2012 Calendar of Events

Winter Flower Growers Educational Program
Time: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
A program for all growers and retailers of greenhouse crops!
Sponsored by: The Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association and University of Massachusetts Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program.
Special additional Features: Allied Trade Tables.
https://extension.umass.edu/floriculture/events/winter-flower-growers-educational-program

Good Agricultural Practices Training (GAP) - UMass-MDAR
Time: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
UMass Extension, the UMass Department of Nutrition and the MA Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) are pleased to present a USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Training Program for growers and other fresh produce handlers.
Sponsored by: UMass Extension and the MA Dept of Agricultural Resources.
Cost:  The cost for this GAP training is $50.00.  Send additional employees for $10.00 which includes the presentation, pesticide credit, refreshments, but not the GAP manual.  Space is limited.
Contact: If you have questions, please contact Doreen at 413-545-2254 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Employee Training for Garden Retailers
Time: 9 AM - 3:00 PM
UMass faculty, Extension specialists and USDA staff will present updates on diseases, insects and weeds to prepare retailers to meet the challenges of the 2012 season. Also sessions will be presented on home orchards and culinary herbs - to help answer questions from home gardeners on food production.
Details and registration: http://extension.umass.edu/floriculture/
Sponsored by University of Massachusetts Extension Agriculture and Landscape Program
Contact: Tina Smith, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Fruit Twilight Meeting
Time: 5:30-7:30pm
Location: 153 Peckville Rd., Shelburne Falls, MA
Contact Jon Clements- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 413-478-7219

Insect Laboratory: Hands-On Identification and Management Strategies
Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Join Bob Childs, UMass Extension Entomologist, for a hands-on workshop where participants will examine actual specimens in a teaching lab with the use of microscopes. Such pests as scale insects, gall formers, spider mites, leaf miners, and much more will be examined closely with different species and life stages being identified. Also, displays of preserved insect specimens such as the Asian longhorned beetle and winter moth will be examined in order to teach the participant how to identify and discern the important pest species in the Massachusetts landscape and nursery. This is an opportunity to hone your IPM monitoring skills and to become a better IPM and Plant Health Care practitioner.

Inland Wetland Plant Identification
Time: 9:00am - 3:30pm
This introduction to inland wetland plant identification begins with an overview of the major characteristics of woody and non-woody vegetation used for identification in most plant keys. Guided exercises will be used in a classroom/ laboratory setting to practice keying out plant specimens collected from local wetland sources. An afternoon field trip to a local wetland will allow opportunity to practice identification skills in a natural setting. Related topics such as plant adaptations to wetland hydrology and the concept of “hydrophytic” vegetation will also be discussed.

Identifying Inland Wetland Soils
Time: 9:00am - 3:30pm
Participants will be introduced to some of the fundamental characteristics of soils that are used to identify hydric (wetland) soils in the field — including soil texture, color, horizon type and redoximorphic features. The afternoon will include a field trip to a local wetland where participants will examine plants and soils along a wetland/nonwetland gradient. Plant communities will be used to locate transitional wetland-upland areas in the landscape for further investigation of their soil characteristics. Participants should have taken Part 1 of this series or be able to identify wetland vegetation (by permission of instructor).

Scouting for Insect and Weed Problems of Woody Ornamentals
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
To maintain landscapes sustainably, regular monitoring and using IPM practices is essential. Join Extension specialists for a diagnostic walkabout through the landscape for an up-close look at pest and cultural problems of woody ornamentals. Updates on new pests, diagnostic techniques and IPM strategies will be emphasized for a true hands-on learning experience. Workshop held rain or shine.

Scouting for Insect & Disease Problems of Woody Ornamentals
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
To maintain landscapes sustainably, regular monitoring and using IPM practices is essential. Join Extension specialists for a diagnostic walkabout through the landscape for an up-close look at pest and cultural problems of woody ornamentals. Updates on new pests, diagnostic techniques and IPM strategies will be emphasized for a true hands-on learning experience. Workshop held rain or shine.
Join Bob Childs, Extension Entomologist, and Dan Gillman, Extension Plant Pathologist, for a diagnostic walkabout through the landscape for an up-close look at insect and disease problems of woody ornamentals.

Broadleaf Weed Identification Workshop (Plus a Few Grassy Weeds)
Date: Tue, June 26, 2012
Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Correct weed identification is an important first step in the development of an effective weed management program. Using a classroom presentation, potted weed herbarium and weed walk, UMass Extension Specialist Randy Prostak will help participants enhance their weed identification skills. Feel free to bring a weed or two to identify. Workshop held rain or shine (lunch not provided).

Broadleaf Weed Identification Workshop (Plus a Few Grassy Weeds)
Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Correct weed identification is an important first step in the development of an effective weed management program. Using a classroom presentation, potted weed herbarium and weed walk, UMass Extension Specialist Randy Prostak will help participants enhance their weed identification skills. Feel free to bring a weed or two to identify. Workshop held rain or shine (lunch not provided).

MA Fruit Growers Association Summer Meeting
Time: 10am-3pm
Address: 391 Sabin Street, Belchertown MA
Contact Jon Clements- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 413-478-7219

Principles and Fundamentals of Weed Science (A1)
Time: 9:00am - 3:30pm
A critical first step in the development of a weed or invasive plant management program is a strong and complete understanding of several principles and fundamentals of the discipline of weed science. The session will cover the topics of weed biology, weed ecology, herbicide modes-of-action, herbicide timings and more.
This workshop is the second (overflow) offering of Part A1 of the 2012 Invasive Plant Certification Program.

MNLA/MFGA Great Ideas Summer Conference and Trade Show
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
The Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association and the Massachusetts Flower Growers Association will again hold their Summer Field Day jointly in 2012. The day will offer horticultural education workshops by well known researchers and educators and a trade show.

UMass Turf Research Field Day
Time: 8:00am - 1:00pm
The annual UMass Turf Research Field Day highlights the wide range of research projects currently taking place at the Joseph Troll Turf Research Center as well as research being conducted at other locations by University of Massachusetts Turf Program faculty, staff, and graduate students.
Click for complete information and registration options…

The Invasive Plant Issue and Invasive Plant Identification (A3)
Time: 9:00am - 3:30pm
An overview of the topic of invasive plants, focusing on why we should be concerned about them and enhancing your ability to readily identify invasive plants as well as their look-alikes. The work of the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group, including its strategies, recommendations, and the recently released Early Detection/Rapid Response Priority List document, will be discussed.

This workshop is Part A3 of the 2012 Invasive Plant Certification Program.

Developing an Invasive Plant Management Program (B)
Time: 9:00am - 3:30pm
This session will help participants develop and implement an invasive plant management program. Management tips and strategies will be discussed including herbicide selection and timing, non-chemical strategies and ways to avoid common program pitfalls.
This workshop is Part B of the 2012 Invasive Plant Certification Program.