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- Author or Editor: Winfred P. Cowgill x
The rapid evolution of electronic technologies is providing researchers, educators, and consumers increasingly fast access to information. On the Internet (Net), electronic mail is a rapid, efficient, and economical medium for communication. Mail list management software (Listserv, Almanac, Majordomo, and Liststar) now allows users with interests in specific topics to address production and marketing issues across state and international boundaries by posting messages to a discussion group (DG) at one electronic address. Replies from anyone interested in responding may be sent to the entire DG, constituting a discussion, or returned directly to the originator of the message. Three commodity-oriented, horticultural DGs—Apple-Crop, Veg-Prod and Direct-Mkt—established over the last 30 months now provide on-line forums for >600 subscribers from 46 states, 4 Canadian provinces, and 21 other countries. Twenty-seven percent to 31% of these DGs' subscribers responded to a survey evaluating the effectiveness of DGs as communication tools. Reponses showed that DGs were a valuable communication tool for reaching a broad resource pool rapidly and economically. Information requests, meeting announcements, and resource listings have dominated the activity of these DGs. Cooperative extension specialists and county agricultural agents represent most users (69%), followed by researchers (14%), farmers, and those with unlisted job descriptions (7% each). Ease of use, quickness (often within 24 hours), quality and quantity of replies, and the ability to glean timely information for files and newsletters were cited as the most important reasons for using these DGs.
The Virtual Orchard (VO) is a World Wide Web (WWW) site dedicated to dissemination of information on sustainable apple production. The VO also provides interactive forums for research and extension projects, including the `Apple-Crop Listserv', dealing with commercial apple production and marketing issues. More specifically, the Virtual Orchard hosts the `New Jersey Fruit Focus' sponsored by Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and the `UVM Apple Orchard', home to the Univ. of Vermont research and Extension `Apple Team'. A search engine provides keyword searching of the VO and other relevant WWW sites. During Jan.—Dec. 1997, the Virtual Orchard welcomed nearly 40,000 unique Internet visitors and served >500,00 requested files. VO WWW pages are served by an Apple Macintosh Workgroup Server located at the Univ. of Vermont. The Uniform Research Locator (URL) of the Virtual Orchard is http://orchard.uvm.edu. The `Apple-Crop Listserv' is an Internet discussion list that provides a forum for information exchange between university researchers, extension agents and specialists, students, commercial apple growers, wholesalers/brokers, retailers, and direct marketers of apples. `Apple-Crop' became active in 1993 and as of Dec. 1997, had >340 subscribers throughout North America and from several foreign countries. To subscribe to `Apple-Crop' or for more information, send e-mail to apple-crop@orchard.uvm.edu; Univ. of Vermont (802) 656-2630; Rutgers Cooperative Extension (908) 788-1339.
The effect of disease forecasting systems and stake or ground culture on foliar and postharvest disease control for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) was evaluated during two growing seasons in northern New Jersey. Foliar disease was reduced and marketable yield increased by stake culture. Percent of postharvest losses, including loss due to anthracnose, was significantly reduced by stake culture. Effectiveness of disease control schedules, weekly or forecaster-generated, was not affected by cultural system. Disease forecasting was shown to have potential for optimizing fungicide use in tomato production by controlling foliar disease and fruit anthracnose with fewer applications than a weekly schedule.