NH Vegetable & Berry Growers Association Annual Meeting 2026

Join our membership for a day-long educational meeting. Includes continental breakfast and lunch.

3.25 Pesticide Application Recertification Credits

Agenda

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Registration
Visit commercial members, grower guide handout, continental breakfast!

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM 
Granite State Future Farmers of America Foundation Update

9:15 AM - 9:30 AM 
Farm Service Agency, FSA – Jeff Holmes, State Executive Director Update

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM 
Sweet Corn Pest Trends and Patterns from the UNH IPM Monitoring Program, Dr. Amber Vinchesi-Vahl, UNH Extension
This presentation will provide an overview of pest trends and patterns of sweet corn pests in the NH trapping network, including recent years and historical data. These pests include European corn borer, corn earworm, fall armyworm, and western bean cutworm.

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM 
Automation for field and greenhouse, Anthony Tasselli, TORO AG
How monitoring and controlling environmental conditions can help increase efficiency, plant vigor, and decrease pest and disease pressure.

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM 
Department Updates
Commissioner of Agriculture, NHDAMF – Shawn Jasper
Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture, NHDAMF – Joshua Marshall
Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS – Travis Thomason, State Conservationist
NH Food Alliance Introduction – Nicole Cardwell
NH Farm Bureau – Rob Johnson
Commercial Member Update – Gold Member Appreciation

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM 
Town Hall Meeting with Dean Anthony Davis
Join Dean Anthony Davis of the University of New Hampshire’s College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) for an in-depth conversation about one of the most significant organizational shifts in UNH’s recent history: the merger of COLSA and UNH Cooperative Extension. Dean Davis will outline the motivations behind this integration, highlight early impacts, and share how the merger positions UNH to address emerging challenges across the food system. In addition to his vision for the future of food-related work at UNH, the session provides a unique opportunity for growers to share the needs, challenges, and priorities shaping their operations -- helping inform how UNH can better support New Hampshire’s agricultural community through research, outreach, and innovation.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch and Visit with Commercial Members

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM 
Business Meeting and Elections

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM 
How to Prevent Herbicide Resistance Development on Your Farm Through Integrated Weed Management, Dr. Maria Gannett, UMass Extension
This talk will focus on strategies to prevent the development and spread of herbicide resistant weeds on your farm, emphasizing the importance of using integrated weed management tactics.

2:15 PM - 3:00 PM 
Grower Panel: Selling Cut Flowers: Markets and Grower Experiences (CSA, Weddings only, Farmers’ Market, vs. Wholesale) Matt McElroy - Newton Greenhouse, Aaron Lichetenberg - Winni Woods Farm, Jill Shea - Shea Flower Farm - Moderated by Jonathan Ebba and Jesse Wright, UNH Extension
This discussion will feature three NH Cut Flower Growers of varied experience and who utilize different market channels. Learn about what worked for whom and why. Come prepared with questions of your own for this discussion about opportunities, challenges and pitfalls from a grower’s perspective.

Get Tickets Here

Member Pre Registration - $45

Non-Member/Day of Registration - $55

Become a Member of NHVBGA here

If you need an accommodation to participate in our programming, please contact Olivia Saunders, olivia.saunders@unh.edu and 603-447-3834 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.