by Linda McCandless
Geneva, NY - Despite extremely wet conditions during planting and below-normal temperatures during the growing season, industry optimism was high at the fourth annual processing vegetable field day held at Cornell University's Agricultural Experiment Station's Fruit and Vegetable Research Farm on August 15.
"To date, yields and quality have been excellent," said Hugh Price, chairman of the Horticultural Sciences Department. "Processors have a high expectation of achieving their targeted pack." Attendees expressed the hope for a late frost so late-planted and slow-maturing crops like corn and dry beans can be harvested before Mother Nature puts an end to the 1996 growing season.
"The event is a good opportunity for processors and seed representatives to get together," said research support specialist Jim Ballerstein, who organized the event with horticultural scientist Steve Reiners. The trials are important in screening for quality and high yield. Susceptibility to disease and insect problems have been an increasing concern for screening varieties, as the industry strives to reduce the use of pesticides.
"Acreage of processing sweet corn and snap beans is up significantly in New York state in the last two years," added Reiners."The research conducted here gives the industry the needed information to support expansion."
More than 65 people were in attendance, including industry representatives from processing companies, seed companies, ag consulting firms, and vegetables brokers. Representatives from Asgrow, Ferry Morse, Harris Moran, Crookham, Rogers, Seneca, Comstock-Michigan, Rogers, Hanover, and Strathroy joined extension and station personnel at the trials. In addition to research results on pest and insect resistance, discussion centered on yield, taste, texture, color, appearance, uniformity, and process-ability.
The emphasis was sweet corn and snap beans. In general, these crops are planted on contract-delivery to local and out-of-state processors. "The processor fieldmen attending this field day play a key role in working with growers to make decision on varieties, planting dates, cultural practices, and harvesting schedules," said Price. "These individuals are an important link in the dissemination of information from the Experiment Station to the New York vegetable industry. Conversely, the fieldman provide critical information to us on the performance of new technology in their region and problems that the vegetable industry is facing."
The total acreage of snap beans, sweet corn, and green peas in New York is projected to be 74,600 acres in 1996. Researchers George Abawi, Alan Taylor, and Chuck Eckenrode evaluated snap bean varieties for root rot, yield/acre, and insect resistance, respectively. Thomas Björkman evaluated the use of Trichoderma on both snap beans and sweet corn. Eight varieties of sweet corn were evaluated for tolerance to herbicides. Jim Ballerstein reported on seed variety trials for corn and snap beans. Shaw Damen, from Strathroy Foods in Ontario, has responsiblity for 5000 acres of sweet corn in Ontario and 1000 acres of snap beans. It was his first trip to New York and his first trip to the experiment station. "I am very impressed by the trials," he said, as he trailed Jim Ballerstein from trial to trial picking up pointers about acquiring yield data. "Like everybody else, Strathroy is very interested in disease resistant varieties so we can keep the sprays down."
Field trial review was followed by dinner, followed by an after-dinner discussion on industry issues.
"The industry update is so important I come up only for it," said Jean Warholic, executive secretary of the New York State Vegetable Association.
At the discussion, representatives from around the country talked about processing vegetable supplies, how the season is progressing across the country, and the outlook for seeds next year.
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Page created September 6, 1996 by Cathy Weeden