Pesticide Education Program

Project Leader: Natalia Clifton

Project Year: 2008

Pesticides are important tools for the management of pests that threaten the food supply, public health and natural resources. Unfortunately, these chemicals can also pose a threat to the human health and the environment if they are not used properly. Results from the Agricultural Health Study (www.aghealth.org) indicate that there continues to be a concern about the impacts of pesticide exposure on users of pesticides. Inexperienced applicators had more accidental exposures and those, who apply pesticides very frequently, increased their risk of having an accidental high exposure in their lifetime. The Farm Family Exposure Study (www.farmfamilyexposure.org) determined that higher pesticide exposures by farmers were associated with not wearing gloves, having pesticide application equipment problems, and using poor handling practices. In New England, growers have indicated that they are also concerned about the toxicity of pesticides. Sixty-six percent of growers participating in New England crop pest management surveys indicated that the toxicity of the pesticide was a "very important" factor when choosing pesticides on the farm. The only other factor that ranked higher than toxicity was the efficacy of the pesticide. In a survey of 215 New England sweet corn growers, 57% indicated that they "always" wore gloves and 27% "occasionally" wore gloves when mixing and/or applying pesticides. However, of those glove users 37% used inappropriate gloves made out of latex and/or cotton. A primary goal of the Pesticide Education team is to educate users of pesticides in the health risks associated with pesticide exposure as well as the proper use of personal protective equipment. 

This project is part of the Agriculture & Landscape program

Plant and Soil Diagnostic Services

Project Leader: Bess Dicklow

Project Year: 2008

The vegetable production industry faces many challenges. These include new and more severe plant diseases, introduced and invasive pests, and expanding range of pests as a result of climate change; the need for healthy and resource-efficient technologies that provide long-term stewardship of soil, water and energy; extreme development pressure and high land values; competition from regional, national and international suppliers; establishing new farmers to carry on the knowledge and culture of farming. To remain viable, this industry needs cutting edge research that unites basic scientific investigation with applied and practical solutions, new and effective marketing strategies, and well-educated farmers who are ready for the changes of the next fifty years.   Health and environmental risks from pesticides and fertilizers should be minimized using new technologies and products, without compromising crop quality or net costs. Water and soil conservation practices are key to providing healthy crops while conserving the resource base for agriculture.

Extension program related to this project: Agriculture & Landscape

Sustainable Cranberry Production 

Project Leader: Hilary Sandler

Project Year: 2008

The cranberry industry in Massachusetts faces many challenges.  In the past ten years, growers have gone from receiving record high prices for their fruit to record low prices.  Although the industry has rebounded somewhat, the focus to remain economically and envrironmentally sustainable has sharpened.  It is anticipated that the industry may lose some acreage due to attrition and that smaller growers may sell land to other parties.  As with other farmers, energy costs are rising quickly, impacting the bottom line.  Growers must develop and adopt innovative technology to remain competitive.  They must understand the biology of cranberry pests to properly use new chemicals.  Additionally, they must contend with increasing urban pressure on the farm's margin as many parties compete for resources.  Our goal and purpose as extension and research workers, is to provide cranberry growers with pertinent and timely information so they may sustain their farm operations in Southeastern Massachusetts.

This project is a part of the Agriculture & Landscape program

Sustainable Small Fruit Production and Marketing

Project Leader: Sonia Schloemann

Project Year: 2008

For fruit farms in Massachusetts to thrive, farmers must continually strive to improve production efficiency, expand species diversity, explore marketing opportunities, understand farm ecology, and evaluate profitability. The Sustainable Small Fruit Production Project provides ready access to current research-based information on new and alternative fruit crops and varieties, advanced horticultural management techniques, marketing strategies, and innovative practices to manage weeds, disease and insects.  Through applied research and education programs, we disseminate the most recent and the most reliable information to assist growers in Massachusetts and throughout the region to maintain and enhance the environmental and economic sustainability of their operations. Our efforts are also focused on the increasing the purchase and consumption of locally grown foods by individuals, families and institutions.  Overall, our program has established on ongoing partnership between local fruit producers and UMass Extension to foster a more secure, diverse and healthful food supply for the Commonwealth.

This project is a part of the Agriculture & Landscape program

Sustainable Tree Fruit Production and Marketing

Project Leader: Jon Clements

Project Year: 2008

Fruit farms and orchards add significantly to the quality of life in Massachusetts and New England. The most obvious contribution is to open space through their scenic and historic vistas, but it is also well known that regular consumption of fruits leads to better human health. In addition, lands surrounding agricultural production provide buffer zones for ecosystem management, often providing important open space for native species of plants and animals and corridors for their movement or expansion.

This project is a part of the Agriculture & Landscape program

Sustainable Vegetable Production and Marketing

Project Leader: Ruth Hazzard

Project Year: 2008

Vegetable farming in Massachusetts and New England has remained vital in recent decades through constant and creative change: more direct marketing, diversification, selection of high value crops, and adoption of new technologies. The twenty thousand Massachusetts acres used to produce vegetables (worth >$80 million in farm-gate value and >$240 M retail value) are a resource for food, open space, environmental quality, economic vitality, and quality of life in the Commonwealth. Vegetable farmers are key players in the state's 100 plus farmers markets, 150 farmstands, 50 plus Community Supported Agriculture farms, and wholesale food distribution system. Dairy, livestock and fruit farmers are diversifying by growing more vegetable crops.

Extension program related to this project: Agriculture & Landscape