Project Number: 1915-62660-001-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Dec 07, 2003
End Date: Sep 08, 2008

Objective:
Agricultural production in the New England Region has seriously declined in recent years. Within the past decade alone, farmland in New England has decreased by 393,000 acres. Sustainable cropping systems and management practices are needed to improve agricultural viability and rural economic vitality in this region. Research will be conducted to 1) identify the constraints to cropping system sustainability, 2) develop practices and management strategies to overcome or reduce those constraints, and 3) transfer the technology gained to growers for improving cropping system sustainability. FY 06 Program Increase Objective: Develop effective control measures for potato late blight. Characterize the genetic diversity of P. infestans present in the Northeast. Evaluate the virulence and over-wintering potential of those genotypes identified. Develop chemical, biological and/or cultural methods for controlling new genotypes of P. infestans.

Approach:
Limitations to achieving sustainability will be identified through interdisciplinary evaluation of cropping systems designed and managed as a) Status Quo, b) Soil Conserving, c) Soil Improving,and d) Pest Suppressive Systems. Each system will be evaluated for its impacts on soil physical, chemical, and microbiological properties; plant diseases; weeds; profitability and risk; nutrient and water use efficiencies; and their interactions. Simultaneously, research will be conducted to overcome or reduce these limitations through new tillage practices, potentially profitable rotations, improved nutrient and water use efficiences, and biological/cultural control of plant diseases. Knowledge gained from these studies will be integrated into a decision support system and transferred to growers through multiple avenues, including distribution on compact disks, hands-on demonstration at grower meetings, and on-farm trials. The research and technology transfer endeavors proposed in this project are expected to improve agricultural viability and rural economic vitality in the Northeast.