November 23, 2004
Purdue-Illinois seminar offers advice for vegetable growers
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue University and University of Illinois Cooperative Extension services will co-sponsor an informational seminar for commercial vegetable growers in the Midwest.
The Illiana Vegetable Growers School will take place on Jan. 6 at Teibel's Restaurant in Schererville, Ind. Teibel's is located at the intersection of U.S. 41 and U.S. 30. Registration begins at 8 a.m. CST, and the program will run until 3:45 p.m.
"There will be experts from Purdue University, the University of Illinois and business professionals to help growers plan for a successful year in vegetable growing," said Liz Maynard, Purdue regional Extension specialist.
The morning program speakers will be:
• Rick Foster, Purdue professor of entomology, who will discuss new ideas in squash and pumpkin insect management.
• Dan Egel, Extension pathologist, who will talk about how to manage tomato diseases.
• Judy Loven, Purdue wildlife biologist, who will present information on effective management of ground squirrels, birds and deer.
• Jennifer Dennis, assistant professor of horticulture and agricultural economics at Purdue, who will discuss understanding today's consumer.
Afternoon speakers include:
• Shari Plimpton, Extension agent, Center for Innovative Food Technology, who will discuss packing house practices for food safety.
• Dale Wietbrock, executive director of the Lake County Farm Service Agency, who will provide a vegetable growers' guide to the farm program.
• Maurice Ogutu, Extension educator at the University of Illinois, who will present an update on a colored plastic mulch research project.
• Chris Gunter, regional vegetable cropping systems specialist at Purdue, who will feature highlights from the muskmelon and watermelon variety trials.
• Bill Shoemaker, research specialist from the University of Illinois, who will provide information on tomato, pepper and sweet corn varieties.
Maynard will conclude the program with highlights from the pumpkin variety trials.
Registration is $20 at the door, and this cost includes lunch and program materials. There also will be recertification credits available for private pesticide applicators for an additional $10.
Writer: Meggie Issler, (765) 494-8402, missler@purdue.edu
Source: Liz Maynard, (219) 785-5673, emaynard@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page
Related Web site:
Purdue Department of Horticulture
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