The Iowa Specialty Producers Conference is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 19-20, 2021. This second joint gathering of the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Iowa Wine Growers Association will take place entirely online. Keynote speaker Hugh McPherson will share best practices for incorporating “agri-tainment” into a farming operation. He owns Maize Quest Fun Park near . . . read more

Olivia HanlonFFED Extension Education Specialistohanlon@iastate.edu The pandemic of 2020 provided opportunity for specialty producers in Iowa to expand production and sales. But managing risk for specialty production is critical to capitalizing on new market opportunities. Beginning Jan. 6, 2021, the Farm, Food and Enterprise Development program of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will sponsor . . . read more

Ajay NairISU Extension and OutreachDepartment of Horticulturenairajay@iastate.edu Many commercial growers and home gardeners often confront the issue of Blossom End Rot (BER) in their tomato, pepper, and eggplant. The BER is a physiological disorder caused by a localized calcium deficiency in the blossom-end of the fruit. It is a physiological disorder and is not caused by fungi, . . . read more

Gail NonneckeHorticulture Professor515-294-0037nonnecke@iastate.edu There is still plenty to do in the garden during the fall in preparation for winter. In this installment of Yard and Garden, Iowa State University horticulture expert Gail Nonnecke discusses the steps to take to prepare fruits for winter. How should I prepare my strawberry bed for winter? Strawberries should be . . . read more

Cynthia HaynesAssociate Professor in Horticulture515-294-4006chaynes@iastate.edu As they do with quite a few other fruits and veggies, gardeners must prepare strawberry plants for winter to enable a successful harvest next spring. In this installment of Yard and Garden, Cynthia Haynes, associate professor and extension specialist in horticulture at Iowa State University, answers questions about that topic. . . . read more

Kathleen DelateDepartments of Agronomy and Horticulture515-294-7069kdelate@iastate.edu The annual Iowa Organic Conference will be held virtually this year on Monday, Nov. 23, in keeping with COVID-19 regulations. A half-day of presentations and interactions with industry experts will take the place of the normal meeting. The conference, now in its 20th year, is a joint activity between the Iowa . . . read more

Ajay NairExtension Commercial Horticulture Specialist515-294-7080nairajay@iastate.edu As you enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of your labor after your summer harvest, keep in mind that there are still plenty of chores to be done this fall to get ready for next year’s vegetable garden. This week’s Yard and Garden entry offers tips from Ajay Nair, associate professor . . . read more

Richard JauronExtension Horticulturist515-294-3108rjauron@iastate.edu Summer vegetables can still be harvested late in the season, but it is important to know when to harvest. The following are some tips that can help. How do I harvest and store sweet potatoes?  Harvest sweet potatoes immediately before or after a vine killing frost. When harvesting sweet potatoes, dig carefully . . . read more

Shannon M. ColemanFood Science and Human Nutrition515-294-9011scoleman@iastate.edu Iowa State University is offering a three-session, online short course for emerging food entrepreneurs interested in developing processed foods in Iowa. The course meets 12-4 p.m. CDT on Nov. 30, Dec. 2 and Dec. 4. Shannon Coleman, assistant professor in food science and human nutrition and a human . . . read more

Shannon M. ColemanFood Science and Human Nutrition515-294-9011scoleman@iastate.edu After the farmers market season ends, many home-based food operators in Iowa are still able to prepare and sell foods from their home if they follow state regulations and food safety practices. To help them, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has created the Home-based Food Operators: Regulations and . . . read more