WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Operators of greenhouses, nurseries and garden centers can learn about new production techniques and get advice on marketing at the 2012 Indiana Flower Growers Association Bedding Plant Conference and a series of free educational workshops across the state.
The statewide IFGA conference will be Feb. 23 at Crossroads Greenhouse in Indianapolis. The Educational Series for Greenhouse and Nursery Growers and Garden Centers, funded by the Indiana Department of Agriculture, will be held at various sites beginning Jan. 18.
The conference will include sessions on temperature and light management, plant growth regulators, pest management, and marketing and economics for growers. It will begin with a tour of the greenhouses. Sessions will feature speakers from Michigan State, Ohio State and Purdue universities, along with owners of successful greenhouses and marketing operations.
"By attending the IFGA conference and educational series, greenhouse and nursery owners, growers or employees will receive up-to-date and research-based production, marketing, and insect and disease information from some of the leading industry professionals free or at an affordable cost," said Roberto Lopez, Extension educator and horticulture professor at Purdue University. He will present a workshop at the conference on growing bedding plants with little or no heat. The statewide IFGA conference will be Feb. 23 at Crossroads Greenhouse in Indianapolis. The Educational Series for Greenhouse and Nursery Growers and Garden Centers, funded by the Indiana Department of Agriculture, will be held at various sites beginning Jan. 18.
The conference will include sessions on temperature and light management, plant growth regulators, pest management, and marketing and economics for growers. It will begin with a tour of the greenhouses. Sessions will feature speakers from Michigan State, Ohio State and Purdue universities, along with owners of successful greenhouses and marketing operations.
Conference registration before Jan. 20 costs $30 for one person and $15 for each additional person from the same business. After Jan. 20, fees are $35 for one and $20 for each additional attendee.
Registration forms are available at https://sharepoint.agriculture.purdue.edu/agriculture/flowers/events.aspx under "Registration." Alternatively, contact Colleen Flynn at martinck@purdue.edu.
Conference attendees can earn pesticide applicator re-certification credit by paying an additional $10 fee and bringing their private applicator cards.
Crossroads Greenhouse is at 2559 Kentucky Ave., Indianapolis.
The free educational series will take place on the following dates and at the following locations and times, with topic and presenter (all times local):
* Jan. 18, 4-6 p.m. (EST), Galema's Greenhouse, West Lafayette (Tippecanoe County): fertility management, Fred Hulme of Everris Fertilizers.
* Feb. 1, 3-5 p.m. (CST), Alsip Nursery, St. John (Lake County): substrates, Jamie Gibson of Conrad Fafard, Inc.
* Feb. 23, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (EST), Crossroads Greenhouse, Indianapolis (Marion County): temperature and light, Erik Runkle of Michigan State University. This session is part of the bedding plant conference and requires the conference fee.
* March 8, 3-5 p.m. (CST), Zandstra's Farms and Greenhouse, Highland (Lake County): Northwest Indiana Floriculture Association meeting; water quality, alkalinity, and pH management, Brian Krug of the University of New Hampshire.
* March 21, 4-6 p.m. (EST), Krueger Maddux Greenhouses, Sunman (Ripley County): height control, Jim Barrett of the University of Florida.
* April 11, 4-6 p.m. (EST), Broadview Greenhouse, Fort Wayne (Allen County): Northeast Indiana Flower Growers Association meeting; disease management, Janna Beckerman of Purdue University.
* April 25, 4-6 p.m. (EST), Elsbury's Greenhouse, Hope (Bartholomew County): insect management, Cliff Sadof of Purdue University.
* June 14, 4-6 p.m. (EST), Heartland Growers, Westfield (Hamilton County): marketing, Bridget Behe of Michigan State University.
The March 21 and April 11 and 25 events are approved for pesticide applicator recertification credit. Attendees who choose this option must pay a $10 fee and bring their private applicator card.
Attendees at each event are requested to confirm their attendance three days in advance by emailing Tammy Goodale at tgoodale@purdue.edu. The sessions are funded by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture Specialty Crops Block Grant.
Writer: Jessica Merzdorf, 765-494-8402, jmerzdor@purdue.edu
Source: Roberto Lopez, 765-496-3425, rglopez@purdue.edu
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