UNIVERSITY PARK — A Penn State Extension toll-free hotline that provides quick updates on the latest disease and pest management issues for Pennsylvania vegetable, fruit and greenhouse growers has expanded to include new topics for the 2025 growing season.

While the hotline is designed primarily for growers who do not use computer technology to make timely crop management decisions and to be informed of upcoming extension events and programs, anyone can call 800-PENN-IPM (800-736-6476) to access this information.

As experts in agriculture and horticulture, Penn State Extension faculty specialists and county-based educators record brief messages about critical concerns they see on produce farms and greenhouses across the state. The team meets regularly to discuss the latest production issues related to insects, diseases and plant nutrition. Bulletins resulting from those conversations typically are updated weekly or more frequently if needed.

These updates also are distributed widely through newsletters, email and educational kiosks. Anyone with phone service can access the hotline, providing a way for Extension to reach the Plain community, Spanish-speaking growers and anyone who requires current crop management information.

Growers with diversified operations now can access specific information about a variety of horticultural crops. New for 2025, the hotline offers a dedicated line for Christmas trees.

Previous callers to the hotline also will remember the 90-second message limit. The new system removes that restriction — production recommendations are now longer, recorded with more depth and detail.

The hotline also features:

• Dedicated Spanish-language lines for vegetable, small fruit and tree-fruit updates.

• Dedicated lines for the cut-flower industry.

• Dedicated lines for weather conditions and forecasts.

• Dedicated lines for vegetable crops, such as onions and other Allium species, tomatoes and potatoes, sweet corn, and vine crops.

• Dedicated lines for small-fruit production and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator license updates.

• Separate lines for tree-fruit production and updates on disease, insect, horticulture and general industry issues, and announcements for upcoming events.

• A directory of tree-fruit specialists and educators.

Instructions for navigating the hotline are available on the Penn State Extension website. Callers can reach out to their local extension educators to suggest topics that should be addressed or crops that should receive a dedicated message box on the hotline.