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Pennsylvania State University Statewide Cultivar Evaluation Program Model
- Source :
- Horticulturae, Vol 7, Iss 10, p 370 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Cultivar selection is an important managerial task for commercial farmers. Numerous available options provide marketing opportunities for farmers; however, they can also make cultivar selection time-consuming. For the past 13 years, a team of Penn State Extension educators and university faculty has implemented a new model to evaluate cultivars for key vegetable crops to assist farmers. Our approach started by building relationships within the vegetable industry with farmers, seed company representatives, and farmer-driven organizations who support our program with funding and gift-in-kind donations. We also added rigor to cultivar evaluations by conducting trials of key vegetable crops over 2 years at three locations. The results were used to develop cultivar recommendations, which were disseminated through various face-to-face and distance Extension avenues. The results were also published in refereed journals. The combination of funding, Extension products, and refereed articles led to university support. A drawback to our approach was the difficulty implementing uniform production methods at three experimental sites. The input of a statistical consultant assisted with overcoming this drawback. This model also required the use of strategies common to successful teams. Our methods are described here for those who desire to build a similar program.
- Subjects :
- variety trials
cultivar trials
Extension methods
Plant culture
SB1-1110
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 23117524
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Horticulturae
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.2d077a3219ec442e978abd78a1e77671
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7100370