Plant Pathologist helps out farmers and community
In this week’s Home Grown we take a look at the first Ag field day on plant pathology that was at the Yuma Ag Center. The Dean for Extension and Economic Development from the University of Arizona Tucson campus, Dr. Jeff Silvertooth came to the event held by our new local plant pathologist Dr. Bindu Poudel .
” Today is a special day because one of our extension specialists is having an event associated with plant pathology. She’s a plant pathologist, and she’s starting in a new position here in Yuma to work with the Yuma community, ” Silvertooth said .
” It’s the first time, so I didn’t know what to expect, but we have a great team and it’s turning out to be great, so I am really happy about it, ” Poudel said .
Dr Bindu Poudel opened up her lab to the public so others can see the work she will be doing for not only the Ag community but the community as a whole.
” So you think about crops like spinach, cauliflower, lettuce and you get a disease in those crops… It’s really important that the consultants in the field get that disease diagnosed and figure out what do we do about it. And, that’s what these labs are for, ” Silvertooth explained.
Poudel is an expert on plant disease. If you have a plant that isn’t doing well, you can drop off a sample of it at the Yuma Ag Center located at 6425 W 8th Street in Yuma. Poudel will help you find out what the problem is and how to treat it.
