Focus on Season Extension, Farm Planning, and Disease Management

9:30am           Registration

10:00am          Season Extension Structures: The Basics
                            Becky Sideman, UNH Cooperative Extension

10:30am          Year-Round Income through Season Extension & Winter High Tunnel                                        Production
                            Paul and Sandy Arnold, Pleasant Valley Farm, Argyle NY

11:30am           Crop and Revenue Insurance for Organic Growers
                            Mike Sciabarrasi, UNH Cooperative Extension

12:15pm           Lunch

1:00pm             Profitable Marketing through Simple Record-Keeping and Crop                                                     Evaluations
                            Paul and Sandy Arnold, Pleasant Valley Farm, Argyle NY

1:45pm           Finding Funding: Opportunities for Farmers with SARE, NRCS and FSA
                            Bill Lord, UNH Cooperative Extension
                            Sherry Harris, Farm Service Agency
                            Brandon Smith, NRCS

2:15pm            A Challenging Year: Organic Management of Late Blight & Other Diseases
                            Cheryl Smith, UNH Cooperative Extension

3:15pm            Wrap Up

For additional information view the brochure.

On-line registration is available at:

Program
10:00 Welcome ~ Becky Sideman, UNH Cooperative Extension Specialist
10:10 Growing Fresh Produce for Ethnic Markets ~ Frank Mangan, University of Massachusetts
11:00 Seed Saving and Seed Storage Basics ~ Jodi Lew-Smith, High Mowing Seeds
12:00 Lunch (provided)
1:00 Risk Management for Growers Selling Directly to Consumers ~ Mike Sciabarrasi, UNH Cooperative Extension Specialist
1:30 Assessing Market Demand and Promoting Locally-grown Ethnic Produce ~ Frank Mangan, University of Massachusetts
2:15 Ethnic Crops as Part of our Local Markets ~ Maria Moreira, Flats Mentor Farm, Lancaster MA; Tim O’Connell, Butternut Farm, Milford NH; David Dumaresq, Brox Farm, Dracut MA
3:00 Wrap Up

Click here to view flyer

This program is intended for commercial greenhouses that produce bedding plants.  The program will be a great way to jump start your spring season if you are new to growing or if you are season veteran.  This year’s Bedding Plant Conference will feature Carol Glenister from IPM Laboratories, Inc and Fred Hulme from The Scotts Co.  Carol will discuss the steps an operation should take to get a successful biological control program started and Fred will cover the importance and method of selecting a fertilizer program to fit the needs of your individual situation.

To learn more, see the brochure. 

On-line registration is encouraged.

Space is limited; please sign up by February 12th.  

Commercial tomato & potato producers, here is your opportunity to voice your concerns, opinions, frustrations, etc. about the 2009 Late Blight outbreak!   Cheryl Smith and Becky Sideman form UNH Cooperative Extension, and Tom Durkis from the NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food will be there to hear your comments and give a brief update.  We need your input, so please plan to attend.

Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center - Newport Campus

Please join us for an educational workshop on fruit tree, blueberry and raspberry production hosted by Sullivan County UNH Cooperative Extension. Bill Lord, Professor Emeritus, will provide entertaining education. We have put together this day long session in response to the growing demand for information on how to plant and raise fruit trees, blueberries, and raspberries at home. The workshop will cover apples, pears, peaches, plums, apricots, and nut trees, along with blueberries and raspberries. Topics will address selecting appropriate varieties, root stocks, and planting distances, pruning, general fertility management, pest control, soil preparation, thinning fruit, and what to do when your trees and bushes don't bear fruit.

While this workshop is geared towards homeowners, commercial producers are welcome.   

                Date:  February 20, 2010

                Time:  9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Location:  Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center

            Newport Campus - Lou Thompson Room

                Cost:  $5.00 per person

Please make checks payable to UNH Cooperative Extension

Half hour lunch break, PLEASE BRING A BAG LUNCH!

Morning and afternoon refreshments will be served

For more information, or to register please call the Extension Office at (603) 863-9200 or email Sullivan@ceunh.unh.edu   Space is limited.  Pre-registration is required by February 17th. People with disabilities who require special accommodations in order to participate should contact UNH Cooperative Extension.

Register now for the 4th NH Grazing Conference at: https://www.events.unh.edu/RegistrationForm.pm?event_id=6502

The 4th NH Statewide Grazing Conference will focus on land utilization and building soils to increase herd health, Gregg Judy, author of "No Risk Ranching" and "Comeback Farm", will discuss his success with holistic high density grazing, multi-species and custom grazing on leased land, while Doug Gunnick, author of "Sustainable Farming Guide Book", will guide folks through the fundamentals of growing grass with animal nutrition and health in mind. Throughout the day, area speakers will lend insight into grazing fundamentals and developing a grazing plan, parasites as they relate to grazing practices, organic feeding systems, and fundamentals of balanced rationing, the benefits and how-to's of converting your dairy to a pasture-based operation, and fencing fundamentals.

For a brochure listing the day's events, go to: http://extension.unh.edu/Counties/Merrimack/Docs/4thNHGrazingConference10.pdf

Agenda

There are two morning tracks for attendees to choose from (1) or (2).

8:00-9:00 Registration, coffee & visit exhibitors

9:00-10:00 (1) Underlying Landscape Design
Jon Batson, Jenesis Gardens & Design

(2) Improve Your Pruning Skills
David Seavey, Landscape Solutions

10:00-10:10 Break/change rooms

10:10-11:00 (1) Customer Attitudes towards Lawn Care and Landscaping *
And – A Discussion of pesticide licensing requirements for landscapers*
Gary Fish; Manager, Pesticide Programs Maine Board of Pesticides Control

(2) Pruning Demonstration
Outdoor session, limited to first 40 registrants David Seavey, Landscape Solutions

11:00-11:10 Break/change rooms

11:10-12:00 (1) Working In and Around New Hampshire’s Wetlands -
What You Need to Know
Sandy Crystall, Sr. Resources Manager, NH DES Wetlands Bureau

(2) Searching for a Sense of Place

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch and time to visit with exhibitors

1:00 – 1:30 Announcements

1:30 – 3:00 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Doug Tallamy, Professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the Univ. of Delaware and author of the book -

Bringing Nature Home: How you can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants*

* Pesticide recertification credits available for these talks.

To learn more, see the brochure.

To register on line, visit https://www.events.unh.edu/RegistrationForm.pm?event_id=6761 

Hackleboro Orchard is hosting their annual pruning demonstration for homeowners interested in growing tree fruit in their home orchard. Please join Harry & Linda Weiser, managers of Hackleboro Orchard, plus Bill Lord and Amy Ouellette of UNH Cooperative Extension, for this informative and fun-filled tradition. Dress for cold weather.

Registration is not required for this FREE workshop which is open to the public. 

• Plant sales
• Interesting lectures throughout both days
• Displays on UNH research & projects
• Guided tours at 10:30 and 2:00

Held in conjunction with the Seacoast Home & Garden Show at the Whittemore Center. Free shuttle buses available between both venues.

For more information visit the Thompson School events page. 

• Plant sales
• Interesting lectures throughout both days
• Displays on UNH research & projects
• Guided tours at 10:30 and 2:00

Held in conjunction with the Seacoast Home & Garden Show at the Whittemore Center. Free shuttle buses available between both venues.

For more information visit the Thompson School events page. 

Join us for the 2010 Spring Pruning Demonstrations on March 27th. Blueberry pruning from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, at the Carroll County Farm, County Farm Road in Ossipee and/or Apple pruning from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, at DeVylder's Orchard, Pleasant Valley Road in Wolfeboro. Cost: FREE. Pre-registration is required. Please call the UNH Cooperative Extension Office at 603-447-3834 for more information and registration.

These demonstrations will take place outdoors. Please dress for the weather, including snowshoes, if needed.

These 50-minute presentations will start promptly at 6 p.m. with some time after the presentation for questions.The cost for the classes to cover expenses (including pizza) will be $40.00 if attending all 5 sessions or $10.00 per session. Checks may be made payable to UNH Cooperative Extension. Sessions are limited to 25. Pre-enrollment is required as space is limited. Please sign-up by April 7th.

Class I:  Basic information about raising goats for meat or milk in New Hampshire; behavior, ease of handling, selection, age determination, body condition scoring, building or adapting facilities with you and the goat in mind.

Class II:  Information pertaining to reproduction; flushing nannies, breeding and kidding management, the birth process, possible problems, post partum care.

Class III:  Nutrition 101: Feeding the doe, doeling, buck, buckling, or market kid, adding pasture to the mix. 

Class IV: Health: What's normal? Common health problems and foot care.

Class V:  The economics of raising goats for meat: Is there a market? Can it be profitable? What are the obstacles?