What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, we were coming to terms with the fact that late blight had decimated 90% of our winter squash. With so many shapes, colors, and sizes, winter squash is the belle of the fall ball, but thanks to excessive summer rain, all we had in 2024 were a few dozen butternut. The only other time we incurred such a major loss was in 2009, when the same culprit (late blight) ruined our tomatoes. While all farmers wish for bumper crops, we also brace for low yields, but complete crop failures are rare—and traumatic. In the season that follows, hope is often shadowed by trepidation. Read more...