UNH's crop science - breeding superior Squash

Oct 03, 2024
By Farms.com

Discover innovations in Squash and Pumpkin genetics

The University of New Hampshire (UNH) has long been synonymous with pioneering agriculture, hosting North America's oldest cucurbit breeding program. This program, led by Chris Hernandez of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, is renowned for its significant contributions to the farming of pumpkins and squash.

Initiated in the 1940s, the program has introduced over 100 varieties of cucurbits, significantly impacting global agriculture with innovations that have generated substantial royalties through international seed sales.

This harvest season at the Kingman Research Farm in Madbury, vibrant scenes unfold as the team gathers robust hybrids like the 'Tetsukabuto' winter squash. This variety combines the best traits of kabocha and butternut, offering both exceptional taste and extended shelf-life.

The team's efforts extend beyond breeding for taste and longevity. Led by Hernandez, they aim to enhance disease resistance and nutritional value, addressing key challenges in agriculture while collecting essential genetic data that underpin the program's enduring legacy.

The harvest backdrop is a picturesque mix of sunflowers and zinnias, marking areas dedicated to different cucurbit trials. The visual and scientific richness of the site is open for exploration in further detail in UNH Today's feature on the program's thriving new chapter under Hernandez's leadership.

This educational summary provides a snapshot into how UNH continues to influence the agricultural landscape through scientific exploration and innovation.

Video: Learning to Wrench From Dad the Hard Way

Harvest is a week out and the farm picked this week to fall apart. The truck needs a battery, the barn curtain's got a problem, and the corn and beans are telling us we're out of time to get it all fixed.

So it's a full day of wrenching. Tork supervises while I get the truck back running, then we're out at the hog barn where one rusted up part has the whole curtain system hung up. Ladder work, cable work, and a little dad-and-son disagreement about the right way to do it. We close it out walking the fields, shelling beans and checking corn, because whether everything's fixed or not, harvest starts when harvest starts.

Chapters: 00:00 Everything breaks the week before harvest 01:00 Tork supervises while I fix the truck 12:30 Out to the barn to find the curtain problem 14:30 One rusty part hung up the whole curtain 20:00 Running the curtain cable from the ladder 24:00 Walking the beans and corn before harvest 26:30 Wrapping up

We're a 6th generation family farm in southeast Iowa showing the real ups and downs of pig farming and row crop farming. No script, just the work. Subscribe and follow along.

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