JOPLIN, Mo. — The Missouri Tomato Conference will be Monday and Tuesday, August 14 and 15, 2017, at the Continental Banquet Center, 2728 North Rangeline, Joplin. This first ever state-wide Tomato Conference brings together top experts in the field with regional experts and successful local tomato farmers to teach growers and serious hobbyists how to better grow Missouri’s top selling vegetable.
Day one begins at 8:45 and will include presentations on the following topics:
- Introduction to Tomatoes
- Tomato Insect IPM & major challenges
- Diagnosing & Addressing Tomato Disease Issues
- Track 1:Field Tomatoes –
- Field tomatoes from a farmer’s perspective
- Tomato insect management in the field
- Track 2: Greenhouse and High Tunnel tomatoes
- Basics of tomato management in structures
- High Tunnel tomatoes from a farmer’s perspective
- Tomato fertility management and quality issues
- Tomato grafting
Day two consists of farm tours and on-site education at three area farms from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.
This conference features national and regional presenters including:
Dr. Rick Snyder – Dr. Snyder (right) is Extension/Research Professor at the Truck Crops Experiment Station, Crystal Springs, MS. His areas of specialty include greenhouse tomatoes and other vegetables, field vegetables, and mushrooms. Dr. Snyder hosts the well-known Mississippi Green-house Tomato Short Course, now in its 27th year, and is a highly sought speaker on all aspects of greenhouse tomato production.
Dr. Richard Weinzierl – Dr. Weinzierl (left) is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, where his emphasis since 1991 has been on insect pest management in fruit and vegetable crops. His extension research and teaching has focused on applied Integrated pest management.
Sherrie Smith – Sherrie Smith serves as Plant Diagnostician at the Arkansas Plant Health Clinic, located in Fayetteville, AR. Smith began her career at the Plant Health Clinic in January 2006 after completing her M.S. degree in plant pathology at the University of Arkansas. The clinic serves Arkansas growers, homeowners and nurserymen who have plant disease problems or other plant health issues. The clinic also has a portable lab that Sherrie takes to field days, flower and garden shows, and Master Gardener events.
David Loewen – Born and raised in central Kansas, David attended Tabor College where he received his B.A. in biology, with minors in art and missions while playing two sports. After a brief stint as a special education para-educator for kindergartners, he enrolled at Kansas State University where he will soon begin his fifth (and hopefully final) semester as a masters student in the K-State Horticulture: Urban Food Systems program. While at Kansas State, he has worked on projects related to tomato and pepper grafting.
Tami Fredrickson owns and operates, with her family, Fredrickson Farms in Carl Junction, Missouri, raising specialty crops for direct sale through the Webb City Farmers Market, restaurants and on-farm sales. The farm has tomatoes both in the field and in an open-ended high tunnel. She plans to add an additional tunnel to the operation this fall.
Karen Scott, with her husband Doug, owns and operates Oakwoods Farm near Granby, Missouri. Oakwoods includes field plantings as well as two unheated high tunnels used for season extension tomatoes and cool weather crops in the winter. Karen serves as the mentor for the Webb City Farmers Market’s Year-Round Education Center.
Registration is $30. Registration includes lunch on day one, all presentations and handouts, farm tours on day two and the Greenhouse Tomato Handbook by Dr. Snyder(1 per family or farm).
Complete conference information is available at webbcityfarmersmarket.com or by calling 417 483-8139.
The Missouri Tomato Conference is sponsored by the Webb City Farmers Market, University of Missouri Extension, and Lincoln University Co-operative Extension. It is underwritten by a specialty crops grant from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
— Webb City Farmers Market
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