Spear Tips: Recent Episodes
Ben Werling
Spear Tips is a joint audio venture of Michigan State University Extension, MACMA Asparagus and the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.
Spear Tips is a joint audio venture of Michigan State University Extension, MACMA Asparagus and the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.
Follow the link to listen to the Fox 17 story on Michigan Asparagus and the National Asparagus Festival. https://www.fox17online.com/news/morning-news/asparagus-loves-our-sandy-soils-oceana-co-festival-celebrates-52-years-of-mi-agriculture
Spear Tips is a joint audio venture of Michigan State University Extension, MACMA Asparagus and the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.
Spear Tips is a joint audio venture of Michigan State University Extension, MACMA Asparagus and the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.
Spear Tips is a joint audio venture of Michigan State University Extension, MACMA Asparagus and the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.
Spear Tips is a joint audio venture of Michigan State University Extension, MACMA Asparagus and the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.
Here's the link to the updated MSUE article on asparagus beetle. https://tinyurl.com/4ycnujyc
Welcome to Season 4 of Spear Tips a joint audio venture of Michigan State University Extension, MACMA Asparagus and the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.
Hear from Scott Walker of Walker Brothers about the New Jersey asparagus industry and what's got him excited in the asparagus world.
Welcome to Spear Tips a joint audio venture of MACMA Asparagus, MSU Extension and the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.
Spear Tips is a joint audio venture of MACMA Asparagus, MSU Extension and MAAB.
For more information on CEAg World, visit their YouTube page. https://www.youtube.com/@CEAgWorld
Spear Tips is a joint audio venture of MAAB, MACMA Asparagus & MSUE.
Here is a link to the 2023 episode on Purple Spot https://tinyurl.com/3xzt2wrw
Here is a link to Ben's Vegetable Update for this week. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/michigan-vegetable-crop-report-june-12-2024
Spear Tips is a joint audio venture of Michigan Asparagus, MACMA Asparagus and MSU Extension.
Lee Oomen of OPC Arbre Farms can be reached at (231) 855-5740
Welcome to Spear Tips. A joint audio venture of Michigan Asparagus, MACMA Asparagus and MSU Extension.
Here's a link to fungicide control suggestions for your fields. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/michigan-vegetable-crop-report-may-29-2024
Join MAAB, MACMA Asparagus and MSUE for this weeks asparagus round up.
To listen to interviews on grower labor challenges by click the link for each story.
Brownfield Ag News story with Nick Oomen published on May 9, 2024. https://tinyurl.com/2s4awrwx
Detroit News story featuring Caleb Herrygers, Nick Oomen & Luke Bakker published on May 12, 2024. https://tinyurl.com/ymvfzs88
WMOM interview with Nick Oomen and Caleb Herrygers on May 9, 2024. https://fb.watch/s50OHTmosy/
Spear Tips is a joint audio venture of MAAB, MSUE and MACMA Asparagus. Join Jamie, Ben and Nick each week during harvest to catch up on all things asparagus.
Spear Tips is a joint venture of MAAB, MSUE and MACMA Asparagus. Join Jamie, Ben and Nick each week during harvest to catch up on all things asparagus.
Here's a link to Dr. Hausbeck's suggestions on caring for young fern. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/michigan-vegetable-crop-report-may-1-2024
Spear Tips is a joint venture of MAAB, MSUE and MACMA Asparagus. Join Jamie, Ben and Nick each week during harvest to catch up on all things asparagus.
This episode combines the interview on Purple Spot with Dr. Mary Hausbeck. Here are the approximate points in the podcast for each topic.
1:00 -- Purple Spot 101
5:30 -- Purple Spot Control
Hausbeck 2-pager on purple spot https://veggies.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FS-asparagus-purple-spot-updated-2022-Dec.pdf
Two paragraph write up on purple spot from June MSUE vegetable report https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/michigan-vegetable-crop-report-june-14-2023
Welcome to Spear Tips. A joint audio venture of MAAB, MSUE and MACMA Asparagus.
This is Part 2 of Episode 10. Dr. Mary Hausbeck joins us to discuss the ins and outs of purple spot control.
Welcome to Spear Tips a joint audio adventure of MAAB, MSUE and MACMA Asparagus. Today we are joined by Dr. Mary Hausbeck for Part 1 of a discussion on purple spot. Following are the important points in the discussion.
- 6:25 -- Interview with Dr. Hausbeck begins
- 9:35 -- Recap of Purple Spot
- 10:20 -- Control of Purple Spot in Fern Development
Hear more about the ways to address Purple Spot from Dr. Hausbeck in Episode 10, Part 2.
Welcome to Spear Tips a joint audio venture of MSUE, MACMA Asparagus and MAAB.
Here is a link to the MAAB YouTube page with our consumer facing videos. https://www.youtube.com/@MichiganAsparagus
They are also posted on our website at https://www.michiganasparagus.org
Welcome to Episode 4 of Spear Tips.
- The Brownfield interview featuring Nick Oomen can be found here. The audio is at the bottom of the page. https://tinyurl.com/3w823vfr
- The Seattle Times Op Ed from the Washington Asparagus Commission is here. https://tinyurl.com/42hww32x
- This weeks MSUE Vegetable News can be found here. https://tinyurl.com/25u6fru9
Welcome to Episode 3 of the 2023 asparagus season.
USDA's Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) collects a lot of data. Here is a link to the AMS Movement database. It allows you to pick the parameters you're interested in and generate a report. https://tinyurl.com/mr36rsr6
- Welcome to Episode 2 of the 2023 asparagus season.
- Here is link to the article on cutworm control Ben mentioned in the podcast. Remember that chlorpyrifos is no longer available to address cutworms. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/a_tale_of_two_cutworms_cutworm_control_in_asparagus
Welcome to Spear Tips for the 2023 season. If you have any suggestions for episode topics, please reach out.
You can download Syngenta indemnified labels from their website at https://www.syngenta-us.com/labels/indemnified-label-login
Meet Dr. Sushila Chaudhari, MSU weed specialist and learn more about the IR-4 Project that helps get specialty crops like asparagus on pesticide labels.
- 1:00 mark -- Meet our asparagus weed researcher Dr. Sushi Chaudhari. sushilac@msu.edu
- 6:20 mark -- Meet Dr. John Wise, MSU and learn how the IR4 process works
- 13:03 mark -- Hear more about the role of IR4 in Sushi's herbicide program
- 13:52 mark -- Hear about Sushi's work with Alion (Indaziflam) to control Powell amaranth and redroot pigweed
- 18:43 mark -- Learn how you can make sure grower needs are prioritized at IR4 https://www.ir4project.org/about-ir4/submit-a-request/
- 20:52 mark -- Wrap up
We are planning one more episode this year.
Today Ben is interviewing MAAB Executive Director Jamie Clover Adams. Join Ben to learn a little bit more about Jamie's journey to MAAB.
Today we talk with Melinda Goodman of Full Tilt Marketing about the challenges and opportunities of fresh asparagus in the current economic environment. We also discuss the high points from our crop year 2022 fresh Michigan asparagus promotion campaign.
Check out the MSU fertility tool at https://www.canr.msu.edu/fertrec/.
Zack is available to help with fertility questions any time: haydenza@msu.edu
Join Ben, Nick and Jamie for a recap of the 2022 Michigan asparagus season.
For more data on processed asparagus and imports, follow the link https://www.michiganasparagus.org/maab-data-resources
To see our consumer asparagus content, go to the Michigan Asparagus Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/michiganasparagus
Listen in this week to Ben and Jamie's discussion about the International Asparagus Symposium held in Cordoba, Spain earlier this month.
Happenings in the asparagus world this week….
- Harvest in southwest Michigan is wrapping up this week.
- Jamie discusses forces negatively effecting the asparagus market including cheap imports, inflation and lower consumer consumption which is likely tied to inflation.
- Norm reports that Arbre and Coloma are looking for poundage including from new growers. Here’s a link to the latest USDA processing numbers. https://tinyurl.com/465resvp
- Ben interviews Scott Walker of Walker Brothers in New Jersey.
- Ben also reminds growers to protect young fields from purple spot. Here’s a link to the weekly Extension Vegetable Crop Report. https://tinyurl.com/4a5s2p2h
Asparagus news this week…..
- Nick reports on farm visits earlier this week and recommends growers call ahead before sending product to processors. USDA report shows 4.65 million pounds processed. Here’s a link to the data. https://tinyurl.com/465resvp
- Southwest growers estimate harvest will wrap up in the next few days to a week. Peruvian imports are up 2.2 million pounds (21%) during the traditional first 4 weeks of our season over 2019.
- Jamie talks to the Farm Babe about her visit to Oceana County. https://thefarmbabe.com/ https://www.facebook.com/IowaFarmBabe
- Ben discusses ongoing controlled atmosphere storage research. Here’s a link to this weeks Extension Vegetable Crop Report. https://tinyurl.com/msmywvut
Michigan asparagus this week....
- Prices for noncontract product are challenging given heavy domestic volumes and a significant increase in imports this week.
- USDA reports 2.13 million pounds processed this week but this doesn’t include delivery late Friday and over the weekend.
- Nick reports that some processors have put a limit on what they can receive. Reach out to him for assistance at (616) 585-1102.
- Jamie talks to John Bakker for an update from our asparagus research farm. Review data on research trials by clicking the link. https://tinyurl.com/mvsa22r7
- Ben provides information on post-harvest herbicide options. Click the link for more information. https://tinyurl.com/mr3yk2mx
Asparagus news this week…
- Local fresh and processing options provide growers with marketing options. All processors are up and running. Fresh packers are turning out product too.
- Ben says asparagus beetles are still there but aren't as active in cooler weather. Check out the asparagus report in the MSUE Vegetable Newsletter here. Also check out Dr. Szendrei’s crop protection recommendations here.
- USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) released its first asparagus data of the season. It shows a significant increase in volumes from Peru. Click here to review the most recent data.
- USDA Shipping Point data from today from Benton Harbor showed 28# boxes of large or standard selling between $58.75 - $60.75. 11# boxes of large or standard were selling between $24.75 - $26.75
- The average national retail price per pound this week was $2.63.
- Take a look at the Michigan Asparagus Facebook page.
Harvest has started....
- Ben reports carts are out in Oceana and Mason counties. He expects growers to be going full steam on Thursday or Friday.
- Jamie reports growers in southwest MI started harvesting earlier this week. All report good quality.
- Volumes from Peru this week are similar to 2021. Washington has only shipped 10% of what they did last year at this time in their season. Here's USDA's weekly report.
- Ben says to keep a sharp eye out for asparagus beetle. Carbaryl and Assail are both highly effective products. Check out the asparagus report in the MSUE Vegetable Newsletter here
- Growers with irrigation should also consider turning it on when things start to get dry to keep the soil surface moist since evaporative cooling can slow spear growth.
Get a pre-season peek at what could be in store for our fresh and processed markets, and meet our cast and crew.
- MSU Brainard Lab emergence model predicts spear emergence in the Hart area around May 11. https://tinyurl.com/3j5kkykb
- Southwest growers expect to be harvesting early next week.
- USDA purchased $5.4 million in processed asparagus for federal feed programs last month.
- Reach out to MACMA’s Nick Nadi if you need a home for processed asparagus (616) 585-1102.
- Ben says permethrin is an effective cutworm insecticide that can be applied based on scouting.
Welcome to the inaugural season of the Spear Tips Podcast! This year we'll be rolling out weekly episodes from May 4 through August, all about Michigan Asparagus. This joint "audio-venture" will include a weekly roundup from Jamie Clover-Adams of Michigan Asparagus, Nick Nadai and Norm Myers of MACMA-Asparagus, and others.