Summer Tour & Field Day
June 25
OARDC, Wooster, Ohio

2007 Summer Tour & Field Day Highlights

Stop 1: Hort 1 High Tunnels

Tomato Grafting: Its Potential and Status - Dr. Matt Kleinhenz
Grafting directly combines the traits of two varieties by placing the top (foliage) of one variety (the scion) on the roots of another variety (the rootstock). Grafting has long been common in fruit production and is an emerging technology in U.S.-based vegetable production, especially of tomatoes grown in open fields or high tunnels. Grafting can improve vigor, disease resistance, stress tolerance, and yield potential. However, to reap these benefits, grafting procedures must be optimized and other obstacles must be overcome. OSU works with multiple partners to help farmers test and include the use of grafted plants in their toolbox.

Tomato High Tunnels - Disease Management - Dr. Sally Miller
Diseases of tomatoes produced in high tunnels and greenhouses have different disease problems than those produced in the open field. Botrytis, leaf mold, and white mold are some diseases that are common in high tunnel tomatoes. Research is underway to find ways to suppress these diseases, including compost amendments of soil, biofumigants nd foliar-applied products. Tomatoes are being produced in a 30 ft x 120 ft high tunnel on the Fry Farm under a transitional organic system.

Stop 2: Snyder Farm Orchard

Beekeeping in Ohio - Dr. Jim Tew
Keeping honey bee colonies healthy and productive is not as easy as it was just a few decades ago. In 1960, about 20,000 Ohio beekeepers managed 120,000 colonies of bees. Today, there are fewer than 16,000 colonies of Ohio bees that are managed by 3,500 beekeepers. Yet, Ohio pollination needs are as great as ever. For this, and several reasons, bee colonies are presently in short supply. Dr. Jim Tew will discuss some of the challenges facing Ohio's beekeepers.

Apple Fungicide Evaluations - Dormant Applications for Scab
Control -Dr. Mike Ellis
Apple scab is the most important early season disease of Apple in Ohio. The use of effective fungicides is the primary method for controlling this destructive disease.
Recent research has evaluated the use of dormant applications of the Phosphite fungicide AGRI-FOS and the bark penetrating adjuvant Pentra Bark for controlling early season apple scab without the use of additional fungicides. If these treatments are effective, dormant applications could greatly reduce the overall use of fungicides for control of primary apple scab. At this stop, we will have the opportunity to observe how the experimental treatments performed in 2008.

Stop 3: Snyder Farm High Tunnels

Polyculture System for Use by the Small Urban Farmer - Joe Kovach
The goal of this project is to determine the optimal layout (in terms of economics, pest density, and efficiency) of a polyculture system that can be used by the small urban farmer. This system contains perennial fruit crops such as apples, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries and annual plantings of tomatoes, beans, soybeans or other crops. In order to accelerate the growing season, large plastic high tunnels were placed over some of the modular units.

Save the Date
January 12-14, 2009
OPGMA Congress
The Nia Center at the Kalahari Resort
Sandusky, Ohio

2008 Congress Highlights