HIGHLAND – The Hudson Valley Research Laboratory has dedicated its horticulture lab as the Hinchey Innovation Hub, honoring state Sen. Michelle Hinchey’s (D, Saugerties) $1 million investment in agricultural research and facility upgrades.
The dedication marks the completion of a three-year project to modernize the facility and help farmers address crop diseases, invasive pests, and climate-related threats.
Founded in 1923 as a partnership between farmers and Cornell AgriTech scientists, the laboratory serves growers across the Hudson Valley and eastern New York, where emerging pests and climate-related changes can appear earlier than elsewhere in the state.
The laboratory, built in 1964, received upgrades to research spaces, ventilation, heating and cooling systems, insulation and environmental controls. The project also replaced fuel-oil heating with energy-efficient heat pumps and added a 20-kilowatt rooftop solar installation.
Researchers are testing pheromone traps to intercept spotted lanternflies moving between woodlands and apple orchards. They are also studying ultraviolet-light technologies to control fire blight, a destructive apple disease, while reducing reliance on conventional chemical treatments.
The work follows an April 2026 freeze that caused widespread crop losses among regional fruit growers.
The improvements are expected to strengthen the laboratory’s ability to develop practical solutions for farmers and support future research into precision agriculture and other sustainable technologies.
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