2019 Thursday Workshop Presentations
Hops Potential
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Hops are hot in the Midwest! Learn from experts from Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Michigan how to design a hops yard, establish and produce hops, harvest and package the cones, and the economics of producing this specialty crop. The workshop will conclude with a tasting of different styles of beers, all flavored with hops!
8:30 AM Introduction - Jim Quinn, University of Missouri Extension
8:45 AM Development of the Ohio Hops Industry (pdf) - Brad Bergeferd, Ohio State University
9:15 AM Hops Production and Fertility Management (pdf) - Brad Bergeferd, Ohio State University
10:00 AM Feasibility of Hops in Nebraska - Katie Kreuser, Nebraska Extension
10:30 AM Morning Break
11:00 AM Trellising & Planting Layout (pdf) - Stacy Adams, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
11:45 AM Keynote: Growth of Hops Industry in Michigan (pdf) - Dan Wiesen, Empire Hops
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Hops on ¼ Acre (pdf) - Stacy Adams, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
2:00 PM Top Michigan Cultivars, Marketing and Economics (pdf) - Dan Wiesen, Empire Hops
3:00 PM Break
3:15 PM Harvesting Thru Packaging (pdf) - Diana Cochran, Iowa State University
4:00 PM Presenter Panel Q & A
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Hops are hot in the Midwest! Learn from experts from Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Michigan how to design a hops yard, establish and produce hops, harvest and package the cones, and the economics of producing this specialty crop. The workshop will conclude with a tasting of different styles of beers, all flavored with hops!
8:30 AM Introduction - Jim Quinn, University of Missouri Extension
8:45 AM Development of the Ohio Hops Industry (pdf) - Brad Bergeferd, Ohio State University
9:15 AM Hops Production and Fertility Management (pdf) - Brad Bergeferd, Ohio State University
10:00 AM Feasibility of Hops in Nebraska - Katie Kreuser, Nebraska Extension
10:30 AM Morning Break
11:00 AM Trellising & Planting Layout (pdf) - Stacy Adams, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
11:45 AM Keynote: Growth of Hops Industry in Michigan (pdf) - Dan Wiesen, Empire Hops
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Hops on ¼ Acre (pdf) - Stacy Adams, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
2:00 PM Top Michigan Cultivars, Marketing and Economics (pdf) - Dan Wiesen, Empire Hops
3:00 PM Break
3:15 PM Harvesting Thru Packaging (pdf) - Diana Cochran, Iowa State University
4:00 PM Presenter Panel Q & A
Cover Crops/Soil Health
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sustaining soil health is an important aspect for creating and maintaining productive, profitable, and sustainable farming operations. For fruits and vegetables, this can be a difficult task due to the intensive nature of the production systems. This Soil Health and Cover Crop workshop will focus on helping growers develop an understanding of soil health and practices such as cover cropping and incorporation of bio-based inputs that can be used in fruit and vegetable production systems that maximize soil health.
8:30 AM Introduction to Soil Health and Cover Crops - Tom Buller, Kansas State University
9:00 AM Soil Health: Biology and Interpretation (pdf) - Robert Kremer, University of Missouri
10:30 AM Break
11:00 AM Bio-based, Renewable Inputs for Sustainable Specialty Crop Production (pdf) - Sam Wortmann, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Ecological Nutrient Management for Soil Health (pdf) - Candy Thomas, Natural Resource Conservation Service
3:00 PM Break
3:30 PM Building Healthy Systems for Profitable Fruit and Vegetable Production (pdf) - Tom Buller, Kansas State University
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sustaining soil health is an important aspect for creating and maintaining productive, profitable, and sustainable farming operations. For fruits and vegetables, this can be a difficult task due to the intensive nature of the production systems. This Soil Health and Cover Crop workshop will focus on helping growers develop an understanding of soil health and practices such as cover cropping and incorporation of bio-based inputs that can be used in fruit and vegetable production systems that maximize soil health.
8:30 AM Introduction to Soil Health and Cover Crops - Tom Buller, Kansas State University
9:00 AM Soil Health: Biology and Interpretation (pdf) - Robert Kremer, University of Missouri
10:30 AM Break
11:00 AM Bio-based, Renewable Inputs for Sustainable Specialty Crop Production (pdf) - Sam Wortmann, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Ecological Nutrient Management for Soil Health (pdf) - Candy Thomas, Natural Resource Conservation Service
3:00 PM Break
3:30 PM Building Healthy Systems for Profitable Fruit and Vegetable Production (pdf) - Tom Buller, Kansas State University
Selling Local Foods
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Selling Local Foods through multiple venues is the No. 1 key to profits for most successful market growers. This track is designed to give you the information you need to get started in each of nine major selling venues. The first three modules create a solid business foundation for becoming a commercial grower. The following sessions cover CSAs, Institutions, Restaurants, Grocery Stores, Wholesale, Agri-tourism and Produce Auctions.
8:30 AM Welcome and Introduction - Debi Kelly, University of Missouri
8:45 AM Business Planning with Marketing in Mind (pdf) - Jeff Samborski, University of Missouri
9:45 AM Customer Service (pdf) - Jennifer Schutter, University of Missouri
10:15 AM Break
10:30 AM Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) (pdf) , Jennifer Schutter, University of Missouri
11:15 AM Farmers' Markets (pdf) - Justin Keay, North County Produce
11:45 AM Lunch
12:30 PM Selling to Institutions (pdf) - Jennifer Schutter, University of Missouri
1:30 PM Restaurants (pdf) - Justin Keay, North County Produce
2:00 PM Grocery Stores (pdf) - Rex Nelson, Nebraska Extension
2:30 PM Wholesale (pdf) - Debi Kelly, University of Missouri
3:00 PM Break
3:15 PM Agritourism (pdf) - Debi Kelly, University of Missouri
4:00 PM Produce Auctions(pdf) - Debi Kelly, University of Missouri
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Selling Local Foods through multiple venues is the No. 1 key to profits for most successful market growers. This track is designed to give you the information you need to get started in each of nine major selling venues. The first three modules create a solid business foundation for becoming a commercial grower. The following sessions cover CSAs, Institutions, Restaurants, Grocery Stores, Wholesale, Agri-tourism and Produce Auctions.
8:30 AM Welcome and Introduction - Debi Kelly, University of Missouri
8:45 AM Business Planning with Marketing in Mind (pdf) - Jeff Samborski, University of Missouri
9:45 AM Customer Service (pdf) - Jennifer Schutter, University of Missouri
10:15 AM Break
10:30 AM Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) (pdf) , Jennifer Schutter, University of Missouri
11:15 AM Farmers' Markets (pdf) - Justin Keay, North County Produce
11:45 AM Lunch
12:30 PM Selling to Institutions (pdf) - Jennifer Schutter, University of Missouri
1:30 PM Restaurants (pdf) - Justin Keay, North County Produce
2:00 PM Grocery Stores (pdf) - Rex Nelson, Nebraska Extension
2:30 PM Wholesale (pdf) - Debi Kelly, University of Missouri
3:00 PM Break
3:15 PM Agritourism (pdf) - Debi Kelly, University of Missouri
4:00 PM Produce Auctions(pdf) - Debi Kelly, University of Missouri
Honey Bees & Beekeeping
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
This program is for independent-minded beekeepers seeking ways to keep bees without treating them with chemicals, disrupting their homes, and otherwise intruding on their lives. Whether you are a beginner curious about bees or an experienced beekeeper looking for natural alternatives that work, this class is for you!
8:30 AM Lazy Beekeeping (pdf) - Michael Bush, Bush Farms, NE
10:00 AM Break
10:30 AM Four Simple Steps to Healthier Bees (pdf) - Michael Bush
11:45 AM Lunch
12:30 PM Four Simple Steps, continued
1:00 PM Wintering Nucs (pdf) - Michael Bush
2:45 PM Break
3:00 PM Swarm Prevention and Splits (pdf) - Michael Bush
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
This program is for independent-minded beekeepers seeking ways to keep bees without treating them with chemicals, disrupting their homes, and otherwise intruding on their lives. Whether you are a beginner curious about bees or an experienced beekeeper looking for natural alternatives that work, this class is for you!
8:30 AM Lazy Beekeeping (pdf) - Michael Bush, Bush Farms, NE
10:00 AM Break
10:30 AM Four Simple Steps to Healthier Bees (pdf) - Michael Bush
11:45 AM Lunch
12:30 PM Four Simple Steps, continued
1:00 PM Wintering Nucs (pdf) - Michael Bush
2:45 PM Break
3:00 PM Swarm Prevention and Splits (pdf) - Michael Bush