Natalie Hoidal

Extension Educator - Local Foods & Vegetable Production

she/her

[email protected]

Farmington Regional Extension Office

Extension - Fruit and Vegetable Farming

Extension - Pest Management

'The Vegetable Beet'

UMN Experts

Education

M.S. University of Copenhagen, Agronomy 2017

Areas of Interest

vegetable crops, IPM, organic, soil health

Biography

I work with vegetable growers across Minnesota ranging from community gardeners to large commercial farmers. I support growers with all aspects of production ranging from IPM to soil health through direct assistance, applied research, and various communication channels.

Teaching

As an Extension educator, I work directly with farmers and gardeners.

Research

I am broadly interested in how we grow vegetable crops more successfully and sustainably in Minnesota. Current projects include studies on managing Colorado Potato Beetle using preventative control measures, exploring Chile pepper varieties and marketing opportunities with Latino growers in rural Minnesota, developing nutrient recommendations for East African traditional crops with Kenyan and Somali farmers, and screening broccoli cultivars for black rot and Alternaria tolerance.

Outreach

I communicate research-based best practices to growers through a variety of channels including the UMN Fruit and Vegetable Newsletter, the UMN Yard and Garden Newsletter, in-person workshops and field days, videos (see UMN Small Farms and Yard and Garden YouTube pages), social media, and the What's Killing my Kale and Vegetable Beet podcasts.

I also support farmers with 1:1 technical assistance via email, phone calls, and sometimes site visits.

Honors and Awards