Fall and Winter Meetings 2007

Winter Meetings

February

MASS AGGIE SEMINARS

UMass Extension worshops for small farmers and home gardeners

February 2 - April 19. 

A Broad and diverse range of topics will be presented, covering specifics within several areas including tree fruit, berries, vegetables, flowers, and herbs.

See www.massaggieseminars.org for details, locations, and registration.

PENNSELVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (PASA) 17th ANNUAL FARMING FOR THE FUTURE CONFERENCE

February 7,8,9

Penn State Conference Center

State College, PA

For a brochure and registration, please see http://www.pasafarming.org/conference2008/

SOIL FERTILITY AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR ORGANIC GROWERS

Sat Feb. 9, 2008 – at the Farm and Forest Expo, Center of NH Radisson Hotel, Manchester, NH. 9am-4:15pm
2 PAT Credits Available

Registration: $5, includes AM coffee break. Please register by Feb. 1.
Register online at: http://www.events.unh.edu/register.shtml?event_id=3978
For more info contact Becky Grube, becky.grube@unh.edu or 603-862-3203.

Speakers will include:
Caroline Robinson, Berry Hill Farm, Stratham, NH, Earl Tuson, Red Manse Farm, Loudon, NH, Mike Sciabarrasi, UNH Cooperative Extension, Eric Sideman, MOFGA, Marianne Sarrantonio, University of Maine and Tom Morris, University of Connecticut
On the following topics:
Record-keeping, Understanding New Hampshire soil tests, Crop and Revenue Insurance for Organic Growers, Managing nutrients with cover crops, Organic fertilizer and amendment options, and the potential for over-application of nutrients.

EMPIRE STATE FRUIT & VEGETABLE EXPO

February 12, 13, 14

Holiday Inn Syracuse/Liverpool
441 Electronics Parkway
Liverpool, NY 13088
315-457-1122

The 2008 Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo and Becker Forum will be held at the Holiday Inn Liverpool and the Oncenter Convention Center in Syracuse, New York on February 12, 13 and 14, 2008. The Expo has the information that your operation needs as you gear up for the 2008 growing season. Starting on Tuesday the 12th, the Becker Forum takes an all-day and in-depth focus on Coping with Ag Labor Uncertainties. Then multiple sessions run on Wednesday the 13th and Thursday the 14th at the Oncenter and will delve into topics such as new technologies, varieties, production practices, energy, marketing and pest management. A full trade show will be featured as well with the newest products and services for the fruit and vegetable industries and will include its own educational sessions in addition to the commodity sessions.

For more information, please see: http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/expo/

WINTER FLOWER GROWER PROGRAM

Sponsored by Massachusetts Flower Growers Association and University of Massachusetts Extension Floriculture Program

February 20, 2008

Cavicchio Greenhouses., Sudbury, MA

10:00 AM – 3:30 PM

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Open houses at Cavicchio Greenhouses, JP Bartlett Co. and Russell’s Garden Center.

A full day education program featuring wood chip energy, new plants for combination planters, the latest consumer trends, integrated pest management on perennials and Massachusetts medical insurance programs. All growers and farmers are invited.

Cavicchio Greenhouses is a large wholesale grower and supplies distributor serving the retail and landscaping industries. They grow a wide variety of annuals, garden mums, perennials and poinsettias. Cavicchio has new wood chip boilers to heat their greenhouses.

For more information on these programs contact:

Tina M. Smith, University of Massachusetts, 413-545-5306, tsmith@umext.umass.edu

Paul Lopes, University of Massachusetts, 508-295-2212 ext. 24, lopes@umext.umass.edu

Or visit: http://www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/upcoming_events.html

FUEL YOUR FARMS FUTURE:
New technologies and resources to stretch your farm dollar and increase profits

A One-Day Farm Conference and Resource Fair
Sponsored by Bristol Conservation District and SEMAP

Saturday, March 8, 8:00 am-4:00 pm
Bristol Co. Agricultural High School,
135 Center St., Dighton MA
Cost: $15 (includes lunch).
Up to 2 pesticide recertification credits offered

Season Extension - Farm Transfer/Tenure -
Grant Updates - Biodiesel - Pesticide Credits

Schedule

8:00 am: Registration

8:30-10:00 am: Season Extension Workshop
Learn about low-cost, low-fuel season extension technologies, including the use of unheated high tunnels, low tunnels, and row covers to grow hardy greens and other crops well into the winter. Hear from area growers using these technologies to profit from the growing demand for local foods at winter CSA's, winter farmers' markets, and year-round farmstands.

Presenters: Skip Paul, Wishing Stone Farm; Will Traubel, Traubel Builders; Elaine Sinniger, Bejo Seeds; Robert Marvel, Robert Marvel Plastics LLC.

10:00-10:30 am: Break

10:30 am-12:30 pm: Farm Transfer and Tenure Workshop
This workshop is designed to connect you with resources and help you along the way:

* If you are an established farmer thinking about passing on the farm.
* If you are a new, next-generation or future farmer.
* If you own land and would like to have it more actively farmed.

Hear from service providers with expertise in farm transfer and tenure and connect with other growers and landowners. Presenters: Cheryl Loranger, Farm Family Insurance; Kathy Ruhf & Bob Bernstein, Land For Good; Neal Satran, Satran Law.

1:30-2:00 pm: Resource Fair:
Get your questions answered and learn about new offerings from exhibitors.
Exhibitors/Vendors: BCD, MDAR, NRCS, SEMAP, First Pioneer, Land For Good, Bejo Seeds, Robert Marvel Plastic, NE Biodiesel Equipment & Supplies and more.

12:30-1:30 pm: Lunch Prepared by Mike Melo of M&C Café, New Bedford.
Over lunch: Updates on farm grant & cost-share programs from MDAR, NRCS, BCD, and others.

2:00-3:00 pm:
Option 1: Biodiesel Tour:
Tour biodiesel operation of Jerry Anctil, Thistle Hollow Farm Inc., Berkley MA (drive in own car to farm, 15 minutes from Bristol Aggie).

Option 2: Pesticide Regulation & Labeling Review
Application for 1 pesticide recertif. credit in process
· How pesticides are registered for use by EPA & Mass.
· Data requirements and risk assessment
· Pesticide labeling-requirements & recent changes
Presenter: Steve Kenyon, MDAR

Option 3: Walking Tour of Bristol Aggie led by Kyle Medeiros

3:00-4:00 pm: Pollinator Health and Pesticides
Application for 1 pesticide recertif. credit in process
Presenter: Anne Averill, UMass Extension Entomology

More info:
Bristol Conservation District, 508-669-6621, bec.turner@verizon.net OR SEMAP, 508-295-2212 x50, info@semaponline.org, www.semaponline.org.