What's Killing My Kale?

We are back with another season of What's Killing My Kale!

In Season 3 Episode 1, Natalie talked with Kenny Blumenfeld, Senior Climatologist with the DNR about how our climate has changed over the last 100 years, and projections for the future. 

This is the first episode in a mini series about how climate change is impacting our ability to grow fruits and vegetables in MN, and adaptation strategies.

You can listen to and download the episode here. What's Killing my Kale is also available on Apple Podcasts and FruitEdge. If you enjoy listening to our podcast, please leave a review on iTunes. As always, reach out and let us know if there are any topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes!

In episode 26 of What's Killing My Kale, Natalie

talked with Dr. Yolanda Chen, a professor at the University of Vermont. Yolanda has been studying Swede Midge on the East coast, where it has been a devastating disease of cole crops. In particular, her research has focused on organic management strategies. 

In part 1 of this episode, we interviewed Angie Ambourn, supervisor of the MDA's pest detection unit, about recent Swede Midge sightings in Minnesota. We anticipate that this insect pest may move beyond community gardens to vegetable farms in the near future, so it's important for growers to be on the lookout, and to have some background in current research and management strategies. 

Listen to part 1 here. 

You can listen to and download the episode here. What's

Killing my Kale is also available on iTunes. If you enjoy listening to

our podcast, please leave a review on iTunes. As always, reach out and

let us know if there are any topics you'd like us to cover in future

episodes!

In episode 26 of What's Killing My Kale, Natalie

talked with Angie Ambourn, supervisor of the MDA's pest detection unit. Angie's team has been studying emerging insects and diseases in community gardens across Minnesota, and they've recently detected Swede Midge in gardens across the Twin Cities. Swede Midge is an important pest of cole crops on the East Cost, and while has not yet caused economic damage on Minnesota farms, it's important for producers to keep an eye out and anticipate this insect pest in the years to come. 

In part 2 of this episode, we interviewed Yolanda Chen from the University of Vermont about management strategies for organic farms.

You can listen to and download the episode here. What's

Killing my Kale is also available on iTunes. If you enjoy listening to

our podcast, please leave a review on iTunes. As always, reach out and

let us know if there are any topics you'd like us to cover in future

episodes!

In episode 25 of What's Killing My Kale, Natalie talked with Extension Educator Julie Weisenhorn, and recently graduated horticulture master's student Nathan Hecht. Both Julie and Nathan have been studying how flowering plants near fruit and vegetable plots impact pollination and fruit set. While we generally know that adding flowering plants to the landscape is good for pollinators and beneficial insects, we wanted to dig deeper and learn how much of an impact flowering plants can have, how to go about selecting the proper plants, and how the broader landscape impacts results. This is a longer episode, but it's packed with insight and good discussion. 

You can listen to and download the episode here. What's Killing my Kale is also available on iTunes. If you enjoy listening to our podcast, please leave a review on iTunes. As always, reach out and let us know if there are any topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes!

In episode 24 of What's Killing My Kale, Natalie talked with wildlife biologist John Loegering about vertebrate pest management. They discussed a four pillar IPM approach to wildlife management both in packshed areas and in fields, and talked about balancing the competing interests of supporting wildlife habitat while keeping animals out of the field. 

John made a short list of resources for those interested in learning more, which can be found here. 

You can listen to and download the episode here. What's Killing my Kale is also available on iTunes.

Author: Natalie Hoidal, Interviewee: Anthony Hanson

In episode 23 of our fruit and vegetable podcast What's Killing My Kale? we talked to Anthony Hanson, an Extension post-doc who has been creating degree day maps for various insect pests in Minnesota. Anthony explained how fruit and vegetable growers can use these maps to help make pest management decisions. 

Click here to listen to the episode. You can listen to it now, or download it to listen later. Degree day maps for various MN insect pests can be found on VedEdge. 

You can find all previous episodes on FruitEdge.

What's Killing My Kale? is a podcast production of the University of Minnesota Extension, sponsored in part by the University of Minnesota Integrated Pest Management program. Co-hosted by Extension Educators Annie Klodd and Natalie Hoidal, the podcast focuses on innovative and timely pest management topics in fruits and vegetables, and sometimes ventures into other timely issues as well. 

For our September series of "What's Killing My Kale?", we caught up with some of our Extension IPM experts to discuss the main 2018 growing season pest pressures and how to prepare for 2019.  In this episode, we discuss diseases with Michelle Grabowski. You can listen to the episode here or on iTunes.

For our September series of "What's Killing My Kale?", we caught up with some of our Extension IPM experts to discuss the main 2018 growing season pest pressures and how to prepare for 2019.  In this episode, we discussed insects with Bill Hutchison.  You can listen to the episode here, or on iTunes.

How Much Do We Really Know About Japanese Beetles?Everyone is talking about Japanese beetles this season, but how much do we actually know about how to control them?In this episode, Extension Educator Jeff Hahn and Entomology graduate student Dominique Ebbenga help me bust some myths about Japanese beetle control. We break down the ins and outs of this invasive pest, and they reveal some fascinating facts about what makes them such atough foe for fruits and vegetables in Minnesota.Listen to this episode here, or on iTunes.

In our August episodes on pollinator and beneficial insect conservation as part of IPM, we'll discuss some background on how pollinators and beneficial insects are faring in our current agricultural systems, how farmers can implement beneficial habitat, and some tips for managing pests without harming beneficial insects.  In this episode, we're joined by Karin Jokela, Xerces Society Conservation Planner.