The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo will be packed with value for growers and agricultural industry stakeholders. The event’s educational seminars will cover a wide range of topics.
The general session on Wednesday morning, Aug. 20, will cover some of the big topics that impact fruit and vegetable growers. Speakers and topics include the following:
- Rick Dantzler, Citrus Research and Development Foundation chief operating officer, will provide an update on citrus research priorities.
- Scott Angle, senior vice president of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), will give an update on how cutting-edge technologies are being deployed to solve problems growers face on their farms.
- Danny Munch, American Farm Bureau economist, will discuss economic and financial trends impacting specialty crop growers and agriculture in general.
- The Specialty Crop Grower Power Panel will host leadership from top grower associations to discuss key issues like labor, trade, the farm bill and more.
- Retired New York City Fire Department Battalion Commander Jack Oehm will give an inspirational presentation on his experiences on the ground on 9/11 and his current role as an ambassador for the Tunnel to Towers program.
On Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, breakout seminars will focus on citrus and small fruit and vegetable production. The citrus seminars will focus on HLB, trunk injection and other production issues growers face. The small fruit and vegetable seminars will take an in-depth look at key pests that are problematic on a wide range of crops. Those pests include whiteflies, chilli thrips and Thrips parvispinus. Management of problematic weeds and diseases is also on the agenda. Additionally, a session on alternative crops will be presented. There will be continuing education units for Florida restricted-use pesticide license holders (both breakout seminars) and Certified Crop Advisers (citrus seminars only).
Check out the full seminar agenda.
In addition to the learning, there will be plenty of opportunities for growers to network with friends and peers on the trade show floor. As always, several giveaways will take place at the trade show. Don’t miss your chance to win a John Deere gun safe courtesy of Everglades Equipment Group! All preregistered growers will be entered to win. The drawing will take place during lunch on Wednesday. Preregister here!