Citation: Losekamp, E., Brockman, R., Halmos, V., Pulliam, K. F., Kuesel, R., Bessin, R., Scott, D., Williams, M., & Gonthier, D. (2026). Protective Row Covers for Management of Flea Beetles in Organic Eggplant Production in the Southeastern US. Crops, 6(2), 42. https://doi.org/10.3390/crops6020042 

Link: Protective Row Covers for Management of Flea Beetles in Organic Eggplant Production in the Southeastern US

Abstract
Organic eggplant production in the United States is challenged by flea beetles, which stunt eggplant growth and reduce yield. Across four experiments between 2019 and 2024, we compared the effects of various pest management strategies on flea beetle abundance, damage, and marketable yield in eggplant production, focusing on row covers and organic insecticides in later years of the study. Treatments included fine-mesh row covers, organic insecticides, and untreated controls (all years); reflective plastic mulch (2019); various essential oils (2019–2020); conventional insecticide control (2019–2020); and spunbonded row covers (2019–2021). Low flea beetle pressure was observed in 2019 and 2020; consequently, experiments were moved to fields under organic management with more frequent cultivation of solanaceous crops in 2021 and 2024. Samples taken near row cover removal at flowering revealed significantly more flea beetles in the control than fine-mesh row cover treatments in 2019, 2020, and 2021. However, there were never significant differences in flea beetle abundance in samples collected at transplanting or at harvesting. Flea beetle feeding damage at flowering was significantly lower in all row cover treatments than the untreated control in 2019, 2021, and 2024 and the organic insecticide treatment in 2019 and 2021; data was not collected in 2020. There was no difference between treatments in marketable yield in 2019 and 2020; however, the marketable yields of fine-mesh row cover treatments maintained over the entire growing season were 82% and 471% higher than the organic insecticide treatments in 2021 and 2024, respectively. These results indicate that fine-mesh row covers may be a viable pest management strategy in organic eggplant production.

Citation: Pulliam K.F., Brockman R., Avery C., Gauger, A., Williams, M., Bessin, R., and Gonthier, D.  Balancing row cover pest and pollination management in organic cucurbit production. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 2026;41:e1. doi:10.1017/S1742170525100203

Link: Balancing row cover pest and pollination management in organic cucurbit production

Abstract
Balancing pest control and pollination is a dual challenge for pollinator-dependent crops and the producers that grow them. For organic cucurbit production, organic compliant insecticides underperform at suppressing pests and can have nontarget impacts on pollinators. One promising alternative is pest-protective row covers, which successfully exclude insect pests from damaging cucurbit crops. However, they also exclude pollinators. In this study across two years, four row cover pollination management strategies were compared for their efficacy for acorn squash (Cucurbita pepo L.). Row covers were installed at crop transplant and four treatments were initiated: on–off (row cover removed at flowering), on–off–on (row cover removed at flowering and reinstalled post-flowering), open ends (row cover tunnel ends opened at flowering and reclosed post-flowering), and full season (row cover installed through whole season, commercial bumble bee colonies installed at flowering). During the pre-flowering net stage (when row covers were installed), all treatments had low pest abundance and were not statistically different. In the post-flowering net stage, the full season and open ends treatments had statistically lower cucumber beetle pest abundance relative to the on–off–on treatment. The number of seeds per squash fruit weight, an indicator of pollination success, was statistically lower in the full season treatment relative to the on–off–on treatment in 2021, which may be explained by the statistically lower bee activity in the full season treatment relative to the on–off and on–off–on treatments. Squash seeds were not counted in 2020. The open ends treatment had statistically higher marketable yield than the full season and on–off–on treatments in 2020; in 2021, there was no difference in marketable yield across treatments. For the open ends treatment, increased distance from the opened tunnel ends significantly decreased the pest abundance, while it significantly increased marketable yield. However, there was no relationship between pollinator activity and distance to the tunnel opening. This two-year study suggests the open ends strategy had the most consistently high yields, while it reduced pollination management effort and eliminated the costs of commercial bee colonies compared to other treatments. Only minor pressure from insect-vectored diseases was observed during the study, thus, the advantages of each pollination strategy should be considered in relation to varying pest, pollinator, and disease conditions.

Citation: Wehner, J., Tong, J., Zhang, W., Li, T., Pulliam, K., Gonthier, D., Sciligo, A., and Miller, Elias, Kentucky Consumer Perceptions and Key Attributes in the Willingness-to-Pay Study for Cucumbers (November 18, 2025). Kentucky Consumer Perceptions and Key Attributes in the Willingness-to-Pay Study for Cucumbers, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business Research Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5767702 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5767702 

Link: Kentucky Consumer Perceptions and Key Attributes in the Willingness-to-Pay Study for Cucumbers 

Abstract
In July 2025, we conducted a study with 935 participants on consumer willingness to pay for cucumbers in Lexington, Kentucky.

We find that the more expensive a cucumber, the less consumers are willing to buy a cucumber. At USD 2 to 2.5 per slicing cucumber, buyers and non-buyers are nearly evenly split (53 percent vs. 47 percent). Price and minimal pesticide use are key attributes for consumers across age groups. Nearly half of consumers (45 percent) say price is a key factor, while 36 percent care a lot about fewer pesticides and 34 percent prioritize cucumbers with no pesticides at all. Most respondents are highly concerned about pesticides during production (36 percent) and residues on food (50 percent), while concern and knowledge about plastics, especially in production are much lower (14 percent).

Highlighting the reduction in pesticide use from protective netting and clarifying that extra plastic is only used in production can help researchers and producers anticipate consumer preferences and tailor communication strategies accordingly.

Citation: Fiske K., Cheng N., Kuesel R., Zhang W., Bessin R., Williams, M.A., and Gonthier, D. (2024). Row covers limit pests and disease and increase profit in organic acorn squash. Front. Sustain. Food Syst., 8:1347924. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1347924 

Link: Row covers limit pests and disease and increase profit in organic acorn squash

Abstract
Organic cucurbit growers face many challenges to production including insect pests, insect-vectored diseases, and non-vectored diseases. While Organic Material Review Institute (OMRI) -listed pesticides underperform at suppressing pests and diseases, some alternative pest management strategies hold promise, but little research exists on their cost-effectiveness. We compared the efficacy of mesotunnel systems (nylon-mesh netting row covers deployed over bent metal hoops) and OMRI-listed pesticides (fungicides and insecticides) on acorn squash across 2 years. During the early part of the season, before row covers were removed for pollination, we found 1.7 (2020) and 0.3 (2021) times more cucumber beetles in the uncovered plots compared to the mesotunnels. Powdery mildew incidence was 36 and 25% lower under the mesotunnels compared to the uncovered plots in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Marketable yield of acorn squash was 46–54% higher in the mesotunnels compared to the uncovered treatments. OMRI-listed pesticide treatments reduced powdery mildew incidence compared to untreated control treatments. However, for pest presence, OMRI-listed pesticide treatments did not differ from untreated control treatments in either year, nor did it differ in marketable yield in 2020. Finally, the mesotunnel-only system was 47% more profitable compared to the OMRI-listed pesticide treatment and 47% more profitable compared to the uncovered plots. These results highlight mesotunnels as an economically viable pest management strategy for organic cucurbit growers in the U.S.

Keywords: cucurbits, row cover, cucumber beetles, powdery mildew, organic, profitability, mesotunnel

Citation: Mphande, K., Badilla-Arias, S., Cheng, N., González-Acuña, J.F., Nair, A., Zhang, W., and Gleason, M.L. (2024). Evaluating Pollination and Weed Control Strategies under Mesotunnel Systems for Organic Muskmelon Production in Iowa. HortTechnology, 34(3), 265–279. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05379-23 

Link: Evaluating Pollination and Weed Control Strategies Under Mesotunnel Systems for Organic Muskmelon Production in Iowa

Abstract
Bacterial wilt of cucurbits, caused by Erwinia tracheiphila, is spread by spotted (Diabrotica undeimpunctata howardi) and striped (Acalymma vittatum) cucumber beetles and results in major losses for US cucurbit (Cucurbitaceae spp.) growers. Organic growers of muskmelon (Cucumis melo) lack reliable control measures against bacterial wilt. During previous field trials in Iowa, USA, a system called mesotunnels, which are 3.5-ft-tall barriers covered with a nylon mesh insect netting, resulted in a higher marketable yield of organic ‘Athena’ muskmelon than low tunnels or noncovered plots. However, satisfactory pollination and weed control are challenging in mesotunnels because the netting covers the crop for most or all of the growing season, and economic feasibility of these systems has not been determined. Consequently, two field trials conducted in Iowa from 2020 to 2022 evaluated strategies to ensure pollination under mesotunnels in commercial-scale plots, assess effectiveness of teff (Eragrostis tef) as a living mulch for weed control in mesotunnel systems, and compare the profitability of the treatment options for organic ‘Athena’ muskmelon. The treatments used during the pollination trial were as follows: full season, in which mesotunnels remained sealed all season and bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) were added at the start of bloom for pollination; open ends, wherein both ends of the tunnels were opened at the start of bloom then reclosed 2 weeks later; and on-off-on, in which nets were removed at the start of bloom and then reinstalled 2 weeks later. The full-season treatment had significantly higher marketable yield than the other treatments in two of three trial years. Plants with the full season and open ends treatments had a bacterial wilt incidence <2.5% across all three years and similar numbers of cucumber beetles, whereas plants with the on-off-on treatment had an average bacterial wilt incidence of 11.0% and significantly more cucumber beetles. The open ends treatment had fewer bee visits to ‘Athena’ muskmelon flowers than the other treatments. In the 2-year (2021–22) weed management trial, treatments applied to the furrow between plastic-mulched rows were as follows: landscape fabric; teff seeded at 4 lb/acre and mowed 3 weeks after seeding; teff seeded at 4 lb/acre and not mowed; a control with bare ground where weeds were mowed 3 weeks after transplanting; and a bare ground control with no mowing. The landscape fabric and mowed teff treatments had statistically similar marketable yield, and mowing appeared to minimize yield losses compared with nonmowed treatments. The landscape fabric had no weeds, followed by mowed teff, mowed bare ground, and nonmowed teff. Nonmowed bare ground had the highest weed biomass. The partial budget and cost-efficiency ratio analysis indicated that the full-season treatment was the most cost-efficient pollination option for mesotunnel systems. An economic analysis of the weed management strategies showed that using teff as a living mulch in the furrows between organic ‘Athena’ muskmelon rows, coupled with timely mowing to suppress its growth, can generate revenue comparable to that of landscape fabric. Our findings suggest that organic ‘Athena’ muskmelon growers in Iowa may gain the greatest yield and soil quality benefits when mesotunnels are kept closed for the entire season, bumble bees are used for pollination, and teff (mowed 3 weeks after seeding) is used to control weeds in the furrows. Further trials integrating these pollination and weed management strategies would help validate a comprehensive approach to organic ‘Athena’ muskmelon production under mesotunnels.

Keywords: bacterial wilt; economic analysis; Erwinia tracheiphila; living mulch; mesotunnels; Teff (Ergrostis tef)

Citation: Pethybridge, S., Damann, K., Murphy, S., Diggins, K.R., and Gleason, M.L. Optimizing organic muskmelon production by integrating mesotunnel row covers, inter-bed weed management, and pollination strategies. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 2024;39:e31. doi:10.1017/S1742170524000309

Link: Optimizing organic muskmelon production by integrating mesotunnel row covers, inter-bed weed management, and pollination strategies

Abstract
In New York, organic production of muskmelon (Cucumis melo) and other cucurbits is limited by pests, diseases, and weeds. Among the most important pests are striped (Acalymma vittatum) and spotted (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi) cucumber beetles that cause damage through feeding. Cucumber beetles also transmit the bacterium, Erwinia tracheiphila, the causal agent of bacterial wilt. Mesotunnels are a modified row cover system consisting of nylon mesh netting supported by hoops approximately 1-m high, which have potential for incorporation into organic muskmelon production systems. The netting is an effective barrier for pests and insect-vectored diseases and also prevents insect-mediated pollination and in-season weed management in inter-bed areas. Two separate experiments were conducted in 2021 and 2022 to: (a) evaluate mesotunnels for organic muskmelon production and methods to control weeds in inter-bed areas (experiment 1), and (b) evaluate selected pollination treatments for integration into a mesotunnel production system (experiment 2). In experiment 1, there were four treatments: (i) landscape fabric in the inter-bed area with a mesotunnel, (ii) landscape fabric in the inter-bed area without a mesotunnel, and a (iii) ryegrass/white clover in the inter-bed area with a mesotunnel; or (iv) ryegrass cover crop in the inter-bed area with a mesotunnel. In experiment 1, mesotunnels significantly reduced cucumber beetle populations and bacterial wilt epidemic progress but did not affect the incidence of the foliar diseases, powdery mildew, or Alternaria leaf spot. In the mesotunnel and non-covered treatments, landscape fabric, applied for weed control between beds, resulted in greater fruit weight and more marketable fruit compared to mesotunnels with cover crops in the inter-bed area. In experiment 2, treatments were on/off/on (removal of netting during flowering followed by replacement), open ends (open ends during flowering), and a closed mesotunnel (with the insertion of a commercial bumblebee hive). Although the on/off/on treatment increased cucumber beetle populations and bacterial wilt epidemic progress compared to the open ends and closed treatments, it conferred significant yield benefits in both years. These findings emphasize the importance of systems-level analysis for evaluating the suitability of mesotunnels in organic muskmelon production.

Keywords: bacterial wilt; cucumber beetles; muskmelon; organic agriculture; protective netting; row covers

Citation: Pethybridge, S., Damann, K., Murphy, S.P., Diggins, K., and Gleason, M.L. (2024). Optimizing Integrated Pest Management in Mesotunnels for Organic Acorn Squash in New York. Plant Health Progress, vol. 25, no. 2, 2024, pp. 146–155. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-08-23-0072-RS 

Link: Optimizing Integrated Pest Management in Mesotunnels for Organic Acorn Squash in New York

Abstract
Organic production of cucurbits in New York is challenged by a complex of biotic stresses, including insect pests, diseases, and weeds. The recent emergence of cucurbit yellow vine disease (CYVD), caused by the bacterium Serratia marcescens and spread by squash bugs (Anasa tristis), in New York is of urgent concern due to the lack of synthetic insecticide alternatives and effective complementary organic management practices. Cucurbit productivity is also related to effective weed management in the furrow (inter-row space between the raised beds) to prevent resource competition for plant growth and ease of harvesting. Field trials were conducted in organic acorn squash (cultivar Table Ace) during 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the effect of exclusion netting in a mesotunnel on pest populations, disease incidence, and weed management techniques in the furrow. Treatments were landscape fabric in the furrow with or without a mesotunnel and a mesotunnel with either a ryegrass/white clover or ryegrass cover crop in the furrow. Mesotunnels significantly reduced squash bug populations and CYVD but did not affect the incidence of the predominant foliar diseases, powdery mildew, downy mildew, or Alternaria leaf spot. The ryegrass/white clover and ryegrass cover crops produced equivalent biomass and weed suppression in the furrow. Treatments had no significant effect on fruit number or weight, or the number of marketable fruit, but mesotunnels reduced the incidence of soft and sunburned fruit. The tradeoffs and benefits of mesotunnels and furrow management for organic acorn squash production are discussed.

Citation: Cheng, N., Zhang, W., and Gleason, M. 2023. "Controlling Pests and Diseases Using Mesotunnels: Understanding Organic Cucurbit Crop Growers' Preferences and Choices." Cornell University Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management Extension Bulletin EB 05-2023. 

Link: Controlling Pests and Diseases Using Mesotunnels: Understanding Organic Cucurbit Crops Growers' Preferences and Choices

Executive Summary
Consumer demand for fresh, locally grown organic produce, including cucurbits, is rising. However, organic cucurbit growers in the United States struggle to capitalize on this opportunity because of severe damage caused by pests and diseases, which collectively cost growers more than $100 million per year. Thus, a new technology, mesotunnels,1 was introduced. Mesotunnels are medium-size tunnels–taller than low tunnels and shorter than high tunnels— made by conduits and a breathable nylon-mesh fabric to create a protective barrier between crops and the environment to guard against weather extremes (e.g., heavy rain, hail, high wind) and pest complexes (pest insects and pathogens they transmit), while increasing profitability.2 Thus, mesotunnels provide a potential solution for managing major pests and pathogens of cucurbits and are highly amenable to integrating biologicals for further pathogen control.

A key step in evaluating the commercial viability of mesotunnels is to learn about growers’ experiences and viewpoints on using row cover strategies, their willingness to adopt new approaches, and their primary ways of obtaining information about these technologies. Thus, we designed a survey targeting growers of organic cucurbit crops.

We received 337 completed surveys out of 1,057 eligible samples (a response rate of 33.7%) from January 27, 2022, to March 30, 2022 from Iowa, Kentucky, New York and the surrounding states of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Tennessee and Michigan. Of respondents, 90% either farmed in the past five years or will farm in the next five years. Respondents averaged 18 years of farming experience with only one respondent reporting no farming experience. Focusing on cucurbit crops, the average farmer had 13 years’ experience. The average respondent farmed 100 acres for all crops; however, with small variations, only seven acres per farm, on average, were for cucurbits. The farming acres for specific varieties ranged from 0.007 (honeydew) to 4.3 (winter squash). Over 90% of respondents were in certified organic status, except growers of gourd and pumpkin.

In 2021, growers hired more paid than non-paid farmworkers. To sell their crops, nearly half of respondents marketed their products via either local farmers’ markets, wholesaling, on-farm retail stands, direct sales to grocery stores, large retailers, supermarkets, grower cooperatives, or community supported agriculture (CSA) enterprises. In addition to cucurbit crops, respondents also sold a wide range of other crops (e.g., chives, garlic, leeks, etc.).

As for pest and disease management in cucurbit crop production, most respondents selected insect pressure, crop disease, weed pressure, heavy rain events, and input costs as the most concerning general threats to cucurbit crop production. Over 50% of respondents selected bacterial wilt, cucumber beetles, downy mildew, powdery mildew, and squash bugs as specific threats. To achieve their goals, producers choose different production management strategies. Sixty percent of growers considered improving yields, profitability, produce quality, soil quality, and whether pest controls are effective as top concerns. For spraying strategies, most growers (59%) used a hand-pump backpack sprayer. Half of respondents sprayed pesticides no more than three times per growing season. When asked about row covers, more than 62% of respondents said they chose to use permeable row covers for any of their cucurbit crops and 50% applied row covers to less than half of their cucurbit acres. The top two reasons for applying row covers were to control insects and pests and protect against cold temperatures. Most respondents felt that row covers can improve yields (76%) and product quality (73%) and reduce insecticide spray frequency (66%) and vulnerability to weather (78%). The majority showed interest in continuing use of row covers.

Furthermore, while over 50% of respondents used low tunnels and high tunnels, only 14% previously used mesotunnels. More than 30% perceived mesotunnels as easy to learn, adapt and apply in their current production systems. When referring to their likelihood to adopt mesotunnels in the next five years, 40% reported they were either highly or somewhat likely to adopt while another 40% are not that likely to adopt. For those who are willing to adopt mesotunnels, 70% want to use it within next three years. Cucumber, summer squash, and watermelon are the top three varieties for which respondents are willing to use mesotunnels. Lastly, the majority of respondents perceived mesotunnels as effective on all the outcomes including maximizing marketable yield, reducing pesticide use, and controlling insect pests.