Oregon is one of the biggest vegetable seed producing states in the US. In this episode, we catch up with Robyn Shephard, an agronomist with Lakeside Ag-Ventures, in a red radish seed field to learn how hybrid systems work and the steps vegetable seed growers are taking to keep bees healthy during pollination.
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“In a hybrid system you have a male line and a female line, that cross and create the next variety that a farmer will plant to create something like a fresh market radish.” – Robyn Shephard
Show Notes:
- The science behind the hybrid radish system
- Why hybridize these specific radish plants
- What types of radish are desired around the world
- The role bees play in this industry
- What diseases there are that can affect this crop
- What can be done to control pests and help the bees
“During bloom you can have serious diseases of radish, like white rust, which would result in severe loss in seed yield even if flowers were properly pollinated.” – Robyn Shephard
Links Mentioned:
- Learn more about Lakeside Ag-Ventures
- How are hybrid and open-pollinated vegetables different?
- Find out more about the Willamette Valley Specialty Seed Association
- Connect with Robyn Shephard at Lakeside Ag-Ventures
- OSU Extension – Evaluating Bee Colonies for Pollination (2015, Sagili and Burgett)