Grape growers need investment and cost guidelines for drip irrigation to evaluate the economics of getting vines into production as quickly as possible and to avoid periods of drought during the productive life of the vineyard. The benefits of irrigation may include: better vine survival,...

In an average growing season in the Northeast, rainfall is somewhat less than is required for optimal performance of fruit crops. The shortage of moisture during critical periods of crop growth and fruit development affects both yields and sizing of produce, thus affecting receipts through both...

In the last decade or two there has been a resurgence of interest in value-added agriculture, driven by consumer characteristics and the desire of farmers to capture a larger share of the consumer dollar. Federal, state and local governments have funded various efforts to support value-added...