The 2017 Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organic Conference RICK WEINZIERL WEINZIERL FRUIT AND CONSULTING, LLC [email protected] Weinzierl Fruit and Consulting, LLC ISGA 2016 grant from the IDoA (pass-through from the USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant program) supports my coordinating the ISCAOC program for 2017. 2017 grant from the IDoA (pass-through from the USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant program) supports my teaching at tree fruit schools in Mt. Vernon and Hardin, the Gateway Small Fruit & Veg conference in O’Fallon, and the IL-WI fruit and veg conference in February, 2017, and (pending a contract offer) coordinating the ISCAOC program for 2018. University of Illinois … ½-time teaching in the fall of 2016; fruit insect research at the University of Illinois Fruit Research Farm 2016 & 2017. The orchard … leased from Eric and Alice Kinkelaar, Seymour, IL 100 peach trees and 78 apple trees in 2016 20 more peach trees, 20 Japanese plum trees, and 310 more apple trees in 2017 April 15-16, 2016 September 14, 2016. September 14, 2016. Zestar on G.935 (Cummins) The Illinois Specialty Crops Industry and Its Partners … and many more This year’s ISCAOC Program Yesterday … Workshops Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, and Soil Health Digital Marketing Strategies for Your Farm SARE Farmers Forum Growing and Marketing Tomatoes and Peppers Designing and Operating Irrigation Systems for Illinois Vegetable and Fruit Crops And also this morning … the annual Cider Contest coordinated by Elizabeth Wahle Today and tomorrow … Today’s keynote speaker and banquet speakers Mr. Adam Nielson, Illinois Farm Bureau: “National Agricultural Policy under a New Administration” Audra and Chris Wyant: “Why Your Story Matters” Program tracks Agritourism and Marketing Move freely among Fruits sessions, but breaks Vegetables between individual Herbs presentations will not Organic Production be on the same schedule. Emerging Issues and Opportunities Agritourism and Marketing Success stories, Beer!, Marketing 201, ConnectFresh, Selling at Farmers’ Markets, Merchandising and Social Media, Product Sampling, Market Advisory Boards – Teams for Successful Farmers’ Markets Fruits Blueberry Fertilization and Irrigation, Pruning Apples in High-Density Systems, Weed and Groundcover Management, Renewal Pruning in Peaches, 2017 Summer Hort Day, 2016 Review, Production and Agritourism and JonaMac Orchard, Chemical Thinners in Apples, Disease and Insect Management Updates, Information Resources Vegetables Peas and Green Beans, Weed and Disease Management in Legumes, Sweet Corn Varieties, Plastic Mulch and Trellising for High-Tunnel Cucumbers, Disease Management in Cucurbits, Insect Management, Oyster Mushrooms, Sweet Potato Production, Specialized Equipment, Nursery Production of Milkweeds and Pollinator Habitat, Asparagus, Information Resources Herbs Green Acres Herb Farm CSA, Organic Soil Cube Gardening, Aquaponics and Herb Production, Extending Herb Production Seasons, Microgreens, Downy Mildew of Basil, Edible Flowers, Herb of the Year – Cilantro/Coriander (by Chuck Voigt) Organic Production Biochar, Grand Prairie Grain Guild, Updates on Year- Around High Tunnel Production, Farmer 2 Farmer Discussions, Young Farmers Panel, Seed to Kitchen Organic Vegetable Variety Trials, Sustainable Apple Production, Soil-borne Disease management, Multi-Family Cooperative Marketing, Updates on Organic Disease and Insect Management Emerging Issues and Opportunities Sessions on Weather Patterns and Climate Change, Farm and Food Safety, Growing and Marketing Flowers, and a Roundtable Discussion on planning future conferences Trade Show Open … Wednesday, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch in the trade show, … 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Friday Member Association Meetings … Today (Thursday) 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. ISGA Annual Meeting … 11:45 a.m. Friday The Usual Reminders Time schedule … sessions must stay on schedule to allow movement among program tracks Phones … switch to vibrate or other quiet mode; do not carry on phone conversations in meeting rooms during sessions Networking … yes !!!! But NOT in meeting rooms during sessions Please fill out the conference evaluation form on line and make suggestions for future programs. Common goals … everyone here is committed to growing and marketing foods that nourish communities – physically, economically, and socially. Please share your common goals and respect your differences. Jeff Kindhart 1965-1916 http://newillinoisfarmers.org/kindhart.php.