Specialists

Chuck Bornt
Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Reduced Tillage, Production Systems, Pest ID and Control
Crops: Cucumbers, Melons, Potatoes, Pumpkins / Gourds, Squash - Summer, Squash- Winter, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes

Elizabeth Higgins
Team Leader, Business Management Specialist
Areas of Interest: Business Management & Planning, Risk Management, Agricultural Economics

Mike Basedow
Tree Fruit Specialist
Areas of Interest: Cultural practices, training systems, beginning orchards, cider orchards
Crops: Apples, Cherries, Peaches, Pears, Plums

Dan Donahue
Tree Fruit Specialist
Areas of Interest: Horticulture, orchard management, post harvest technology
Crops: Apples, Apricots, Peaches, Pears, Plums

Ethan Grundberg
Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Organic Production Systems, Small Farm Equipment, IPM, Cover Crops

Elisabeth Hodgdon
Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Pest management, high tunnel production, season extension, organic agriculture

Heather Kase
Berry Specialist
Crops: Blueberries, Raspberries / Blackberries, Strawberries, Currants, Gooseberries, Unusual Fruit

Teresa Rusinek
Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Pest ID, Pest Control Recommendations, Biocontrols, Greenhouse Vegetables and Ornamentals
Crops: Squash - Summer, Squash- Winter, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes

Jeremy Schuster
Viticulture Specialist
Areas of Interest: Viticulture
Crops: Grapes

Crystal Stewart-Courtens
Extension Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Small and Beginning Farms, Organic Production Systems, Garlic

Maire Ullrich
Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Muck Soils, Onions, Ethnic Vegetables, Marketing, Labor Relations
Crops: Carrots, Ethnic Vegetables, Lettuce / Leafy Greens, Onions


Upcoming Events
Hudson Valley Orchard Weed Management Meeting

June 25, 2025 : Hudson Valley Orchard Weed Management Meeting
Poughkeepsie, NY
At this meeting, we will discuss previous research on using mulch for weed management, including the benefits of stacking mulch treatments with an organic herbicide program. We will then discuss the treatments in our field trial, discuss results to date, and get initial reactions from the grower, while viewing the field trial. We will then discuss the other study objective, using a mechanical weeding system to replace contact herbicide applications, currently underway in the Champlain Valley.