High Tunnel Production Conference: Revitalizing Your Tunnel Vision

Come learn how to fine-tune your high tunnel crop production skills and visit the trade show.  This conference is for high tunnel growers and agricultural service providers of all experience levels.

REGISTRATION:

• Registration is available online (https://bit.ly/TUNNEL23)
• The registration deadline is November 29.
• Questions about registration can be communicated to Teresa Locke, Administrative Assistant, teresa.locke@unh.edu, 603-787-6944

COST:

• $100 for first farm attendee
• $75 for each additional farm attendee

CREDITS:

• Pesticide applicator re-certification credits have been approved in New Hampshire (and are good for states accepting reciprocal credits). 
  • Day 1 (3 credits)
  • Day 2 (3.5 credits)
• For applicators licensed in New York:
  • Day 1 (2.5 credits)
  • Day 2 (2.75 credits)

PROGRAM:

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

• 9:00 - 11:00 am  - Optional Farm Tour - Spring Ledge Farm, New London, NH. (https://www.springledgefarm.com/)
• 12:00 - 1:00 pm - Registration
• 1:00 - 1:10 pm - Welcome – UVM, UNH, UMaine
• 1:15 – 4:35 pm - Hands-On High Tunnel School: Three, consecutive and concurrent,1-hour sessions on the basics. Everyone rotates around and gets to participate in each. (Session 1 - 1:15 - 2:15 pm, Session II - 2:25 - 3:25 pm, Session III - 3:35 – 4:35 pm)
  • Identifying insects (good and bad) in high tunnels: Cheryl Sullivan & Margaret Skinner (UVM) & Carol Glenister (IPM Labs)
  • Identifying and managing common high tunnel diseases: Ann Hazelrigg (UVM)
  • Turning your soil test into practical recommendations: **Bring your soil test results! ** Bruce Hoskins (UMaine), Becky Sideman (UNH), Becky Maden (UVM)
• 4:35 pm - Wrap Up
• 5:00 – 6:00 pm - Social Hour

Thursday, December 7, 2023

• 8:00 - 8:50 am - Registration
• 8:50 - 9:00 am - Welcome - UVM, UNH, UMaine
• 9:00 - 9:30 am - High Tunnels & Water Management in a Changing Climate - Joshua Faulkner (UVM)
• 9:30 -10:00 am - Impacts of UV-Selective Plastics on Biocontrol - Samantha Willden (Purdue)
• 10:00 -10:15 am - Break
• 10:15 -10:45 am - Irrigation Technologies - William Hastings (UNH)
• 10:45 -12:00 pm - Tunnel Talk: Group discussion and industry updates on the following hot topics:
  • High Wind & Other Construction Issues - Kyle Quigley (UNH)
  • Cover Crops - Becky Sideman (UNH)
  • Wintertime Augmentative Biocontrol - Anna Wallingford (UNH)
  • NRCS Services - NRCS Representatives
  • Pesticide Safety Education Programs (PSEP) - Rachel Maccini (UNH)
  • Vendor Introductions
• 12:00 - 1:30 pm - Lunch (Provided) & Visit Trade Show
• 1:30 - 2:00 pm - Data Driven Decisions in the Tunnel - Jesse Wright (UNH)
• 2:00 - 2:45 pm - Grower Insights: Worthwhile Marketing - Jesse Wright (UNH) & Arianna Torres (Purdue)
• 2:45 - 3:00 pm - Break
• 3:00 - 3:30 pm - Soil Steaming - Becky Maden (UVM)
• 3:30 - 4:00 pm - Economics of Biocontrol - Ariana Torres (Purdue)
• 4:00 pm - Wrap Up & Head Home

Ongoing: Schedule a one-on-one session with Jean Pierre Zavala & Ariana Torres (Purdue Univ.) to take a quick survey about high tunnel economics.

CO-SPONSORED BY:

• The University of Vermont
• The University of Maine
• The University of New Hampshire
• Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education

The University of Vermont and other sponsoring organizations offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. If you need an accommodation to participate in our programming, please contact Cheryl Sullivan at cfrank@uvm.edu or (802) 656 5434 prior to the event. Given ample time, we will make any reasonable effort to meet your needs, including language access services if requested, which will be provided free of charge.