VSFG Conference Agenda Overview

8:00 – 8:50 a.m.	Registration and Coffee; Trade Show Opens
8:55 – 9:00 a.m.	Welcome: Amy Harder, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Extension, CAHNR
9:00 – 9:45 a.m.	Automation on the Farm: Keith Bishop, Fifth-generation Owner and CEO of Bishop's Orchards in Guilford, CT
9:50 - 10:20 a.m.	Cover Crops: Amelia Magistrali, Associate Extension Educator - Soil Health, UConn Extension
10:20 - 10:50 a.m.	Announcements; Break for Trade Show and Research Posters
10:50 - 11:20 a.m.	Improving the Nutrient Content of Crops: Steve McMenamin, Owner and Manager of Versailles Farm in Greenwich, CT
11:20 - 11:35 a.m.	Understanding Crop Insurance: Jim Fitzpatrick, Arthur Carroll Insurance Agency
11:40 a.m. - 12:55 p.m.	Lunch \| Trade Show \| Research Posters
12:20 p.m. - 12:55 p.m.	Farmer to Farmer Focus Groups (Optional): Topics to include Cut Flowers, Farming Strong: Caring for Our Bodies While We Care for the land, High Tunnels and Season Extension, Managing Pests and Diseases for Vegetable Crops, Non-traditional Wholesale Markets: Food Hubs and Farm-to-School, and On-Farm Composting
1:00 - 1:30 p.m.	Management Improvements for High Tunnel Growing: Becky Maden, Vegetable Nutrient Management Specialist and Extension Research Assistant Professor, University of Vermont Extension
1:30 - 2:00 p.m.	Afternoon Break for Trade Show and Research Posters
2:05 - 3:10 p.m.	Breakout Sessions I & II
3:15 p.m.	Pesticide Recertification (3.5 credits in category PA, 1A) and Adjournment. Safe travels!

*Schedule subject to change.

Marketing Strategies for Organic Certified Products: Dave Tschiegg, Organic Outreach Specialist, UConn Extension
Growing Alliums: Crystal Stewart Courtens, Regional Vegetable Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Cut Flower Production & Pest Management: Robert Chang of Echo Farm in Woodstock, CT and New Farmer Business Navigator for UConn Extension’s Solid Ground Program and Nancy Barrett, Owner, Scantic Valley Farm in Somers, CT
On Farm Composting: Baylee Drown of Long Table Farm in Lyme, CT and Project Coordinator for UConn Extension's Solid Ground Climate Smart Adaptation Strategies Course for Beginning Farmers

Feasibility of Suboptimal Planting Date and Seeding Rate of Cereal Rye Cover Crop in Connecticut - Nora Doonan and Haiying Tao, UConn Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, UConn
Fertility Management in High Organic Matter Systems - Zaira O'Leary, Paulette Goyes, Jianyu Li, Zachary Placzek, Winie Paul and Mia Maltz, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, UConn
Glyphosate-resistance confirmed in two amaranth species in Connecticut - Ritu Mohanpuria, Ethan Paine, Wei Ren, and Jatinder Aulakh
Impact of Fertilization Management on Cabbage yield, Nutritional Quality and Soil Health - Yiling Zhen and Haiying Tao, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, UConn
Management of Major Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States - Becca Syme, CAES
Plant Parasitic Nematodes of Connecticut - Michelle Salvas, CAES
Reducing Diamondback Moth with Intercrops and Trap Crops - Maussi Arrunategui and Ana Legrand, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, UConn
Soil-Biodegradable Plastic Mulches: Linking Sustainable Crop Production, Soil Health, and Environmental Resilience - Shuresh Ghimire, Nicole Davidow, Carol Miles, Lisa DeVetter, UConn & WSU

Integrated Pest Management