Vegetable Crops

Soil-biodegradable plastic mulch: Is it right for you?

By Shuresh Ghimire, UConn Cooperative Extension and Andy Radin, URI Cooperative Extension Something important for you to consider: your use of plastic mulch in vegetable production. This is especially worthy to think about given that plastic mulch isn’t just for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant anymore. Most small-scale growers use it for onions, lettuce, herbs, and […]

No-till Vegetable Production

No-till vegetable production: soil health, weed control, and crop yields Article by Shuresh Ghimire, Extension Vegetable Specialist, UConn Extension Building healthy soils, integrating cover crops, and managing weeds are key elements of vegetable farms. The use of no-till and cover crops provide a wealth of soil benefits thereby improving the productivity of the farming systems. […]

Helping Connecticut Farmers Succeed: A Collaborative Journey

“Educating farmers in sustainable, profitable and environmentally-sound food production practices benefits every man, woman and child in the country directly, on a daily basis, by helping to maintain a safe and secure food source. Knowledge of effective IPM practices helps prevent excess application of pesticides by otherwise frustrated growers,” Jude Boucher says. The name Jude […]

Vegetable IPM Class of 2016

Each year, UConn Extension Educator Jude Boucher helps commercial vegetable growers find sustainable solutions to pest problems. The program emphasizes healthy soils, balanced plant nutrition, proper pest and beneficial identification, scouting and monitoring techniques, preventative management strategies, reduced-risk pesticide selection application, and resistance management. Farmers apply to become part of the program, as space is […]

Jude Boucher: A Lasting Impact

By Stacey Stearns   The name Jude Boucher is synonymous with vegetable production in Connecticut. Since joining UConn Extension in 1986, Jude has made a profound impact on the industry as the Extension Educator for vegetable crops Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Jude received his bachelor’s degree in Entomology from the University of New Hampshire, his […]

Extension Educator Honored

Boucher Receives 2015 AAUP Service Excellence Award It was recently announced that Jude Boucher will be receiving the Service Excellence Award from the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) on April 6th at a ceremony in the Old Appropriations room of the State Capitol building in Hartford. Jude is the Extension Educator for vegetable crops […]