Virginia Tech Tidewater AREC

PSA - for immediate broadcast.

We at Tidewater AREC are aware that there is a liquid falling from the sky. Don’t be alarmed, we have determined that it is in fact “rain”. Also referred to as “water” or “H2O”, it is a very beneficial substance and causes no harm to humans.

During a recent AgriCode Camp at the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center, Abhilash Chandel, an extension specialist and assistant professor of precision agriculture and data management, demonstrated how drone technology and data are used for crop development monitoring, plant disease management, fertilization, and water management. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/AgriCodeCamp

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Virginia Tech Biological Systems Engineering

The soybean team was back in the field this afternoon, planting double‑crop beans into wheat fields harvested earlier this week. Technician Chris Buck behind the wheel, Graduate Student Reagan Riggs on the planter, and guidance from Soybean Agronomist Carrie Ortel kept things running smoothly. 🌱

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Soybean Association

🌱 The latest Tidewater AREC newsletter is here!
Get updates on current research, field trials, and what’s happening at the center. Read more: https://bit.ly/TARECJune26News

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Virginia Cooperative Extension

Some scenes from yesterday’s wheat harvest at Tidewater AREC (June 15) with Farm Manager Brad Slye and Assistant Farm Manager Zoe Dunlow. The final photo features Corn & Small Grains Research Specialist Caleb Bishop harvesting small plots with the Wintersteiger combine in the evening.

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Grain Producers Association

🎉 We are thrilled to announce that Zoe Dunlow has been named Tidewater AREC’s new Assistant Farm Manager—a historic milestone, as she becomes the first woman to hold this position since the research center was established in 1914.

A graduate of the Virginia Tech Agricultural Technology program, Zoe has been an integral part of the Tidewater AREC community since 2015. Starting as a summer intern, she transitioned into a 1500‑hour role and later moved into a full‑time field technician position with the PVQE program. Across each of these roles, she has built a foundation of knowledge and hands-on experience in applied research across field and laboratory environments.

Zoe is known for her collaborative spirit, working seamlessly across programs and always seeking ways to strengthen communication and coordination among teams. She approaches challenges with a solutions‑focused mindset, consistently identifying practical, efficient paths forward that support both research goals and day‑to‑day operations.

She believes deeply in the value each department brings to the AREC’s mission and looks forward to expanding her skillset—particularly through precision agriculture—while working alongside Farm Manager Brad Slye to lay the groundwork for future success.

Please join us in welcoming Zoe to this new role as she steps into this exciting chapter at the Tidewater AREC. We are deeply grateful for her dedication, talent, and teamwork—and we can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make in the years ahead!


Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Virginia Cooperative Extension

Reports of pea leaf weevil activity have come in from New Kent County and the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The pea leaf weevil (Sitona lineatus) is established in Virginia, but it is highly sporadic and rarely considered an economic pest in soybean. However, It has been found causing significant injury to seedling soybean plants this year. Read the full post on the Virginia Ag Pest & Crop Advisory:

https://ag-pest-advisory.vaes.vt.edu/pea-leaf-weevil-sightings-in-seedling-soybeans/

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Tech Department of Entomology