NEVBGA & Cooperative Extension 605th Growers’ Meeting
Agenda:
9:00 Registration
9:30 Agriculture in Chile – Jim Wilson, owner of Wilson Farm of Lexington Massachusetts will present on his recent trip to Chile and the agriculture he toured in his travels.
10:15 URI Variety Trial Report - Dr. Rebecca Nelson Brown is a Professor of Plant Sciences and Department Chair of Plant Sciences and Entomology at The University of Rhode Island will present on NEV&BGA funded variety trials of broccoli, along with cantaloupe, lettuce, beet and chard variety comparisons.
11:00 Maine’s response to the discovery of PFAS in agricultural soil, water, and products – Beth Valentine Esq. is the Director of the Fund to Address PFAS Contamination Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry. Beth will present the general history of PFAS in Maine agriculture, starting with the discovery of contaminated milk in 2016, followed by the establishment of an emergency support network, and continuing up to our present efforts to establish more robust and sustained support for impacted farmers, as well as for nonfarmers whose well water is contaminated with PFAS.
Noon LUNCH & Commercial Member introductions, extension updates, NEVBGA updates
1:00 An update on Squash and Strawberry disease research and changes to the Vegetable Management Guide – Alicyn Smart, Plant Pathologist & Director of the Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory University of Maine Cooperative Extension During the winter of 2021 and 2022, the UMaine Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab carried out research in collaboration with UMaine’s Vegetable specialist Dr. Handley to determine the most prevalent post-harvest diseases in squash and possible sanitation practices. The lab also tested strawberry tips and plugs from a plug producer to determine the rate of Anthracnose in foliar tissue. The presentation will cover a brief overview of these research efforts. The presentation will also address fungicide changes to the most recent Vegetable Management Guide.
1:45 Farm Labor Focus Group - A facilitated discussion to assess the immediate labor needs of vegetable and berry growers today and into the future.
2:30 Food Safety: Cleaners, Disinfectants, and Sanitizers - Lisa McKeag of the UMass Vegetable Team will present on the difference between cleaners, disinfectants, and sanitizers and how to use them appropriately in your produce operation.
3:15 Adjourn
