2018 Conference presenters
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Adams, Stacy
UNL Agronomy & Horticulture 279 Plant Science Hall Lincoln, NE 68583-0915 [email protected] 402-472-2577 Stacy Adams is an Associate Professor of Practice in Horticulture with a research emphasis in specialty crop production tools and techniques and provides extension education to support value added plant products. Current efforts focus on evaluating the potential for hop as a viable specialty crop for Nebraska, as well as, the Great Plains region. His current research efforts are evaluating hop productivity for eight commercially proven hop cultivars at four locations across NE. Hop qualitative characteristics are being measured in response to the differing geographic and climatic conditions in the region. Several extension programs have been given to potential and newly emerging growers, providing foundational knowledge on hop production, specific cultivation recommendations appropriate to NE conditions, and considerations for harvesting, processing and marketing hops as a small scale grower. Hops Potential Thursday: 9:15 am * Baker, Tim 102 N. Main Street, Suite 1 Gallatin, MO 64640 [email protected] 660-663-3232 Barden, Charlie KSU Horticulture and Natural Resources Department 1712 Claflin Road Manhattan, KS 66506 [email protected] 785-532-1444 Dr. Charlie Barden has worked for K-State Research and Extension since 1998. He grew up in Rhode Island, working in his grandfather’s apple orchard, which is run today by his brother. He currently oversees the K-State Master Gardener vegetable trial program. He earned his Ph.D. from Penn State, his Master’s degree from Virginia Tech, and his B.S. degree from the University of Rhode Island. Vegetable Production Saturday: 1:15 pm Bartz, Jerry Plant Pathology Department University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-0680 [email protected] (352)273-4671 Reducing Food Losses Thursday: 10:15 am Batziakas, Konstantinos 22201 W Innovation Dr. Olathe, KS 66061 [email protected] Kostas Batziakas is a horticulture PhD student with emphasis in Postharvest Physiology of fresh produce in Kansas State University, Olathe Campus. Batziakas obtained his M.S. in Greenhouse Horticulture from Wageningen University, The Netherlands specializing in Postharvest biology and physiology of Horticultural production and his B.S in Agronomy from Aristotle University Thessaloniki. His research interests are focusing pre-harvest factors affecting postharvest quality and in modified atmosphere packaging applications for extending the shelf-life and maintaining the quality of fresh produce. Reducing Food Losses Thursday: 11:15 am Bergefurd, Brad 1864 Shyville Road Piketon, Ohio 45661 [email protected] 740-289-3727 ext. 136 Brad Bergefurd is Extension Educator, Agriculture/Natural Resources and Horticulture Specialist with Ohio State University Extension, with county and statewide responsibilities for outreach and research to the commercial agriculture & fruit and vegetable industries, urban agriculture and consumer horticulture including Master Gardener Volunteer training, and community gardening. Bergefurd conducts field research, authors publications, and teaches on plasticulture strawberry, vegetable crops and hops production, produce auction development, pumpkin production, Aquaponics production, high tunnel production, fertigation and market & season extension techniques. Bergefurd is located at OSU Extension Scioto County in Portsmouth and at the OSU Piketon Research & Extension Center in Piketon and has been with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and OSU Extension for 28 years. Bergefurds responsibilities include: Co-Leader of the OSU Vegetable Crops Team; past Co-Director of the Great Lakes Vegetable Working Group; Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association Educational Advisor; Ohio Hops Guild Academia Director; North Central SARE Research & Education Technical Committee and Co-leader of an agriculture development project in Senegal, Africa. Hops Potential Thursday: 8:45 am & 11:00 am Small Fruits Saturday: 9:00 am & 9:45 am Bessin, Ric University of Kentucky Tree Fruit Friday 11 am & 4:15 pm Braunecker, Jason 102 NW Lakesite Rd Maysville, MO 64469 [email protected] 816-812-7672 Jason and his wife Jessica started Fellers Farm LLC in October 2016. Fellers Farm LLC is a side business for the couple which specializes in the production and sale of naturally grown shiitake and oyster mushrooms grown on logs. Jason grew up in southern Indiana and attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN where he obtained a bachelor's degree in wildlife with a minor in law and society in 2005. He obtained his master's degree from the University of Cincinnati in Criminal Justice in 2010. Jason has grown shiitake mushrooms for personal use for over a decade, initially learning the process through a friend in southern Indiana. Jason also enjoys mushroom hunting for many types of mushrooms including morel, wild oysters, chicken of the woods, lion's mane, chanterelle, boletes, and other types of native mushrooms. Mushrooms Friday: 4:00 pm Brecht, Jeff University of Florida Horticultural Sciences Department Gainesville, Florida 32611 [email protected] 352-273-4778 www.hos.ufl.edu Dr. Jeffrey Brecht, professor of postharvest plant physiology at the University of Florida, received his B.A. in Biology from Whittier College (1979) and Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from the University of California, Davis (1984). He has been on the faculty of the University of Florida since 1984. His research program involves studies of harvesting, handling, storage, transport, and the physiological and metabolic processes related to the development, maturation and senescence of horticultural crops. He also shares statewide postharvest extension responsibilities and teaches a beginning graduate level course, “Principles of Postharvest Horticulture.” Dr. Brecht is the Director of the Center for Food Distribution and Retailing (CFDR) at the University of Florida, which brings agricultural scientists and engineers together with companies involved in the distribution and selling of perishable foods to conduct multidisciplinary research. As CFDR Director he interacts with commodity associations, packers, shippers, distributors, importers, exporters, processors and retailers to extend information regarding advances in perishable food handling. He has authored over 450 technical publications including 160 refereed journal papers. He was named a University of Florida Research Foundation Professor in 2002, a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science in 2006, and an Honorary Member of the Florida State Horticultural Society in 2014. Reducing Food Losses Thursday : 9:10 am & 1:45 pm * Browning, Sarah 444 Cherrycreek Road, Suite A Lincoln, Nebraska 68528 [email protected] 402-441-6747 http://lancaster.unl.edu As an Educator with Nebraska Extension for 19 years, Sarah's programming has focused on environmental horticulture, fruit & vegetable production and food safety. Working with the general public and commercial green industry professionals, her major program goals include conserving water, protecting water quality, promoting local food production and protecting human health. FSMA Thursday: 9:15 am * Buller, Tom 2110 Harper Lawrence, KS 66046 [email protected] 785-843-7058 http://www.douglas.k-state.edu/commercial-horticulture/index.html Tom Buller is a horticulture extension agent with K-State Research and Extension Douglas County. He has been a commercial scale organic vegetable and fruit producer in in Lawrence, KS since 2006. FSMA Thursday: 11:15 am & 3:00 pm Bunch, Matt 6917 Kensington Kansas City, Missouri 64132 [email protected] givinggrove.org Matt Bunch, Horticulturist, The Giving Grove- As the horticulturist for the Giving Grove since 2013, Matt selects the fruit and nut varieties, consults with new sites, and advises Giving Grove site stewards on the best practices for growing fruits and nuts biologically in the Kansas City area. Matt has been in the horticulture profession since 1994, but his love for plants and gardening grew from the gardens of his parents and grandparents. Schooled as a history major, Matt has worked in horticulture in retail, municipal, and public garden capacities. From 2004 to 2013 Matt was with Powell Gardens (Kansas City’s Botanical Garden), first as a Native Plant Landscape Specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation Discovery Center, and later as the Horticulturist for The Heartland Harvest Garden, a 12 acre edible landscape featuring over 2000 distinct edible plant varieties; fruits, nuts, berries, vegetables and herbs. Over the years Matt has written for The Best Times and the Missouri Gardener and has spoken at many Master Gardener gatherings, the Great Plains Growers Conference, Growing Power, The National Green Centre, Grow Native Workshops and more. Work follows him home where he grows mainly natives and edibles with his wife and two children in Kansas City, Missouri. Organic Friday: 1:30 pm Bush, Michael 1603 Pollard Dr. Nehawka, NE 68413-3017 [email protected] www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm Michael Bush is one of the leading proponents of treatment free beekeeping. He has been keeping bees since the mid 70's, usually from two to seven hives up until the year 2000. Varroa forced more experimentation which required more hives and the number has grown steadily over the years from then. By 2008 it was about 200 hives. He is active on many of the Beekeeping forums with last count at more than 50,000 posts between all of them. He has had an eclectic set of careers from printing and graphic arts, to construction to computer programming and a few more in between. Currently he is working in computers. He has a web site on beekeeping at www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm "His talks are like his writing, with more content, detail, and depth than one would think possible with such few words...his website and PowerPoint presentations are the gold standard for diverse and common sense beekeeping practices."--Dean Stiglitz Honeybees Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm * Byers, Patrick MU Extension - Webster County 800 S Marshall St, Marshfield, MO 65706 417-859-2044 [email protected] Patrick Byers is Regional Horticulture Specialist with the Webster County office of University of Missouri Extension, based in Marshfield. His educational background includes an associate degree from the University of Nebraska, a bachelor’s degree University of Missouri, and a Master’s degree from the University of Arkansas, all in horticulture. Job experience includes 3 years at the University of Arkansas Fruit Substation and 18 years as Fruit Grower Advisor at the MSU State Fruit Experiment Station in Mountain Grove, where he worked with fruit research programs and provided outreach training for fruit growers. Patrick joined MU Extension in 2008, and his current position of regional horticulture specialist includes outreach programming for commercial horticulture in 9 southwest Missouri counties. Patrick and his family reside on a farm near Fordland. Small Fruit: Saturday 2:30 PM Cloyd, Raymond Kansas State University 123 Manhattan, Kansas 66506 [email protected] 785 - 532 - 4750 Dr. Raymond A. Cloyd, Professor and Extension Specialist in Horticultural Entomology/Plant Protection, Department of Entomology, Kansas State University. Raymond has an extension (70%) and research (30%) appointment at Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS). His research and extension program involves pest management in greenhouses, nurseries, landscapes, turf grass, conservatories, interiorscapes, Christmas trees, and vegetables and fruits. Raymond is the extension specialist in horticultural entomology for the state of Kansas with a major clientele that includes homeowners, master gardeners, and professional and commercial operators. Raymond has published over 70 scientific refereed publications and over 500 trade journals on topics related to pest management/plant protection. Raymond is a frequent speaker at state, national, and international conferences and seminars. Raymond has received numerous awards and honors including the American Society for Horticultural Sciences Outstanding Extension Educator Award 2012; 2011 Society of American Florists Alex Laurie Award for Research and Extension; 2010 Entomological Society of America North Central Branch Award of Excellence in Integrated Pest Management; 2008 Epsilon Sigma Phi, Alpha Rho State Early Career Extension Award; 2003 College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Award for Excellence in Extension; and 2003 Visionary Leadership Award from Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Fraternity. Vegetable IPM: Friday 2:00 pm & 4:15 pm * Cochran, Diana 106 Horticulture Hall 2206 Osborn Drive Ames, Iowa 50011 [email protected] 515-294-0035 Hops Potential: 3:00 pm Craver, Joshua 625 Agriculture Mall Drive West Lafayette, IN 47907-2010 [email protected] Joshua Craver is a Ph.D. candidate at Purdue University working with Dr. Roberto Lopez. He obtained his B.S. from Mississippi State University, where he performed undergraduate research focused on plant growth and development. He then went on to graduate with his M.S. degree from Kansas State University, where he investigated the physiological disorders of intumescence and oedema on floriculture crops. His current research involves the production of horticultural crops under sole-source lighting. Greenhouse/Hydroponics: Saturday 1:00 pm Greenhouse/Hydroponics: Saturday 3:30 pm * Davis, Karen 4736 Tennessee Ave St Louis, MO 63111 [email protected] 573 - 999 - 6293 Dawson, Julie Department of Horticulture 1575 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706 [email protected] 608-609-6165 dawson.horticulture.wisc.edu Julie Dawson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her background is in organic plant breeding and participatory research. Research topics include season extension methods, organic and participatory variety trials and variety selection for small-acreage farms and gardens as well as extension resources for urban growers. She leads a project called the seed to kitchen collaborative with other plant breeders to test varieties with local farmers and chefs, focused on flavor for local food systems. Season Extension: Saturday 9:00 am Vegetable Production: Saturday 11:15 am De Smedt, Pieter 800 Brickell Avenue Suite 1100 Miami, Florida 33131 [email protected] 786-479-8902 www.urbancropsolutions.com Mr. Pieter De Smedt is the USA Country Manager of Urban Crop Solutions, a company that designs and builds fully automated indoor vertical farms that enable consistent high quality and year round production of a wide variety of crops. Greenhouse/Hydroponics: Saturday 11:00 am Dintelmann, Brian 5 Waters Hall Columbia, Missouri 65211 [email protected] Vegetable IPM: Friday 1:30 pm Tree Fruit: Saturday 2:30 pm Dudenhoeffer, Austen Lincoln University Integrated Pest Management program, Cooperative Extension Jefferson City, MO 65101 [email protected] Organic Saturday: 11:15 am |
Eaton, Touria
900 Chestnut Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 413-687-1044 [email protected] Dr. Touria Eaton, State Extension Specialist of Horticulture, earned her Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility. She is passionate about students’ experiential learning, with two students a semester, mentored to conduct research and present at scientific meetings. Her research and extension activities focus on sustainable methods to grow and market vegetable and ornamental crops. Her research projects include: (1) agricultural practices to increase the nutrient density in vegetable crops, (2) producing Brussels sprouts for marketing on stalks, and (3) the use of organic fertilizers in greenhouse crop production. Eaton also conducted research on the use of biochar (a charcoal-like material) as a soil amendment. A current extension project of Dr. Eaton is the 2014 Farm Bill education training program, designed and implemented to help Missouri farmers use USDA programs, to reduce financial losses associated with crop losses. Eaton is native of Morocco. Elmers, Jill 1515 E. 11th St Lawrence, KS 66046 [email protected] Jill Elmers owns and operates Moon on the Meadow farm, a certified organic farm on the eastern edge of Lawrence, Kansas in the Kansas River bottoms. We farm 6+ acres of a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and small fruit. We utilize three 2000 square foot hoop houses to extend our season and attempt to grow all year around. We market our products through a 300 person CSA (community supported agriculture), farmers markets, the Kansas City Food Hub, and to local restaurants and grocery stores. We are dedicated to sustainable agriculture and feeding our local region. Organic Saturday: 1:30 pm Farhrmeier, Lorin University of Missouri Extension Farm to School Friday 11:00 am & 1 pm & 2 pm Farmer, Lisa Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services Farm to School Friday 2 pm Fernandez, Gina North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695 Small Fruits Saturday 11:00 am & 11:45 am Fisk, Connie Produce Safety Alliance 630 W North Street Geneva, NY 14456 [email protected] 541-250-6227 producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu Connie joined the Produce Safety Alliance as the Northwest Regional Extension Associate in August 2017 with over eight years of extension experience in Nebraska and North Carolina and over three years of experience teaching college-level horticulture, microbiology, food science, agroecology, and family and consumer science courses, both on campus and online. Her education and work experience include production, harvest, postharvest handling, processing, and evaluation (quality, safety, sensory) of a variety of agricultural products. She is passionate about teaching the information and skills growers need to produce safe, high quality crops for fresh and processing markets and comply with buyer requirements and government regulations. Connie received her B.S. in Nutrition and Food Management and her M.S. in both Food Science & Technology and Horticulture from Oregon State University and her Ph.D. in Horticultural Science from NC State University. Follow her on Twitter @connie_fisk. FSMA: Thursday 8:30 am—5:00 pm * Fowler, Tom Buchanan County Extension 4125 Mitchell Ave. St. Joseph, MO 64503 [email protected] 816-279-1691 Guagno, Chris 2877 Giffen Ave Santa Rosa, California 95407 [email protected] 720-556-3546 www.genhydro.com Chris Guagno is a 25 year hydroponic gardener versed in most styles of hydroponic gardening in 3 different climates. Chris has been employed by General Hydroponics for 6 years. GH is a leader in the hydro space and has been seen 1976 when it's original founder Lawrence Brooke launched the company with the intention to aid the NASA space program. The company flourished because of our commitment to quality and consistency in our systems and fertilizers. Greenhouse Hydroponics: Saturday 9:45 AM Hallen-Adams, Heather University of Nebraska-Lincoln Food Science and Technology 1901 N 21st St. Lincoln NE 68588-6205 [email protected] https://foodsci.unl.edu/hallenadams Heather Hallen-Adams received her PhD at Michigan State University studying amatoxin-producing mushrooms, which she continued to study during her postdoctoral research. She is currently a professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she has been since 2010, where she considers her mandate to encompass “anywhere that food and fungi intersect” (including edible mushrooms, poisonous mushrooms, fermentations, mycotoxins, and fungi in the human gut). Mushrooms: Friday 1:00 pm & 3:30 pm Hannan, Joseph Dallas County Extension and Outreach 28059 Fairground Rd. Adel, IA 50003 [email protected] 515-993-4281 ISU Extension and Outreach Field Specialist Joe Hannan supports the Local Foods industry in Iowa by working with grower organizations and commercial fruit and vegetable growers to increase the quantity, quality, and safety of produce entering the market. His primary focus is on high tunnel production and food safety. FSMA Thursday: 10:30 am & 1:00 pm Season Extension Saturday: 1:15 pm * Harper, Travis 100 W Franklin Clinton, MO 64735 [email protected] 660-885-5556 Hoppenstedt, Zachary K-State Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center 35230 W 135th St Olathe, Kansas 66061 [email protected] http://www.growinggrowers.org Zac is a second-year master's student and graduate research assistant in K-State's Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources. He works on a variety of sustainable fruit and vegetable production trials at the university's research center in Olathe, Kansas. He is co-advised by Drs. Cary Rivard and Jason Griffin. His master's thesis is focused on organic sweetpotato seed systems for regional growers. Prior to his graduate studies, Zac had spent multiple seasons working on small diversified farms across the U.S. and Latin America. In addition to his research responsibilities, Zac coordinates for the Growing Growers' apprenticeship program and market farming workshop series. A native of Manhattan, Kansas, he currently resides in Kansas City and is passionate about supporting local regenerative agriculture on both sides of State Line. Organic Friday: 4:15 pm Ikerd, John John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics, was raised on a small dairy farm in southwest Missouri and received his BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri. He worked in private industry for a time and spent thirty years in various professorial positions at four different state universities before retiring in early 2000. Since retiring, he spends most of his time writing and speaking on issues related to sustainability with an emphasis on agriculture and economics. He is the author of six published books. A free on-line book of Dr. Ikerd can be located through his websites: http://faculty.missouri.edu/ikerdj/ or http://johnikerd.com Keynote Friday: 9:00 am Jamerson, Cal 22201 W Innovation Dr. Olathe, KS 66061 [email protected] 913-307-7394 http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/index.html Produce Safety Extension Associate with K-State FSMA Thursday: 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm Keinath, Anthony Clemson University Coastal Research and Education Center 2700 Savannah Highway Charleston, SC 29414 [email protected] 843-402-5390 http://www.clemson.edu/cafls/faculty_staff/profiles/tknth Anthony (Tony) Keinath is a Professor of Plant Pathology and the research (80%) and Extension (20%) vegetable pathologist at the Clemson University Coastal Research and Education Center in Charleston, SC. His area of expertise is cucurbit diseases. He has published 90 scientific journal articles and book chapters and over 400 Extension communications. He has had seven previous graduate students and currently advises one M.S. and one Ph.D. student. He is an instructor in the Master Gardener program and a gardening columnist for The Post and Courier newspaper. Vegetable IPM Friday: 11:00 am & 3:30 pm Keller, Jackie 2222 SW Glick Rd Topeka, KS 66614 [email protected] 785-633-4621 www.ocia.org In 2003, Jackie Keller became Chapter Administrator for KS Chapter #2 of the Organic Crop Improvement Ass. (OCIA Int.), a certifying agency based in Lincoln, NE. The chapter has approximately 40 members who produce crops, livestock, and produce; and a few also process/handle. The chapter system provides mentoring/networking for transitioning and certified producers. Jackie also owns/operates a 200 acre certified grain/hay farm near Topeka, which has been certified since '04/'05. Crops grown include alfalfa, red clover, wheat, oats, barley, triticale, milo, corn, soy beans and various cover crops including rye and Austrian winter peas. Organic Saturday: 9:00 am Kremer, Robert 302 Natural Resources Bldg. University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 [email protected] 573 - 882-6408 http://www.snr.missouri.edu/seas/faculty/kremer-r.php Bob Kremer is a Professor of Soil Microbiology at the University of Missouri and a retired microbiologist with USDA-ARS. Original research includes soil health assessment in various ecosystems and plant-microbe interactions. He teaches soil microbiology and has authored or co-authored numerous refereed articles and book chapters and one textbook. Dr. Kremer is a Certified Soil Scientist, a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and Weed Science Society of America. He was raised on a diversified farm in Osage County, Missouri and continues research projects there. Cover Crops/Soil Health Thursday: 9:00 am Kreuser, Katie University of Nebraska-Lincoln 1875 N. 38th Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0915 [email protected] 402-472-3036 https://agronomy.unl.edu/nebraska-hops Katie Kreuser is the Hop Program Coordinator for University of Nebraska Extension. She is a native of Bristol, Tennessee, and is a graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama with a degree in Biology, and Cornell University in Ithaca, New York with a masters degree in horticulture and non-profit management. Katie became involved in hops three years ago as a research technician, focusing on buffalograss and hop breeding projects in the Agronomy & Horticulture Department at UNL. Early in 2017, she began her role with Nebraska Extension, focusing on direct communication with hop growers in Nebraska and the surrounding areas in the Midwest region, helping them address questions and challenges in hop production, providing timely educational resources, including written publications, workshops and hands on learning events, and managing the annual Nebraska Grower and Brewer Conference. Hops Potential Thursday: 10:30 am Krzton-Presson, John ISU Extension and Outreach - Jasper Co. 550 N 2nd Ave W Newton, IA 50311 [email protected] 641-792-6433 John Krzton-Presson is a Local Foods Coordinate with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Jasper County. John has earned a BS from the University of Kentucky and an MS in Horticulture and Sustainable Agriculture from Iowa State University where he studied cover crops and reduced tillage for commercial muskmelon production. In his current role as a Local Foods Coordinator, he works with growers, institutions, and community partners to increase the sales and consumption of local foods. Vegetable Production Saturday: 2:15 pm Lang, Kristine 106 Horticulture Hall 2206 Osborn Drive Ames, Iowa 50011 [email protected] 515-825-7525 Kristine is a 3rd year PhD student in Horticulture and Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. Her work focuses primarily on high tunnel production systems including grafted tomato production, colored bell pepper trials, and season extension of fall crops. She has also worked with cereal rye to identify best performing cultivars for use in roller-crimping systems. Season Extension Saturday: 10:00 am Martinez, Brittany Mushrooms Friday 1:45 pm McKewan, Jeanie 650 N Stockton Rd Stockton, IL 61085-9243 [email protected] 815-954-4390 brightflowerfarm.com As founder of Brightflower Farm, Jeanie is devoted to providing beauty and fullness of life through her flowers. The farm is located in NW Illinois and SW Wisconsin and grows many varieties of specialty cut flowers and plants for designers, flower shops, and various wholesale markets. Her flowers and plants are available from March through frost. Growing flowers and plants in all the stunning colors of nature is her passion and she feels incredibly fortunate to be able to earn a livelihood providing people with local beauty! Cut Flowers Saturday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm * Mecham, Kathi 111 N Mason Carrollton, MO 64633 660-542-1792 [email protected] * Mersha, Zelalem Lincoln University Cooperative Extension 900 Chestnut St., 214 Allen Hall Jefferson City, Missouri 65101 573-681 -5634 [email protected] http://www.lincolnu.edu/web/programs-and-projects/plant-pathology1 Biographical Information Zelalem Mersha is an Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist at Lincoln University (LU) of Missouri. The Plant Pathology Program that he leads at LU focuses on enhancing the quality and productivity of vegetables and small fruits through delivering research and educational programs pertinent to monitoring, identification and management of economically important diseases. Some of his past and current research works include evaluating the use of the weather-based decision system MELCAST for Missouri melon growers and biological control of sclerotinia diseases in high tunnels. Training-of-Trainers with a focus on “Integrated Approaches of Managing Diseases on Vegetables, Berries and Grapes” is a recent outreach effort coordinated by him. Speakers at this event included Growers, Extension and Research faculty from LU, University of Missouri, Cornell University, Kansas State University and Purdue University. Vegetable IPM Friday: 11:45 am Miller, Emily Joy 10940 Parallel Pkwy Ste. K375 Kansas City, KS 66109 [email protected] 913-276-9155 www.freshfarmhq.com Emily is Director of The KC Food Hub, formerly known as Fresh Farm HQ Cooperative Association. Emily has been involved with the food hub since coordinating the feasibility study in 2014. Fresh Farm HQ has aggregated and distributed fresh, healthy produce in Kansas City since 2016. Ten owner members provide food to local school districts, food service companies, groceries, and restaurants in the Kansas City metro area. Emily returned to Kansas City in May 2016 to join the food hub. For nearly 20 years, Emily has worked in local and regional food systems, as an organic farm apprentice, farm manager, farmers market manager, restaurant manager, food policy advocate, and food systems planner. In her work with FFHQ, Emily is helping producer members create access to wholesale markets and build capacity for increased regional supply. Emily has a Biology degree from Kansas State University, and a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Kansas. Organic Saturday: 1:15 pm Minnick, Tony 1207 Smith Street Columbia, Missouri 65201 [email protected] 573-514-4174 columbiaurbanag.org/ Tony has worked as Urban Farms Manager for the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) since early 2016. After studying local food systems at Loyola University in Chicago and working on diversified small-family farms in the years following, Tony has found a happy medium in urban agricultural education. CCUA works to enhance its community’s health by connecting people to agriculture and the land through hands-on learning opportunities from seed to plate, and Tony works in training and facilitating volunteers to grow urban food for local area hunger relief outlets. Tony is interested in maximizing production on small tracts of land using biologically-intensive growing practices and well-sequenced succession cropping. Cover Crops/Soil Health Thursday: 3:30 pm * Nair, Ajay 145 Horticulture Hall Ames, Iowa 50011 515-294-7080 [email protected] http://www.extension.iastate.edu/vegetablelab Nelson, Hayley 351 Bessey 2200 Osborn Drive Ames, IA 50011 [email protected] 712-269-7188 As a native Iowan, Hayley Nelson grew up on a livestock farm. After obtaining her B.S. degree in Environmental Science and Global Resource Systems at Iowa State University, Hayley's interest in food systems led her to pursue a M.S. degree in plant pathology. Hayley is presently a M.S. candidate at Iowa State University. Her field research tests the effectiveness of reinvented row cover systems to provide season-long protection against cucumber beetles and bacterial wilt in cucurbit production. Hayley is expected to graduate in December 2019 and is looking forward to a career in Extension. Vegetable Production Saturday: 10:00 am |
Nixon, Katie
15197 Hwy B Wheatland , Missouri 65779 [email protected] 816-809-5074 www.greengatefamilyfarm.com While still categorized as a beginning farmer, I have spent the last 19 years of my life immersed in sustainable agriculture. In 2010, my husband and I started Green Gate Family Farm LLC in Wheatland, Mo. After the standard 3 year transition period, the 67 acre farm we own (formerly owned by another) became certified organic. We have always farmed using organic practices, so it was nice to finally be able to use the Organic seal in our marketing efforts. We sell a diverse mix of market products direct to consumer and a select number of products wholesale including vegetables, fruits, eggs, some value-added products, herbs, and bedding plants. Our markets include Brookside Farmers Market, KC restaurants, the KC Food Hub (formally known as Fresh Farm HQ), Wholefoods, and Hickory County Schools. Organic Saturday: 1:15 pm * O'Malley, Patrick 3109 Old HWY 218 S Iowa City, IA 52246 [email protected] 319-337-2145 Commercial Horticulture Field Specialist for Iowa State University Extension & Outreach for nearly 25 years. Ormsby Mori, Gregory 203 ABNR Building University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 [email protected] 573-882-9866 centerforagroforestry.org Gregory Ormsby Mori Biography Since studying sustainable agriculture and working at a small farm institute in the 1980s, Gregory has pursued a life-long interest in sustainable agriculture and environmental concerns. Between 1993-2008, he worked internationally managing and supporting environmental health, food security and post conflict reintegration programs around the globe. In 2010, he launched Forestopia, a social enterprise working with growers’ cooperatives in Mexico and Central America to promote agroforestry practices and market agroforestry products. He raises sheep, grows shiitake and other mushrooms and harvests timber on small homestead. In the fall of 2014, he joined the Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri as Education and Outreach Coordinator. Mushrooms Friday: 11:00 am Mushrooms Friday: 2:00 pm * Oxley, Kimberly Project Coordinator, Research and Extension Associate, Kansas State University Horticulture Research and Extension Center 35230 W 135th St, Olathe, KS 66061 [email protected] kstateohrec.org Petran, Andrew 1970 Folwell Avenue Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108 [email protected] Andrew is a postdoctoral associate at the University of Minnesota. He received his PhD in 2016 researching season extension practices for organic strawberry production in the Upper Midwest. Andrew's current research investigates the organic control of spotted wing drosophila in small fruits. Organic Friday: 11:45 am Organic Friday: 3:30 pm Pifer, Chris 8186 Hwy 52 Versailles, MO 65084 [email protected] 573-539-5566 Operator of Hwy 52 produce Versailles , MO. Off-season greenhouse tomato producer. Greenhouse/Hydroponics Saturday: 2:00 pm * Piñero, Jaime Lincoln University Cooperative Research and Extension Jefferson City, MO 65101 573-681-5522 [email protected] http://www.lincolnu.edu/web/programs-and-projects/ipm Dr. Jaime Piñero is an Associate Professor and State IPM Specialist at Lincoln University. Piñero has ongoing research addressing ecologically-based pest management in organic and in conventional cropping systems. He has developed Extension fact sheets on effective pest management methods. Current projects focus on mass trapping for Japanese beetle suppression on farms, trap cropping for cucurbits and Brassica crops and insectary plants to enhance biodiversity and the abundance of beneficial insects to increase biological control on farms. Recently, Dr. Piñero’s recent research has shown the potential of integrating trap cropping with insectary plants for suppression of insect pests of Brassicas. Organic Saturday: 9:45 am Small Fruits Saturday: 2:00 pm Pliakoni, Eleni 22201 W. Innovation Dr. Olathe, Kansas 66061 [email protected] 325-281-3366 Dr, Eleni D. Pliakoni, is an Assistant Professor in Urban Food Production and Postharvest Handling in the Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources at Kansas State University, located at the K-State Olathe campus. Dr Pliakoni has 60% teaching and 40% research appointment and joined Kansas State University April 2013. She is supporting and expanding the Urban Food Systems M.S. specialization in the Kansas City metro area by developing relationships with the urban food systems industries and by teaching graduate courses related with the M.S. specialization and her area of expertise. She earned her PhD from University of Thessaly, Greece with focus on how pre harvest factors (light and water) are effecting nutritional, physical and sensorial quality of peaches and olive at harvest and during storage. She has more than 11 years of experience working with postharvest handling of fresh fruits and vegetables in Florida, Greece, Spain, and Texas. Her research program is focused on postharvest technology for local and urban food systems. She is studying the effects of pre-harvest factors and various storage methods on shelf life, flavor, and nutritional quality of fresh produce. Reducing Food Losses Thursday: 8:45 am Small Fruits Saturday: 1:30 pm Porter, John Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties 8015 W Center Rd Omaha, Nebraska 68105 [email protected] 304-634-7446 https://urbangarden.guru/ John Porter holds a joint appointment as Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator with Nebraska Extension and Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. He offers outreach, leadership, and education in urban agriculture in the Omaha metro area, including developing an urban agriculture associates and certificate program. Previously, he served as a county extension agent for WVU Extension for eight years. He has a BS in Botany/Biology from Marshall University and an MS in Horticulture from West Virginia University and is a SARE Fellow. Greenhouse/Hydroponics Saturday: 4:15 pm Presley, DeAnn 2004A Throckmorton Plant Science Ctr. Manhattan, KS 66506-5500 [email protected] 785-532-1218 http://www.agronomy.k-state.edu Dr. Presley is a soil scientist who works on a range of projects spanning both agricultural and suburban environments. Currently, most of her extension and applied research is on the topics of cover crops and the benefits that they provide, namely, on how cover crops affect soil health and crop production. Cover Crops/Soil Health Thursday 11:00 am * Quinn, James 2436 Tanner Bridge Rd Jefferson City, MO 65101 573-634-2824 [email protected] * Rivard, Cary KSU Olathe Horticulture Center 35230 W. 135th St Olathe, KS 66061 [email protected] www.hightunnels.org www.growinggrowers.org Cary Rivard is a Fruit and Vegetable Extension Specialist at Kansas State University and also serves as the Director of the Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center. Cary received his B.S. from Truman State University in Agriculture Sciences and Biology, and earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University. His research focuses on the propagation and utilization of grafted tomatoes, high tunnel production, strawberry management, and minimum tillage systems. Reducing Food Losses Thursday: 8:30 am & 2:15 pm Season Extension Saturday: 2:15 pm Rodriguez Salamanca, Lina 351 Bessey Hall Ames, Iowa 50011 [email protected] 515-294-0581 clinic.ipm.iastate.edu Dr. Lina Rodriguez-Salamanca is an extension plant pathologist and diagnostician with the Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic (clinic.ipm.iastate.edu), a member of the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN, www.npdn.org). Lina’s responsibilities in the clinic include diagnosis of diseases and disorders of ornamental and horticulture plants and crops as well as tree problem diagnosis. As part of ISU Extension and Outreach, through the clinic and extension programs directed to specialty crop producers, Lina focus her efforts on disease diagnosis and its importance in disease management and IPM implementation. The Plant Doctor is In! Hands On Clinic Thellman, Scott 1547 N 2000 Road Lawrence, Kansas 66044 [email protected] 785-840-4892 www.jhf-ks.com As a first generation farmer and owner of Juniper Hill Farms LLC, a diversified agricultural operation located in Douglas County, Kansas, Scott Thellman has a passion for organic and sustainable agricultural production, food systems, and the economics of growing. On the farm, he focuses his time on their sixty acres of vegetables, 1,000 acres of diversified crops, and their post post-harvest handling systems. A graduate of Iowa State University, Scott returned to Kansas to continue growing his agricultural operation; and is working to strengthen the region’s food systems through his operations wholesale growing capabilities, Community Supported Agriculture programs, vegetable brokerage services, and continued partnerships. Reducing Food Losses Thursday: 1:00 pm Vegetable Production Saturday: 9:00 am Thomas, Andrew 14548 Highway H Mt. Vernon, MO 65712 University of Missouri 417-466-0065 Andrew Thomas is Research Assistant Professor in Horticulture / Agroforestry at the University of Missouri’s Southwest Research Center at Mt. Vernon. He received his B.S. in Horticulture from the University of Missouri, and his M.S. in Agronomy from Iowa State University. Before coming to the Southwest Center in 1996, Andy worked for two agricultural “biotech” companies in California and Wisconsin, the Center for Plant Conservation at Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, and the Rwandan Agricultural Research Institute as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Andy conducts research on a wide variety of horticultural crops and crop production techniques, including black walnuts, pecans, elderberries, grapes, asparagus, pawpaws, medicinal plants, wildflowers, and prairies, resulting in more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific publications. He also farms 70 acres, tending a variety of fruit and nut trees, and consults internationally on a variety of horticultural projects. Andy, his wife Diann, and sons Donovan and Avery live near the southwest Missouri town of Monett. Small Fruits Saturday 3:00 pm Toporek, Sean Clemson University, South Carolina Vegetable IPM Friday: 110:00 am Wager, Douglas 8212 NE 73rd Terr Kansas City, MO 64158 [email protected] www.feedmelocl.com Doug has a background in using technology to help people accomplish real-world goals. Coming from a background in health information technology, Doug began exploring opportunities to help local farmers improve their sales and marketability of products by creating a centralized online marketplace called FeedMeLocL.com. Through this experience, Doug began a relationship with Kansas State University, and has worked on applications with KSU to help farmers more easily track and use growing information. Reducing Food Losses Thursday: 3:30 pm Warmund, Michele 1-31 Agriculture Bldg. Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 [email protected] Dr. Warmund has a research and extension appointment at the University of Missouri where she has statewide Extension responsibilities for fruit and nut crops. In the past five years, Dr. Warmund has been working on enhancing winter survival of fruit crops, developing strategies for disease management in elderberry plantings, evaluating rootstocks for improved cropping of peach and apple trees, and establishing nitrogen recommendations for chestnut producers. She also collaborates with University of Missouri Extension weed scientists on a project to determine the impact of herbicide drift on horticultural crops. Dr. Warmund is also currently serves as President of the American Pomological Society. Tree Fruit Friday: 1:00 pm Wiesen, Dan PO Box 265, Glen Arbor MI 49636 [email protected] 231-645-4557 EmpireHopsFarm.com Owner of Empire Hops since 2008 - own and manage nearly 400 acres of hops. - presenter at National Hop Conference 2017. - presenter at Michigan Hop and Barley Show 2009-2017. -presenter at NE Hop Conference 2017, 2018. - host for Michigan State University hop field days, 2009-2017. - Graduated from Michigan State University. - alternate board member, Hop Growers of America. - member of Hop Growers of Michigan. Hops Potential Thursday: 11:30 am & 1:45 pm Williams, Kimberly Dept. Horticulture & Natural Resources, Kansas State University 1712 Claflin Ave. Manhattan, Kansas 66503 [email protected] 785-532-1434 www.hnr.ksu.edu Kim Williams is Professor of Greenhouse Management and University Distinguished Teaching Scholar at Kansas State University where she has been teaching about and conducting research with greenhouse crops for more than 20 years. She teaches courses in greenhouse management and herbaceous crop production, including hydroponics and controlled-environment vegetable production. Current research focus areas include the physiological disorder intumescence, organic fertilizer use in greenhouse cropping systems, and educational modules about hydroponics and greenhouse management. Greenhouse/Hydroponics Saturday: 9:00 am Williams, Mark University of Kentucky N318 Agriculture Science North Lexington, Kentucky 40546 [email protected] Dr. Mark Williams has been a faculty member in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Kentucky since 2001. His research interests are in sustainable agriculture, with a particular focus on evaluating and developing sustainable organic horticulture production systems. Dr. Williams has conducted a range of experiments in organic farming, from optimizing the production of direct-marketed vegetables to developing control options for specific pest problems in cucurbits, peppers, tomatoes and apples. Recent research has been focused on characterizing the soil-derived microbiome that resides inside of plants, and elucidating how farming practices can impact these potentially beneficial internal microbes. In addition to research Dr. Williams is committed to student learning and led the development of the UK Sustainable Agriculture undergraduate program. As part of these efforts he established the 30-acre UK Organic Farming Unit, which houses a community supported agriculture (CSA) program ( https://ukcsa.wordpress.com/) and associated student apprenticeship. As the Director of the Organic Farming Unit he leads numerous workshops, seminars and study tours to hundreds of farmers, academics, school groups, and public organizations per year. Additionally, Dr. Williams is internationally recognized as an expert on organic vegetable production and has collaborated with numerous universities around the world to develop research and educational programs on the topic. Organic Friday: 11:00 am & 2:15 pm Wortman, Sam 279 Plant Sciences Hall Lincoln, NE 68583 [email protected] 402-472-6404 https://agronomy.unl.edu/wortman-research Sam Wortman is an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. His research goal is to develop bio-based management tactics for specialty crop growers that increase yield and reduce labor without jeopardizing environmental quality. Sam also teaches undergraduate classes on plant propagation, introductory plant systems management, and innovations for agriculture. Cover Crops/Soil Health Thursday 1:30 pm Zumalt, Ami 438 Colbern Road Oak Grove, MO 64075 [email protected] 816-690-7161 Ami Zumalt owns Red Ridge Farms and Flavor Market. They grow more than 3 acres of certified organic vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs, south of Odessa, Missouri, which they sell wholesale, at farmers markets, CSAs, and at their local foods store. They also process seconds into value added products. Organic Saturday: 1:15 pm * Indicates 2018 Great Plains Growers Conference Committee Member |