop productivity (such as crop yield and total biomass etc.). Ultra-modern technology such as, precision agriculture (PA) is capable to prevent crop damage and maintain crop productivity. PA is the techn...

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a major pest of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) crops produced in the Azorean greenhouses. Despite concerns, no systematic study available to describe population dynamics T. and its natural enemies. The objective this was compare abundance (eggs larvae) native enemies, greenhouses under different production modes (biological, traditio...

C quality is important to fruit and vegetable growers, buyers, and handlers. °Brix readings indicate soluble solids content. Since soluble solids represent a product’s potential sweetness (an aspect of quality), °Brix readings can interest many throughout the value chain. Three steps are required to make effective use of °Brix readings: (1) obtain accurate representative values; (2) become fami...

Pollinator-dependent agriculture heavily relies upon a single pollinator-the honey bee. To diversify pollination strategies, growers are turning to alternatives. Densely planted reservoirs of pollen- and nectar-rich flowers (pollination reservoirs, hereafter "PRs") may improve pollination services provided by wild bees. Our focal agroecosystem, lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton),...

MEN WHO grow vegetable seeds for sale engage in a specialized and highly competitive farming operation. They compete to maintain superior strains of most standard varieties and to develop new varieties. Most of the large vegetable seed companies have well-qualified staffs to develop and maintain stock seed, from which is produced seed for the market, mostly by farmers who have contracts with th...