2019 MFGA Winter Meeting and Education Program

Event date/time: 
Tuesday, February 12, 2019 - 9:00am to 3:00pm

Join us for the MFGA Winter Meeting and Education Program at Northeast Nursery.  The event will feature a full day program that will include presentations on new pesticides, common diseases of young plants, nutrient problems in spring greenhouse crops, and a grower panel on diversifying your business and attracting customers.

Registration

  Download program details and registration form

Note: Registration at the door (day of the meeting) is available but lunch may not be guaranteed. We will try to accommodate as many people as possible.

Agenda

8:15 – 9:15 AM

Open House - Visit before you come to the meeting - Kane’s Flower World, Inc., 64 Andover St (Rte. 114), Danvers, MA. Owners Jeff and Ralph Kane invite you to stop by and they will show you their retail and wholesale operation.

9:00 AM

Registration with complimentary coffee and pastries.

9:40 AM

Welcome - Tom Spence, Northeast Greenhouse and Supply Manager

9:45 –10:45 AM

Review of New Pesticides

Rick Yates, Technical Support Manager, Griffins Greenhouse Supply
This presentation will be a “deep dive” review of pesticides released in the past year, as well as some that are slated for introduction soon. Interested in reducing the cost and increasing the effectiveness of biocontrol? Rick will talk about it! Last but not least, he will talk about some new pesticide application technologies that might find a home at your operation. (1 pesticide recertification credit)

10:45 – 11:45 AM

Managing Common Diseases of Young Plants in the Greenhouse

Dr. Nora Catlin, Floriculture Specialist and Agriculture Program Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Suffolk County, Long Island
This presentation will discuss common diseases of young plants in the greenhouse and provide strategies for prevention and control. (1 pesticide recertification credit)

11:45 – 12:00 PM

Visit with allied trade vendors

12:00 - 1:00 PM

Lunch (provided with registration) - Reservations requested by February 8, 2019.

MFGA Annual Meeting - Bart King, President and Bob Luczai, Secretary, MFGA

1:00 - 2:00 PM

Common Nutrient Problems of Spring Greenhouse Crops

Dr. Rosa Raudales, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Connecticut

Rosa will discuss common nutrient problems observed in spring greenhouse crops and how to prevent problems from happening.

2:00 - 3:00 PM

Ways to Diversify Your Business and Products to Attract Customers. An “Ideas” Session.
This panel presentation will discuss what some garden retail members have done to attract and serve more customers. We’ll also hear about a potential product line to consider for retail sales.
Panelists include:

  • Jeff Doherty, Angel’s Garden Center, Hopkinton, MA,
  • Linda Zukas, Retail Manager, Nunan Florist and Greenhouse, Georgetown, MA
  • Sheri Gustafson. MDAR Animal Fund Coordinator, Plants for Pets to Promote Sales

 

Pesticide Credits

2 pesticide credits for greenhouse category (26) have been approved for this program, valid for equivalent categories in all New England states.

Contact

Bob Luczai, massflowergrowers@gmail.com or 508-935- 8264; Geoffrey Njue, gnjue@umext.umass.edu or 781-891-0650 ext. 12

8 Dearborn Road Peabody MA