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Greenhouse Management and Production for 2017

Event date/time: 
Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - 9:30am to 3:30pm

UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops & Floriculture Program

Registration Information
Cost: $45 for first registration; all remaining employees from same company receive a reduced registration fee of $40 per person.
Online registrations with a credit card include a processing fee which is applied at checkout.
The processing fee will be about $5.60 for single registration and a little less per person for 2 or more registrations.
Morning coffee, refreshments and handouts included in registration.

On-Line Registration closed - Call 413-545-5306

Printable Program (pdf)

Program

9:00 – 9:30   Registration, Coffee, Tea and Muffins

9:30 – 10:15  Light, Temperature, and Relative Humidity in Greenhouses                              
Dr. Ryan Dickson, University of New Hampshire

Ryan will review how light, temperature, and relatively humidity affect plant growth in greenhouses. He will also discuss tips and technologies used to measure and control these factors in greenhouses.

10:15 – 10:25    Break

10:30 – 11:15    Control Light, Temperature, and Relative Humidity for Top Plant Performance
Dr. Ryan Dickson, University of New Hampshire

In this session, Ryan will talk about fine-tuning light, temperature, and relative humidity management strategies to get the most from your greenhouse environment. Topics will cover photoperiod, light quality, DIF, and vapor pressure deficit.

11:15– 12:15     Irrigating Greenhouse Crops
Dr. Mandy Bayer, UMass Extension

Explore the fascinating impacts of plant and environmental factors on container plant water needs.  This talk will help us to understand how growing media, container size and other factors influence the water needs of plants. Then Mandy will cover tips to properly water plants manually and automatically, including when to water and how to water.

12:15 – 1:15     Lunch on your own (see options*)

1:15– 2:15    Greenhouse Plant Nutrition: Fertilizing Container Crops with Water Soluble and Controlled Release Fertilizers

Dr. Rosa Raudales, University of Connecticut

Rosa will take us to think beyond “General Purpose” to discover why every operation should design  their own nutrition program. Rosa will provide the theory behind selecting fertilizers and also case studies. After this presentation you will know how to (1) interpret water quality analysis, (2) select  fertilizers, and (3) identify and manage nutritional disorders.

2:15– 3:30    Alternatives to Neonicotinoids for Managing Pests in Greenhouses
Grower to Grower Panel

Tina Smith, UMass Extension will provide a brief overview. A panel of growers and audience members will share their experiences using alternatives to neonotinoid pesticides to manage aphids and other pests in spring ornamental production in greenhouses.

One pesticide recertification credit category 26 for this session. Please Note: New Rules for Pesticide Credit
MDAR requires that a government issued photo ID be shown prior to pesticide credits being issued.
Plan to show your ID at time of check-in.

*Lunch options:

Pre-purchase your lunch at time of check-in (registration table)  (paid directly to the Publick House...$14)
Pre-paid lunch includes: Build your own sandwich buffet (roast beef, turkey, ham, vegetable), potato salad, chips, desert and drink

Or eat in the Publick House restaurant or fast food restaurants within a short drive.

Financial support provided by an endowment fund that supports the UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program. Learn more about “Give a Gift” to this endowment at: http://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture

Contact: Tina Smith, UMass Extension, 413-545-5306 or Geoffrey Njue, UMass Extension, 413-992-8005

Contact's name: 
Tina Smith
Contact's email: 
Contact's phone on day of event: 
413-545-5306
277 Main St., Route 131 Sturbridge MA