High Tunnels at Indiana Horticultural Congress

Registration information for the Indiana Horticultural Congress and the Hotel can be found here http://www.inhortcongress.org/

On Wednesday of Hort. Congress, Jan. 20th, one of the tracks will focus on High Tunnel production. We have some exciting speakers joining us. The agenda for that session is below –

High Tunnels 1/20/2010

This Program is Sponsored by North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

8:30 Welcome – Amy Thompson, Purdue Extension Educator

8:40 Producer Panel – Perspectives on Current High Tunnel Production in Indiana

9:20 Wish Lists For Your Next High Tunnel – Adam Montri, Student Organic Farm Outreach Coordinator, Michigan State University

10:15 – Break

10:45 – Small Fruits For High Tunnel Production – Kathy Demchak, Pennsylvania State University

11:45 –Lunch Break

1:15 – Clarifying Rules for High Tunnel Applications - Fred Whitford, Director Purdue Pesticide Programs & Dan Egel, Extension Vegetable Pathologist, Purdue University

2:00- Creating a Fertility Management Program for Your High Tunnel – Liz Maynard and Shubin Saha, Regional Horticulture Extension Specialists, Purdue University

2:50 Break -

3:00 Options for 12 Months of Production – Adam Montri, Student Organic Farm Outreach Coordinator, Michigan State University

Hoophouses Help Bring Local Food to University

Michigan State University is beating Mother Nature by taking farming indoors in an innovative way. An unusual partnership among foodservice staff, student farmers and faculty at 46,600-student Michigan State University is heralding a new era of sustainable and organic meals for on-campus foodservice venues. The catalyst for the partnership is the hoophouse. These low-energy hoophouses enable students to farm year-round without harming the environment or depleting it of its natural resources.Related ATTRA Publication: Bringing Local Food to Local Institutions