Berry & Vegetable School Registration

Introductory and Advanced Sessions
BERRIES - WEDNESDAY | VEGETABLES - THURSDAY

Berry & Vegetable School Trade Show will be open during the hours of two day event and located in the area designated for food and refreshments. Use coffee breaks and lunch to network with other participants and visit trade show displays. We are looking forward to providing both introductory and advanced sessions this year! Register today!

Agenda...

Day 1: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - Berries

Stream 1 - Introductory

8:30 – 9 am – Introduction and Berry Industry Overview
Rob Spencer – AARD·

  • Introductions of participants (where from, level of experience, interest)
  • Current State of the Fruit Industry in Alberta (size, trends, etc.)
  • 2008/2009 Berry price ranges

    9 – 10 am – Intro to Direct Marketing – Business Start Up
    Kathy Bosse – AARD

  • What is involved in starting up a direct market fruit business?·
  • What market channels are available & how to choose one
  • Basic Economics and Pricing

    10-10:15 am – Coffee Break

    10:15 – 11:45 – Introductory Strawberry Production
    Lloyd Hausher, L&A Enterprises, Brooks, AB

  • Overview of June bearing and Day neutral strawberry production
  • Seasonal production activities (planting, establishment, renovation, maintenance)
  • Management – fertility, irrigation, site selection and layout·
  • Variety options and selection

    11:45 – 12:15 – Strawberry Production - Grower Perspective
    Don Gordash – Hansel & Gretel’s Berry Farm, Vegreville, AB

  • Lessons Learned
  • 5-10 Things You Should Do or Avoid Doing

    12:15 – 1 pm – LUNCH

    1 – 2 pm – Introductory Raspberry Production – Lloyd Hausher

  • Overview of floricane and primocane raspberry production
  • Seasonal production activities (planting, establishment, maintenance)
  • Management – fertility, irrigation, site selection and layout
  • Variety options and selection

    2 – 3 pm – Introductory Saskatoon Berry Production – Lloyd Hausher

  • Overview of Saskatoon berry production
  • Seasonal production activities (planting, establishment, maintenance)
  • Management – fertility, irrigation, site selection and layout
  • Variety options and selection

    3 – 3:30 – Coffee Break

    3:30 – 4 pm – Saskatoon Berry Production – Grower Perspective
    – Marsha Gelowitz – Solstice Berry Farm, Crossfield, AB

  • Lessons Learned
  • 5-10 Things You Should Do or Avoid Doing

    4 – 5 pm – Fruit Pests, Rob Spencer – AARD

  • General pest management practices·
  • Main pests of strawberries, raspberries and Saskatoon berries
  • Symptoms, life cycle and management practices for each pest

    Stream 2 - Advanced

    9 – 10 am – Methods Used for Strawberry Picking Season Extension in Temperate Climates - Blaine Staples – The Jungle Farm, Innisfail, AB

    Discussion of different methods for growing strawberries (from North America) plus practical growing experiences

  • Ribbon row culture on both raised and flat beds
  • Growing on plastic mulch
  • Picking season extension using plugs and frigo plants
  • Using row covers
  • Growing in high tunnels
  • Artificial media and its advantages

    10-10:15 am – Coffee Break

    10:15 – 12:15 – Weed Management in Fruit – Discussion – Rob Spencer – AARD

  • What specific products are registered for fruit in AB?
  • Interactive discussion on application techniques, best practices, experiences (good, bad, indifferent)

    12:15 – 1 pm – LUNCH 1 – 3 pm – Direct Marketing 201

    More detailed discussion of direct market channels

  • U-pick, Farmers’ Markets
  • On-farm stores (2 scales),
  • On-farm cafιs
  • CSA
  • Institutional supply, restaurant markets, etc. 3 – 3:30 – Coffee Break

    3:30 – 5 pm – Irrigation - Dolton Regan – Consolidated Turf Equipment Ltd

  • System design
  • Choosing the right system for your operation
  • What parts are included
  • Field layout / design – how to’s
  • Issues / Challenges to watch for

    Wednesday evening from 6-7 pm
    Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association Annual General Meeting
    Salon A, Black Knight Inn, Red Deer

    Day : Thursday, February 25, 2010 - Vegetables

    Stream 1 - Introductory

    8:30 – 9 am – Introduction and Vegetable Industry Overview – Rob Spencer – AARD

  • Introductions of participants (where from, level of experience, interest)
  • Current State of the Vegetable Industry in Alberta (size, trends, etc.)

    9 – 10 am – Intro to Direct Marketing – Business Start Up – Kathy Bosse – AARD

  • What is involved in starting up a direct market fruit business?
  • What market channels are available & how to choose one
  • Basic Economics and Pricing

    10-10:15 am – Coffee Break

    10:15 – 12:15 – Introductory Vegetable Production Part I – Rob Spencer – AARD

  • Site Selection
  • Soils / Soil Fertility Requirements
  • Soil Preparation· Water / Irrigation – quality, systems, water use requirements
  • Crop / Variety selection – factors, options, etc.

    12:15 – 1 pm – LUNCH

    1 – 3 pm – Introductory Vegetable Production Part II – Rob Spencer – AARD

  • Planting / Crop Production
  • Growing Season Extension – transplants, plasticulture, etc.
  • Harvest / Post Harvest – crop requirements
  • Pest Management – principles, scouting/diagnostics, general pest management

    3 – 3:30 – Coffee Break

    3:30 – 4:00 pm – Vegetable Growing – Grower Perspective
    Jim Hill – Hidden Valley Gardens, Sylvan Lake, AB

  • Lessons Learned
  • 5-10 Things You Should Do or Avoid Doing

    4:00 - 5 pm – Vegetable Pests – Rob Spencer – AARD

  • General pest management practices
  • Common pests of various vegetable crops
  • Symptoms, disease/life cycle and management practices for each pest

    Stream 2 - Advanced

    9 – 10 am – Plastic Mulch – Rob Spencer – AARD

  • Differences between different types of mulch
  • Pros and Cons
  • Techniques for using mulch in vegetable production

    10-10:15 am – Coffee Break

    10:15 – 11:15 am – Forms of Payment – Cash v.s. Credit v.s. Debit – Discussion

    Discussion of the various costs and pros and cons of different methods of payment

    11:15 – 12:15 pm – Food Safety – 10-15 things that you can do on your farm
    Betty Vladicka – AARD

  • Outline of 10-15 things key food safety practices that can be used on the farm
  • Overview of the CanadaGAP On-Farm Food Safety Program and training

    12:15 – 1 pm – LUNCH

    1 – 3 pm – Production Innovations Discussion

    Participate in a facilitated interactive discussion of production innovations and innovative practices· 2-3 pre-recorded presentation snippets
    Rob Spencer – AARD

    Session Moderated by Don Gregorwich, Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association Administration
    Topics for Discussion

  • Weeds/Pest Management
  • Tillage/Cultivation
  • General whole farm innovation

    3 – 3:30 – Coffee Break

    3:30 – 5 pm – Growing Season Extension Discussion – Grower Experiences
    Blaine Staples – The Jungle Farm, Innisfail, AB and Don Christensen – Linda’s Market Gardens, Smoky Lake, AB

  • Using high/low tunnels and field/row covers to extend the early and late growing season
  • Uses
  • Experiences
  • Issues and their potential solutions

    Berry & Vegetable School Registration

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