Saturday 2025 Schedule

 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM -  Trade Show (continues throughout the day)

Morning
9:00 - 12:25pm  Educational Sessions 
10:00 - 10:30 AM Break

 Lunch
12:30 - 1:30 pm Attendees can eat and enjoy the trade show

 Afternoon
1:30 - 3:25 pm Educational sessions
3:30 pm Conference concludes, with tracks ending at varying times.

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Small Fruit

Come see what is new with small fruits in the Midwest. Pests, diseases, food safety and a potential new berry crop will be discussed this year.

9:00 - 9:55 am
How might we manage our mites? Kacie Athey

10:00 - 10:30 AM
Break

10:30 - 11:25 am
New Disease- NeoP on Strawberry, Brooke Dietsch

11:30 - 12:25pm
Produce Safety Rule PreHarvest Water Requirements, Katelynn Stull and Calloway Jamerson

12:30 - 1:30 PM Lunch & Trade Show

1:30 - 2:25 pm
Honeyberry viability for pick your owns. - Randall Vos
END OF TRACK

Integrated pest mgmt

The IPM track features speakers providing updates on various vegetable/fruit pest and diseases, their recommended prevention and management practices, and resources to fine-tune Integrated pest management on your farm.​

9:00 - 9:55 am
Management of onion pests and diseases using multiple IPM tactics. Anitha Chitturi, LU

10:00 - 10:30 AM
Break

10:30 - 11:25 am
Insect and mite pest management in tomato crop production systems. Raymond Cloyd, KSU.

11:30 - 12:25pm
The importance of scouting in pest management. Raymond Cloyd, KSU

12:30 - 1:30 PM Lunch & Trade Show

1:30 - 2:25 pm
Identification of sweetpotato postharvest diseases in Central Missouri. Waana Kaluwasha, LU

2:30 - 3:25 pm 
​Smart monitoring system for spotted wing drosophila management in small fruit production. Waana Kaluwasha, LU

3:30 pm
Adjourn

Greenhouse/  hydroponics

This track features talks on aspects of Controlled Environment Agriculture - from greenhouse and hydroponics to high tunnels and season extension. These talks are geared for beginner and experienced producers alike.

9:00 - 9:55 am
Controlled Environment Agriculture: Structures and systems (temperature and ventilation)

10:00 - 10:30 AM
Break

10:30 - 11:25 am
Overview of hydroponic systems (specific crop timelines) Donna Aufdenberg, University of Missouri Extension

11:30 - 12:25pm
Budgets and economics Ryan Milhollin and Mallory Rahe, University of Missouri Extension

12:30 - 1:30 PM Lunch & Trade Show

1:30 - 2:25 pm
Hydroponic nutrient solutions
​ END OF TRACK

ORGANIC/
​REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE 

Come and attend the track on Organic/Regenerative Farming on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Learn about the three big components of organic / Regenerative Agriculture: Food safety, soil stewardship and pest management in three concise and comprehensive presentations.

9:00 - 9:55 am
Bootstrapping Your Farm Dreams: Pro's and Con's of Grants - Miranda Duschack, Urban Buds

10:00 - 10:30 AM
Break

10:30 - 11:25 am
Sustainable Growth, - Alexis Sheffield, UKY Horticulture Extension Specialist/ Grower

11:30 - 12:25pm
Year Round Production Dahlias, Colleen Payne, FarmStrong Flowers

12:30 - 1:30 PM Lunch & Trade Show

1:30 - 2:25 pm
Expanding Product Lines; adding cut flowers to your vetetable production; Alexis Sheffield, UKY Horticulture Extension Specialist/ Grower

2:30 - 3:25 pm 
​KC Wholesale Collective Marketing, Colleen Payne, FarmStrong Flowers

3:30 pm
Adjourn

CUT FLOWER​ 

The Cut Flower Track is always packed, so be sure to join us early and stay for the day! There are going to be a variety of excellent presentations discussing strategies from Start Up to Sustainable Growth, Succession Planning for Dahlia production, and Wholesale marketing. ​

:00 - 9:55 am
Food Safety in an Organic Farm: Traceability Guidelines and Procedures - Emma Elizabeth Freitas and Alexandra Julia Geeslin

10:00 - 10:30 AM
Break

10:30 - 11:25 am
Building a Strong Cover Crop Program on Your Farm – Justin Keay

11:30 - 12:25pm
Pest Management in Vegetable Crops Using Organic Practices - Anitha Chitturi, Ph.D.

12:30 - 1:30 PM Lunch & Trade Show
END OF TRACK
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