The Purdue University and University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Services will sponsor the Illiana Vegetable Growers’ School from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST on Thursday, January 5, at Teibel’s Restaurant in Schererville, Indiana. The program will be of special interest to vegetable farmers, including market gardeners, in Northern Indiana and Northeast Illinois.
Topics for the 2012 edition of this popular event for vegetable growers include a review of vegetable insect pests from 2011 and what to know for 2012; managing bacterial diseases of tomato; defense-inducing products (a worthy investment?); and impacts of 2,4-D/Dicamba-resistant soybeans on vegetable producers.
Liz Maynard, Purdue Extension Horticulture Specialist, explained, “Growers can learn about current research in insect, disease and weed management, and how they can use that information to improve overall pest management on their farms.”
“They can also learn about consumer interests and cost of production for vegetable crops; information that can be used to improve marketing practices,” Maynard added.
There will be presentations on consumer food trends; bottom-line vegetable growing economics and the new fertilizer certification rule for Indiana.
During the afternoon, concurrent sessions will offer a choice of topics: irrigation and managing for healthy soils with manure and soil building crops.
For the irrigation section, topics will include the basics of irrigation scheduling to improve water use efficiency and a panel discussion with growers who irrigate.
For the soil health section, topics include managing manure in vegetable production, cover crops characteristics and management and a panel discussion on soil-building crops.
Participants will have the opportunity to visit with company representatives who supply vegetable seeds and other products that support vegetable production during several breaks in the program. Growers can also purchase the latest vegetable production guides, which will be available at the meeting.
Continuing education credits have been approved for those holding Indiana private or commercial pesticide license and are anticipated for Certified Crop Advisers.
Participants are encouraged to pre-register before Monday, Dec. 19 by completing a registration form and sending with $20 to the Purdue Extension-Lake County office. Folks may also register on-site at the school for $25, but the famous Teibel’s fried chicken luncheon cannot be guaranteed with out pre-registration. Registration materials and more information are available at Purdue’s Fruit and Vegetable Connection website, www.hort.purdue.edu/fruitveg under “Events.” Individuals may also contact Purdue Extension-Lake County at (219) 755-3240 or Liz Maynard at (219) 531-4200 Ext. 4206.