2022 Bell Pepper Cultivar Trial

A bell pepper cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.081985, -86.354087, Benton Harbor, Michigan). Enza Zaden (EZ), HM Clause (HM), PanAmerican (PA), Seminis (SE), and Sakata (SK) seed companies donated bell pepper cultivars for plastic-mulch bedded and trellised hand harvest. Overall trial quality was excellent, however environmental conditions increased the numbers of choppers during the 2nd and 3rd pickings. In the future, we will not pick small fruit because there is no market for them

Evaluation of Six Slicing Cucumber Cultivars in Southwest Michigan in 2023

A slicing cucumber cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.081985, -86.354087, Benton Harbor, Michigan). Clifton (CL), Seedway (SW), Seminis (SM), and Syngenta (SY) seed companies donated five slicing cucumber cultivars for plastic-mulch bedded hand harvest. The trial quality was OK, with a dry start that created an uneven stand, and some deer browse

2022 Summer Squash Cultivar Trial

A summer squash cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.081985, -86.354087, Benton Harbor, Michigan). HM Clause (HM), PanAmerican (PA), Rupp (RP), Sakata (SK), and US Agriseeds (UA) seed companies donated four zucchini cultivars, three patty pan cultivars, and one yellow summer squash cultivar for plastic-mulch bedded hand harvest. Trial quality was excellent

2022 Specialty Pepper Cultivar Trial

A specialty pepper cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.081985, -86.354087, Benton Harbor, Michigan). Bejo (BJ), Johnny’s Seeds (JO), Seminis (SE), Tozer (TZ), and US Agriseeds (UA) seed companies donated six jalapeno cultivars, nine lunchbox cultivars, and two tapered 5-inch cultivars for plastic-mulch bedded and trellised hand harvest. Trial quality was excellent

Evaluation of 13 Round Tomato Cultivars in Southwest Michigan in 2023

A round tomato cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.081985, -86.354087, Benton Harbor, Michigan). Bejo (BJ), Enza Zaden (EZ), Seminis (SM), Sakata (SK), and Seedway (SW) seed companies donated round tomato cultivars for plastic-mulch bedded and trellised hand harvest. Overall trial quality was excellent, despite a dry start that brought in insects, and hard rains that flared bacterial diseases

2022 Seedless Pickling Cucumber Cultivar Trial

A pickling cucumber cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.088261, -86.351980, Benton Harbor, Michigan). Bejo (BJ), Nunhems (NU), and Rijk Zwaan (RZ) seed companies donated parthenocarpic (seedless) cultivars for mechanical once-over harvest. Overall trial quality was marginal due to being the first trial on a new research farm with different equipment parameters, task procedures, and responsibilities. Factors affecting trial quality were logged for next year’s trial, and include machine planting, incorporating the entire nitrogen recommendation ahead of planting, and adjusting final plant population to 30 inch row spacings

Evaluation of 23 Pickling Cucumber Cultivars for Machine Harvest in Southwest Michigan in 2023

A pickling cucumber cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.088261, -86.351980, Benton Harbor, Michigan). Bejo (BJ), Nunhems (NU), Rijk Zwaan (RZ), and US AgriSeed (UA) seed companies donated parthenocarpic (seedless) cultivars for mechanical once-over harvest. Overall trial quality was good despite a droughty start, though picking could have started sooner

Evaluation of Five Roma Tomato Cultivars in Southwest Michigan in 2023

A Roma tomato cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.081985, -86.354087, Benton Harbor, Michigan). HM Claus (HM), PanAmerican (PA), and Sakata (SK) seed companies donated five Roma tomato cultivars for plastic-mulch bedded and trellised hand harvest. Overall trial quality was excellent, despite a dry start that brought in insects, and hard rains that flared bacterial diseases

Redefining the Service Experience: Forging Collaboration Between Librarians and Students

In response to changing pedagogical theory and practice in higher education, library designers have created innovative learning spaces that support informal learning outside the classroom. Informed by social constructivist theory, libraries can be justly proud of their new collaborative learning spaces that support interaction and discussion; social spaces that foster engagement and learning; as well as quiet places for independent study. The University of Melbourne Library is no exception, carrying out a program of works since 2007 to create dynamic and innovative spaces to support contemporary student learning in four successive library refurbishment projects. Although much attention has been paid to redeveloping student spaces in libraries, less attention has been paid to the interrelationship between library spaces and services and how this interrelationship and the pedagogical framework should jointly inform these redevelopments. It seems incongruous to redevelop student spaces to meet new pedagogical imperatives without rethinking the service experience, in particular the relationship between library staff and students, the model of service provision and the physical design of the service area. This paper focuses on the development of a new service model that is specifically designed to meet the needs of contemporary users at the University of Melbourne Library. In particular, the paper reflects upon the way in which the service desk has been transformed from a forbidding counter-style barrier that formalised the traditional expert/student relationship to a service area where librarians stand side by side with patrons, where the emphasis is on partnering and collaborating with students and researchers. The development of this model represents an attempt to re-define the relationship between librarians and students in line with current pedagogical practice. Underpinning this service model is a complex program of workforce change, professional development and service refinement to ensure that staff at service points are able to deliver quality services that meet students’ changing information needs