This NE-SARE project is being conducted by Extension researchers at UMass, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, University of Connecticut, and University of New Hampshire. Get to know us and how to get in touch with us!
Sue Scheufele, Extension Educator
UMass Extension Vegetable Program
In her role as an Extension educator, Sue works with vegetable growers across MA to figure on myriad crop and pest issues, works on the Vegetable Note Newsletter, and gives presentations to grower audiences throughout the year. She also conducts applied research on insect and disease management at the UMass Crop and Animal Research and Education Center, where she has done trials on finding new materials for organic and conventional growers for control of cabbagot root maggot, brassica diseases (black rot, Alternaria leaf spot, and Brassica downy mildew), brassica caterpillars, cabbage aphids, basil downy mildew, and this year will be studying reduced-risk fungicides for butternut squash production. The brassicas include some of Sue's favorite foods and she has been working on insect and disease management in brassicas since her Master's project on Alternaria leaf spot.
Phone: 413-577-3976
Email: sscheufele[at]umext[dot]umass[dot]edu
Becky Sideman
Extension Faculty, University of New Hampshire
Alina Harris
Graduate Student, University of New Hampshire
My topics of passion are diversity in agroecosystems and integrated systems approach to farm management. I earned my Bachelor’s degree as one of the first Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production Systems majors at UNH in 2012. My studies encompass both animal and plant agriculture and their relationships in the agricultural system.
I currently have two research projects underway. The first aims to aims to find an integrated organic approach to managing cabbage aphid on Brussels sprouts which utilizes and evaluates biological and chemical pest management strategies in conjunction. Insectary habitat plants are used to establish and host a population of natural predators and parasitoids of the cabbage aphid.
My second research project is a germplasm screening of crimson clover in collaboration with the Legume Cover Crop Breeding program. Crimson clover can be utilized as both a cover crop as a well as a forage crop for large animals and pollinators. 60 accessions of crimson clover cover crop are being evaluated for regional adaptation. We are most interested in the winter hardiness or winter survival trait and overall vigor in the springtime. This research offers alternatives to the limited options of winter hardy cover crops in the North East.
Ana Legrand
Extension Faculty, University of Connecticut
Dan Gilrein
Extension Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County
Faruque Zaman
Extension Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County