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2025 Midwest Vegetable Production Guide

This annually-revised guide is a summary of currently suggested fertility, horticultural, and pest management techniques and tools for commercial vegetable growers, and is a collaboration of land-grant universities from eight states. It provides contact and vegetable production information that is valid for the current year in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Ohio.

Visit mwveguide.org/guide, for the pdf downloads of the guide for printing in whole or in part on your own.

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FFED 32B

Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Production Budgets: Perennial Crops

An enterprise budget is an estimate of the costs and returns to produce a product (enterprise). For example, an Iowa corn and soybean producer would be interested in developing both a corn and soybean enterprise budget. Vegetable growers who may have 35-40 different products may wish to develop budgets on their key products. These would be products that contribute the most to the attainment of producer goals.

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HORT 3104

Specialty Melons for High Tunnel Production

High tunnel production is on the rise in Iowa and the Midwest due to the benefits of season extension and the control over water and nutrient application. High tunnels, a passively heated hoop house where crops are usually planted directly in the soil, allow for an extension of the growing season and extended cash flow. This publication features the crop specialty melons as an alternative that can be used in high tunnel rotation in addition to tomato, pepper, cucumber, and salad greens.

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FFED 32A

Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Production Budgets: Annual Crops

Production budgets help to allocate land, labor, and capital. The most appropriate use is defined by the person in control of the resources and may be used to maximize profits or minimize soil loss or any other goal.

Sample budgets included in this publication are divided into five sections: total receipts, costs of planting and growing the product, pre-harvest and harvest expenses, ownership costs, and summary of returns.

The estimated costs illustrated in this publication are based on Extension professionals experience with a variety of growers in Iowa. The returns are based on common prices and yields received by farmers. Costs are those typically incurred related to ownership costs, crop inputs, and other expenses. The budgets were developed on a 4 foot by 100 foot bed.

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FS 29

Optimal Aronia Berry Harvest

Aronia berries are a super-fruit that are becoming more intriguing to consumers, farmers and researchers. This publication discusses research conducted by Iowa State University into aronia berry production in Iowa.

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HORT 3060

Iowa High Tunnel Fruit and Vegetable Production Manual

This publication provides growers with information to use high tunnels effectively, enhance productivity and increase income. Construction and management of high tunnels is included, as well as information on crops that can be grown.

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HORT 3052

Crop Rotations, Composting and Cover Crops for Organic Vegetable Production

Organic production and consumption has increased to a $39.5 billion industry in the United States with over 22,000 organic farmers. Over 5.4 million acres are in organic production in the U.S., including 164,403 acres of organic vegetables, valued at $1.3 billion. The majority of organic vegetable growers incorporate crop rotations, composting, and cover crops in their operations. The following information offers a guide for including these practices to meet certified organic rules and increase the long-term sustainability of an organic farm.

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HORT 3058

Commercial Melon Production

The melon family is comprised of muskmelon, watermelon, and honeydew melons, with all belonging to the cucurbitaceae family.

This publication discusses commercial site selection, planting, cultivars, pollination, fertilization, irrigation, weed management and harvesting of melons.

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HORT 3057

Commercial Production of Pak Choi

Pak choi is a cool-season vegetable that belongs to the cabbage and cauliflower family. It is also known as bok choi, or pak choy. It originated in China and has been cultivated for thousands of years. Pak choi has rapidly been gaining popularity in the Midwest due to its mild flavor, suitability as a stir fry vegetable, and wide acceptance among consumers. Many farmers markets, community supported agriculture vendors, and local grocery stores feature pak choi in produce boxes.

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HORT 3040

A Review of Cold Climate Grape Cultivars

There has been interest in growing grapes in the upper Midwest and other cold climate regions of North America. One of the problems growers face in these regions is selecting cultivars (cultivated varieties) that will withstand severe winters, mature in short growing seasons, and be productive. As grape acreage increases in cold climate regions, too often cultivar selections are being made based upon testimonial or anecdotal information. With the high costs of vineyard establishment there is an increasing need for a standard reference to assist growers in selecting best adapted cultivars. This publication can be viewed via a PDF reader and by using the bookmark function, you will be introduced to 74 varieties.

Previously available in CD format and known as known as EDC 383.

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HORT 3039A

Managing Spotted Winged Drosophila in Commercial Fruit Production

Fruit flies native to the U.S. primarily lay eggs in soft, rotting fruit and cause little to no economic loses to undamaged fruits. These fruits flies are considered a nuisance pest to farmers unless the fruit has been previously injured. Spotted winged drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, on the other hand, is an invasive fruit fly that prefers to lay eggs in healthy, maturing fruit. It is native to Southeast Asia including China, India, Japan, Korea, and Thailand (Walsh et al., 2011), where the climate is similar to the Midwest. First detected in Iowa in 2012, SWD has remained a relatively innocuous pest only causing isolated economic injury until the 2015 growing season. This publication outlines management practices and options for infested fruit.

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HORT 3041

Short Duration Cover Crops for Vegetable Production Systems

Cover crops are planted not for harvest, but are designed to maintain and enhance the sustainability of a production system by improving soil fertility, water quality and can lead to the suppression of weeds, soil erosion and pests. This publication provides information on how to use short duration cover crops to aid production, especially during a fallow period between two vegetable crops. Choosing the correct cover crop will impact its effectiveness, as will the grower’s method of seeding and termination. The publication provides tips for picking the right crop and showing how it should be used to maximize its effectiveness.

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HORT 3030

Conservation Techniques for Vegetable Production: Combining Strip-Tillage and Cover Crops

Strip-tillage is when a crop is planted into narrow, tilled strips and the non-tilled area between the strips might contain residue from the previous season's main crop or a living or dead cover crop.

Combining strip-tillage and cover crops offers various benefits including minimal soil erosion, maintains soil moisture and weed suppression. This publication provides basic information on using a strip-tillage system with rolled cover crops as a conservation best management practice in vegetable production systems such broccoli, peppers, pumpkins, squash and tomatoes.

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PM 3064

Machinery Sharing Manual for Fruit and Vegetable Producers

This manual discusses operational and organizational issues related to sharing farm machinery for fruit and vegetable production. It includes five real-life case studies of growers who shared equipment, sample sharing agreements and worksheets for allocating costs fairly. This manual highlights various options for sharing, identifies potential problems associated with sharing resources, and explains the strategies for resolving them.

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PM 1974C

On-farm Food Safety: Cleaning and Sanitizing Guide

Suggested checklists, standard procedures, and schedules to document proper on-farm cleaning and sanitizing practices.

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PM 3025

Vegetable Production Budgets for a High Tunnel

Figure high tunnel profitability for vegetable production with the systems and budgets described in this publication. The information is based on the detailed production records of five farmers growing crops such as bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, herbs, lettuce, and tomatoes.

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BFC 25

Enterprise Budget: Raspberries

Raspberries are a favorite among consumers. This sweet fruit has become increasingly popular in the last decade with the United States as the world’s third largest producer. Washington, California, and Oregon are the leading producers in this country, but raspberries are suitable to grow in Iowa. Raspberry harvest begins in the early months of summer and extends into early fall. The first full crop from a raspberry planting will be harvested in the second year after planting.

Commercial production of raspberries is a long-term commitment with stands usually lasting 10 years. Careful site and variety selection, soil preparation and irrigation are important in the planning process.

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PM 2085

Organic Apple Production in Iowa

New and experienced organic apple growers will find recommendations in this guide for managing insect pests, diseases, and weeds.

Tips about marketing opportunities also are included.

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PM 672D

Production Guide for Commercial Strawberries - Iowa Commercial Fruit Production Series

Provides tips to help evaluate local market potential plus guidelines for recommended cultural practices.

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SUL 14

Hosta Diseases and Pests -- Sustainable Urban Landscapes

Easily identify common diseases and pests and how to manage them effectively.

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PM 1976

Finding the Right Machine for the Job: Compact Power Equipment

You'll find in-depth information on buying outdoor power equipment that's best for you. Includes step-by-step instructions and detailed tables.

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PM 1699

Irrigation Water Quality for Container-grown Plants

This fact sheet provides target ranges of elements for growing most greenhouse and nursery crops, growth concerns, and interpretation of test results and suggestions for correcting irrigation problems.

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