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OSU Offers High Tunnel Workshop In April

By Tracy Turner
 
Specialty fruit or vegetable crop producers can gain a better understanding of how to use high tunnels to extend the growing season and boost farm profits at a two-day workshop April 27-28 taught by horticulturists and other experts from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
 
High tunnel
 
The Ohio State University South Centers will host the high tunnel training on basic and advanced high tunnel techniques, said Brad Bergefurd, an Ohio State University Extension horticulturist based at the centers in Piketon.
 
OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the college. The South Centers also are part of the college.
 
High tunnels are unheated, plastic-covered, relatively inexpensive structures that can dramatically extend the growing season.
 
The workshop will offer participants a way to gain a broader understanding of integrated pest management techniques as well as crop management in a high tunnel production system and allow participants to tour farms that are successfully using advanced high tunnel production.
 
Workshop sessions will include:
 
* “Introduction to Integrated Pest Management in High Tunnels”
 
* “Science Behind Water Quality”
 
* “Food Safety Modernization Act Updates on Water Quality Standards”
 
* “Risk Assessment and Activity in Water”
 
* “Laboratory Representative Presentation and Demonstration”
 
* “Aquaponics Production”
 
* “Disease Control in High Tunnels”
 
* “Identification of Management of Natural Enemies and ‘Biological Insect Control’”
 
* “Insect Identification and Control Recommendations”
 
* “Basic High Tunnel Training Including High Tunnel Basic Techniques”
 
* “Crop Physiology and Nutritional Aspects of High Tunnel Production”
 
* “Petiole Sap Analysis Demonstration”
 
* “High Tunnel Greens, Tomato and Berry Production”
 
* “Tomato Grafting Demonstration and Exercise”
 
* “Water Quality Management for Irrigation and Fertigation”
 
There will also be a High Tunnel Facility Tour including the OSU South Centers, Zimmerman Farms in Cynthiana, Mike Auker Farm in Rainsboro and Freddie Weave Rainsboro Produce in Rainsboro
 
Registration is $50 and includes high tunnel management booklets and handouts, bus tour, breakfast, lunch and snacks for both days. Registration fee must be paid by April 23. To register, go to go.osu.edu/hightunneltraining2015. For more information, contact Charissa McGlothin at 740-289-2071, ext. 132, or email mcglothin.4@osu.edu.
 

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