The educational seminars have a lot to offer specialty crop growers. Big topics like labor, trade and farm policy will be discussed at the general session Wednesday morning. The specialty crop seminars will provide key insights into some of the big production issues small fruit and vegetable growers face in the field.
Special sessions will be dedicated to some of the biggest pest challenges growers face today with in-depth discussions on monitoring and management of whitefly, chilli thrips and a quickly emerging new pest Thrips parvispinus.
Don’t forget weed management. University of Florida weed scientist Nathan Boyd will discuss some of the most troublesome weeds specialty crop growers fight every year in their fields. And Gary Vallad, University of Florida plant pathologist, will cover the disease management landscape during the Expo.
Many of the pests, weeds and diseases require chemical applications for control. There are some changes occurring now and more to come on how the Environmental Protection Agency labels pesticides and it will impact how growers document, and in some cases, apply chemicals. Don’t miss a special presentation from Brett Bultemeier, director of the Universtiy of Florida’s Pesticide Information Office, on these changes and how to be prepared.
Finally, a session will be dedicated to alternative crops including bamboo and other crops that could be an option to add diversity to farming operations.
Check out the full specialty crop agenda here.