Recent News
Mesotunnels: Top 4 Challenges for Organic Farmers
We’ve seen real benefits using mesotunnels in organic systems, but let’s be honest—they’re not perfect. There are still a few issues that need solving. In this video, we’re laying out four stubborn challenges we've faced during our research. If you’re using mesotunnels (or thinking about it), give it a watch. You might recognize a few of these, too!
NET vs. NO NET: Bok Choy
We have exciting news: the Gonthier lab at UK has harvested bok choy from Elaine Losekamp's spring trial. She's a master's student in the lab and Crops Under Cover collaborator. We feel really confident in the results we're seeing and couldn't wait to share!!
Spoilers: Fine mesh mesotunnels are about to become your secret weapon for Brassicas. 🙌 Don't just take our word for it. Check out our very first edition of Net vs. No Net and see the difference for yourself!
2025 Spring Bok Choy Harvest with UK's Gonthier Lab
HEY. Spring bok choy: that's a wrap!! 🌱🥬🚜
Current Updates
June 2025
The summer season is in full swing as all the Crops Under Cover labs monitor and collect data from their fields.
In UK's Gonthier lab, Elaine Losekamp is conducting several on-farm mesotunnel trials with local Kentucky farmers. Additionally, eggplant and cucumber fields have been planted, kick-starting Mario Reyes's work with pest and weed monitoring.
At Iowa State University, Akshaya Thinakaran and Smriti Chaudhary are close to concluding their work with broccoli. They have been monitoring plant leaf size and pest damage and will soon begin to harvest and collect yield data.
At Cornell University, Kaitlin Diggins has begun her muskmelon trial. This season, she is anxious to explore how mesotunnels affects disease instance and severity.
We'll be posting weekly updates on social media all summer, so make sure to follow along!
Instagram: @crops_under_cover
YouTube: @CropsUnderCover
On June 10, Elaine Losekamp spoke at DreamTime Market Gardens as part of a Farmer Field Day sponsored by the Organic Association of Kentucky. She briefly highlighted work that Crops Under Cover is doing with specialty crops such as bok choy, eggplant, and cucumber and the benefits that row covers can provide in organic farming systems.
Learn more on Instagram!
DreamTime Market Gardens: dreamtime_market_gardens_
Organic Association of Kentucky: organicassociationofkentucky
Past Updates
May 2025
Can you believe it?! Spring harvest has already come and gone, and Crops Under Cover is ramping up for its main event: the summer growing season. The labs at Cornell, Iowa, and UK all have field experiments underway, and soon, data collection will begin. UK's Gonthier lab will be researching multiple crop systems this year including cucumber, eggplant, and cocozelle squash. Mario Reyes, a PhD candidate in the Gonthier lab, will be conducting new research observing the effects of beneficial insects under netting. Follow us on social media to stay in the loop!
Instagram: @crops_under_cover
YouTube: @Crops Under Cover
On May 10, Crops Under Cover collaborator Briana Bazile will receive her MS in Entomology from the University of Kentucky. Briana has accomplished so much during her time with us and has been an important voice for rural black farmers across the state. Her on-farm trials and farmer surveys were an essential part of the Crops Under Cover grant, providing innovative data and much-needed outreach within the community. We couldn't be more proud - Congratulations, Briana!
April 2025
The spring season has officially arrived, and the Crops Under Cover labs are busy preparing for upcoming field research. Both the Iowa State lab and Cornell lab have begun seeding spring brassicas including broccoli and red cabbage. After planting their most recent field of bok choy, the University of Kentucky lab began seeding their first eggplant crop. Here's to new data and new challenges... much more to come, stay tuned!
March 2025
On March 10, the Crops Under Cover team will be convening with the Advisory Panel to share research updates including statistical analyses, economic analyses, details from the OREI National Survey, and social media metrics. Navigate to our Research Results section for updated graphs from the researchers at University of Kentucky, Cornell University, and Iowa State University.
Link: https://cropsundercover.ca.uky.edu/resources/research-results
Crops Under Cover colleague Elaine Losekamp will be presenting a poster at the annual Kentucky State Extension Conference in Louisville, KY on March 4. Elaine will discuss important details about our research as well as our overall goals. This 3-day conference aims to connect, cultivate, and celebrate, with opportunities for networking, concurrent sessions, and a closing general session.
Learn more here: https://extension.ca.uky.edu/state-extension-conference
Dr. Katie Pulliam will also be presenting on March 4 in Greensboro, North Carolina at the Southeast Organic Agriculture Research Symposium. Her talk will discuss current outreach initiatives as well as how to better meet research needs in the Southern U.S. This is an invitation-only gathering of over 40 institutions, researchers, and extension professionals advancing the field of organic agriculture.
Learn more here: https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/southeast-organic-agriculture-research-symposium/
On March 3, Dr. Katie Pulliam will be presenting research updates from Crops Under Cover in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Organic Commodities and Livestock Conference (OCLC) is an annual event focused on certified organic commodities, commercial-scale specialty crops, and pasture-based livestock. It features educational sessions, research updates, panel discussions, and networking opportunities for commercial-scale growers, educators, extension agents, and agronomists.
Learn more here: https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/organic-commodities-and-livestock-conference/
February 2025
Dr. Katie Pulliam and Elaine Losekamp will be presenting at this year's Grow Appalachia All Hands Gathering in Berea, Kentucky on February 10, 2025. Here, Katie and Elaine will discuss the observable benefits of protective row covers including pest exclusion and increased yield. As the season ramps up, we'll continue looking for opportunities to share our findings with the community! Make sure to follow our social media for more updates.
Learn more about Grow Appalachia: https://growappalachia.berea.edu/
The Crops Under Cover team is meeting in-person February 7-9 at University of Kentucky's South Farm to share data updates from 2024 and collaborate on goals for 2025. We'll be recording our sessions and posting interesting tidbits on YouTube in the following months. For now, check out live updates on our Instagram by clicking the link below. Stay tuned!
Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/crops_under_cover/
January 2025
Mark your calendars: On January 24-25, Crops Under Cover will have a table at the 2025 OAK Conference. Register today with the link below to visit us there! We'd love to discuss our field results as well as our goals for the upcoming year. Additionally, Dr. Katie Pulliam and Elaine Losekamp will be presenting a session on Saturday afternoon alongside a panel of local farmers. We've got answers for all your row cover questions!
Learn more here: https://www.oak-ky.org/annual-conference
We regret to inform you that the 2025 Kentucky Fruit & Vegetable Conference that was to be held on Jan. 5 – Jan. 7, 2025, at the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott Golf Resort and Spa has been cancelled due to safety concerns. Governor Beshear has declared a state of emergency ahead of the incoming winter storm. This cancellation includes the Farm Food Safety Plan Workshop that had been scheduled to be held virtually tonight.
Article link: https://kyhortcouncil.org/kentucky-fruit-and-vegetable-conference/
Research colleagues Dr. Katie Pulliam and Elaine Losekamp will be presenting a session at the 2025 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference. The session is entitled "Crops Under Cover: Tips and Tricks for Using Row Covers" and will be held Tuesday, January 7 at 8:30 am EST. Register today to attend for updates about our research and future plans!
Register here: https://kentuckyhorticulturecouncil.ticketspice.com/2025-kentucky-fruit-vegetable-conference-attendee-tickets
Video Resources
From plants to pests, we've got you covered! Browse our video library and get inside info on row covers.
