Researchers at Michigan State University have used the Controlled-Environment Lighting Laboratory to study the effects of different colors of light on the growth of leafy greens. Photo courtesy of Erik Runkle, Mich. St. Univ. OptimIA researchers are studying the impact light and its interaction with other environmental parameters can have on indoor leafy greens production. […]
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Michigan State University invites you to participate in their Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) labor survey. The purpose of this survey is to understand production-related labor requirements and estimate labor costs in CEA farms, including a vertical/indoor farm setting, containers or permanent greenhouses. In this survey, you will be asked about labor hours, level of automation […]
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‘Photons = Flavor, the case study of basil’ by Dr. Roberto Lopez and Kellie Walters (Michigan State University) Roberto and Kellie work on lighting technologies for basil production and shared their most updated research on light intensities during young seedling stage of basil, affecting flavor profile and consumer liking in addition to yield and quality. […]
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A multi-university team of horticulturists, engineers and agricultural economists led by Michigan State University (MSU) has received a four-year, $2.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to study indoor production of leafy greens. Industry partners have matched funding, bringing the project total to $5.4 million. The investigators on the grant include: Erik Runkle, […]
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Webinars The GLASE Webinar Series features the latest technological innovations and best practices in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry providing the participants an opportunity to discover new solutions and to connect with industry experts. The webinars are free. July 25 • 2-3 p.m. EDT – REGISTER HERESupplemental greenhouse lighting during propagationPresented by Erik Runkle […]
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A webinar series focused on greenhouse-grown industrial hempWhen: Thursdays, July 18 – August 8, 2019Time: 12:30 – 2 p.m. EST Heidi Lindberg, Michigan State University ExtensionIndustrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is cannabis cultivated to produce fiber, grain, biomass, or non-intoxicating medicinal compounds, such as cannabidiol (CBD). Recently, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production of industrial […]
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Indoor Ag Science Café in May started out with a presentation by Dr. Roberto Lopez on environmental factors affecting human-health promoting nutrients and growth of microgreens. This is an area of studies in which we expect to develop in the next few years, taking advantage of full capacities of controlled environment without being affected outdoor […]
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Originally published on the e-Gro Blog Thu, Mar 21, 2019, created by Kellie Walters and Roberto Lopez If you are growing crops hydroponically in deep-flow or raft systems, one of the last things you want to see is an unusually low or empty tank. It is not uncommon for nutrient solution levels to be reduced […]
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Two economists at MSU Product Center Food-Ag-Bio, Michigan State University, Chris Peterson and Simone Valle de Souza were presenting “Perspectives on the business strategy and economics of vertical agriculture”. Chris started out this month’s Café presentation by giving a strategic overview of indoor agriculture industry, followed by Simone’s proposed model-based optimization approach including crop yield […]
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New Greenhouse Disease Management Recommendations for Vegetables and Herbs Originally written by e-Gro (Heidi Wollaeger) on Jan 24, 2019 Dr. Mary Hausbeck in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University and her colleagues have released a new guide for disease management for vegetable and herb crops. The new guide provides […]
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e-gro Nutritional Monitoring Series: Lettuce Researchers from top universities have come together to create this series designed to assist growers of floriculture crops with nutritional monitoring. Below, we wanted to share the factsheet for lettuce! e-Gro Nutritional Monitoring Factsheet for Lettuce PDF For more, visit fertdirtandsquirt.com
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Looking to take advantage of the increased demand for locally-grown and a better quality product, ornamental plant growers in Michigan are adding a variety of greenhouse vegetable crops. Ornamental plant growers in Michigan are looking to extend their selling season by producing greenhouse vegetables. Many of these growers are looking to take advantage of the […]
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Are You a Hydroponic Grower of Food Crops? Michigan State and Iowa State University Researchers Need your Input! Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) production researchers Roberto Lopez and Kellie Walters at Michigan State University and Christopher Currey at Iowa State University have developed a survey to gain a better understanding of current hydroponic food production practices […]
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Helping growers learn about the latest advancements in supplemental, photoperiodic, and sole-source horticulture lighting and making the best decisions for their plants and business. Learn from Michigan State University (MSU) leading lighting experts and researchers Erik Runkle, PhD, and Roberto Lopez, PhD, as they showcase their current studies and students in the MSU Research Greenhouses […]
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