Hudson Valley Research Laboratory
Research at the Hudson Valley Lab
Research
The topography, soils, climate, and geographic location of the Hudson
Valley provide local growers with unique opportunities and challenges:
Opportunities
The longer growing season in the Hudson Valley allows orchardists to
grow long- season apple varieties that do not mature elsewhere in the
state.
Organic soils and river bottoms provide ideal conditions for vegetable
production.
The Hudson Valley's proximity to the New York City metropolitan area
provides growers with the opportunity to market horticultural products
to millions of local consumers.
Challenges
Hudson Valley growers must maintain competitiveness in domestic and world markets while producing crops in an increasingly urban landscape. The warm, humid climate favors the development of diseases and insect pests not usually found in cooler regions of the state.
Hudson Valley growers need effective pest management strategies for mites,
insects, plant diseases, and wildlife pests (e.g., deer), but the management
strategies must be designed and applied in ways that are compatible with
the sensitivities of non-farm neighbors from urban backgrounds.