Apr 26, 2019

Are You on a Journey to Healthy Plants? By Tim Hodson

In the latest issue of GPN, Jennie Smith, a member of GPN’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2018, wrote a 40 Under 40 Perspectives column on plant health that I wanted to make sure that you saw.

Smith has been growing heirloom tomatoes for more than 10 years and she is the biologicals team lead at BASF, so she has a unique perspective on the topic. In her column, she provides her insight on the journey to and reward of plant health.

Smith defines plant health management as “both science and practice; understanding and managing the biotic and abiotic factors that can prevent plants from achieving their full potential.”

She says when it comes to plant health, it is critical for growers to document and exchange information with others for success in planning and execution their overall plant health program.

While collecting, analyzing and managing your plant health data on an annual basis (and even generationally), might seem like a slow process, it will definitely pay dividends — so she recommends investing the time and effort.

You can’t do it all by yourself. “When it comes to plant health on a commercial scale, we rely heavily on others to help us achieve the best crops to send to the market,” she writes. She says it takes a village and there is a village of support you can use — other growers, extension agents, suppliers and more — to help you achieve your plant health goals.

Her prescription is “Research. Ask questions. Implement. Repeat.”

Click here to read Jennie’s entire article, “Plant Health — The Journey and Reward.”

— Tim

P.S. Just and FYI — GPN’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2019 will debut in our May issue. Stay tuned!