Vegetable Production FAQ

Plan to attend the annual New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference held in December every other year or a similar educational program to network with vegetable growers and learn about production. For a list of educational programs, newsletters, publications and other production information, see the UMass vegetable website.

The New England Vegetable Growers Association also provides workshops and newsletters. Contact the Association Secretary-Treasurer, Lisa McKeag, lmckeag@gmail.com for information.

To speak with an Extension Specialist, contact the University of Massachusetts Extension Vegetable Program

You can get information from the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation Inc. This is a membership organization made up of volunteer members from family farms and farm related businesses. They work to solve problems in agriculture through education and through support from their legislators.

The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation Inc.
https://mfbf.net/
466 Chestnut St.
Ashland, MA 01721
(508) 881-4766

Massachusetts pesticide law requires that all persons who apply pesticides in public areas and private places used for human occupation and habitation must be in possession of a valid license or certification issued by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). In accordance with the Massachusetts Pesticide Control Act and the current pesticide regulations, the MDAR conducts written examinations to measure competency to use, sell, and apply pesticides in Massachusetts. All exams are closed book and applicants must be at least 18 years of age as of the date of the examination.

Complete information about how to obtain a Massachusetts pesticide license or certification and the exam application is detailed in the Pesticide Examination License Information Bulletin. See: https://www.mass.gov/pesticide-examination-and-licensing

For more information contact the Pesticide Bureau at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, or the University of Massachusetts Extension Pesticide Program.

The Northeast Organic Farming Association and the Massachusetts Chapter (https://www.nofamass.org/)provide educational information on organic production of crops. Contact the Agriculture Educator listed on this webpage for organic production information, https://www.nofamass.org/staff/ .

NOFA no longer provides organic certification. Baystate Organic Certifiers (formerly NOFA/Mass Organic Certification) is a USDA National Organic Program accredited certifying agent that certifies operations in the Northeast United States. For information on Massachusetts certification see: https://baystateorganic.org/

The current version of the New England Vegetable Management Guide contains comprehensive production information including what’s relevant to organic production, such as organic sources of nutrients from cover crops, composts and natural fertilizer; irrigation; cultural controls for pests; biorational and organic pesticides; fertility needs of each crop; spacing and variety recommendations. For each crop and pest listed in the Guide, materials which are labeled for the pest and have OMRI listing (ie are approved for oganic production) are identified. Certifying agencies in New England are also listed. This Guide is available from the UMass Extension Bookstore (413-545-2717) https://extensionsalesportal-umass.nbsstore.net/new-england-vegetable-management-guide-2020-2021-ed and also online at https://nevegetable.org/ . A photo ID supplement is also available.

Massachusetts Independent Certification: Baystate Organic Certifiers 

For a list of materials that can be used for organic certification, visit the website of the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). OMRI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that specializes in the review of substances for use in organic production. Their website contains a generic materials list and a brand name product list to provide guidance on the suitability of material inputs under the USDA National Organic Program standards. These lists include materials for food crops,

A good source of information on sustainable greenhouse production is available from ATTRA,  ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, funded by the US Department of Agriculture, is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology. It provides information and other technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States.

For more information on growing vegetable crops, contact an Extension Vegetable Specialist at the University of Massachusetts.

Information on taking a soil sample, testing your own sample or sending it to the University of Massachusetts Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Lab.

The New England Vegetable Management Guide contains information on production and pest management for specific vegetable crops. 

For more information, contact the Extension Vegetable Program, University of Massachusetts.

Contact the University of Massachusetts diagnostic lab or an Extension Specialist, University of Massachusetts Extension Vegetable Program. 

Plant specimens can be directly sent or hand delivered to the University of Massachusetts Plant Diagnostics Laboratory for vegetable crops. Always contact the lab first, to see if sending a specimen is necessary, or to inform the lab that one is being sent. There is a fee for diagnostics. Please read over instructions before sending a sample.

The New England Vegetable Management Guide contains detailed information on production and managing insects, diseases vertebrate pests and weeds for commercial growers of vegetable crops.

Contact an Extension Specialist, University of Massachusetts Extension Vegetable Program.

The New England Vegetable Management Guide contains detailed information on production and managing insects, diseases vertebrate pests and weeds for commercial growers of vegetable crops. 

Contact an Extension Specialist, University of Massachusetts Extension Vegetable Program.

The New England Vegetable Management Guide contains detailed information on production and managing insects, diseases vertebrate pests and weeds for commercial growers of vegetable crops.as well as photographs of each pest. 

The New England Vegetable Management Guide contains detailed information on production and managing insects, diseases vertebrate pests and weeds for commercial growers of vegetable crops. 

For more information, contact the Extension Vegetable Program, University of Massachusetts.

Additional Resources:

• Fact Sheets on managing pests using integrated pest management on the UMass Extension Vegetable Program sub-section.
• Search archives of the UMass Vegetable Notes newsletter.
• Information on pesticide labels

The crop budgets on this webpage were prepared by agricultural economists in consultations with groups of New England vegetable growers who produce the crops. They give a sample budget and can be downloaded as a spreadsheet that you can modify to fit your own operations.

The New England Vegetable Management Guide contains detailed information on production and managing insects, diseases vertebrate pests and weeds for commercial growers of vegetable crops. A hard copy of this guide can be purchased from the University of Massachusetts Extension Bookstore.

For more information on growing greenhouse vegetable crops, contact the Extension Vegetable Specialist, University of Massachusetts.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a partnership of mutual commitment between a farm and a community of supporters which provides a direct link between the production and consumption of food. Supporters cover a farm's yearly operating budget by purchasing a share of the season's harvest. CSA members make a commitment to support the farm throughout the season, and assume the costs, risks and bounty of growing food along with the farmer or grower. Members help pay for seeds, fertilizer, water, equipment maintenance, labor, etc. In return, the farm provides, to the best of its ability, a healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season. Becoming a member creates a responsible relationship between people and the food they eat, the land on which it is grown and those who grow it.