More agricultural workshops: ginger production & organic disease management

Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 09:55:16 -0500
From: Debbie Roos
Subject: more workshops: ginger production & organic disease management

I just finalized the details for two more workshops for this spring:

March 8: Ginger Production

The Chatham County Center of North Carolina Cooperative Extension will offer a ginger production workshop as part of its Enhancing Sustainability Series on Tuesday, March 8, from 10:00 am-4:00 pm in the auditorium of the Agricultural Building in Pittsboro. Presenter Susan Anderson of East Branch Ginger will give a thorough overview of ginger production and talk about its potential as a specialty crop for North Carolina growers (yes, we can grow ginger in North Carolina!).

Susan Anderson is the owner of East Branch Ginger which offers certified organic, certified disease-free ginger seed pieces. Susan has a degree in horticulture from Virginia Tech and has worked as a research technician for Johnny’s Selected Seeds.

Agenda:

* History of East Branch Ginger & Puna Organics
* What is Ginger Seed?
* Baby Ginger Culture: Hoophouse/High Tunnel Culture; Bag/Container Culture in the Greenhouse; Field-grown Culture
* Pre-sprouting
* Hilling
* Fertilizers, Media, and Container Options for Bag/Container Culture
* Insects and Diseases
* Yields for Baby Ginger
* Storing Harvested Ginger
* Pricing
* Marketing Baby Ginger
* Uses for Baby Ginger
* How Can You Get Seed?

Pre-registration is required. Visit the Growing Small Farms website at http://bit.ly/qb7UB for complete details.

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March 14: Organic Disease Management for Vegetables

The Chatham County Center of North Carolina Cooperative Extension will offer a disease management workshop as part of its Enhancing Sustainability Series on Monday, March 14, from 1:00-5:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Agricultural Building in Pittsboro. “Organic Disease Management of Vegetables” will be presented by North Carolina

State University Plant Pathologist Dr. Frank Louws.

In addition to learning all about tomato diseases and downy mildew and how to control them, participants will have one full hour to ask whatever questions they want about vegetable diseases!

Agenda:

* Diagnosis and Principles of Integrated Disease Management
* Biologicals and Fungicides – OMRI-Approved Products
* Tomato Diseases and Problems
* Downy Mildew: Cucurbits and Basil
* Vegetable Diseases: Ask the Expert – Open Question & Answer

This workshop will provide 3 continuing certification credits for private and commercial pesticide applicators in classes N, O, D, and X.
Pre-registration is required. Visit the Growing Small Farms website at http://bit.ly/qb7UB for complete details.

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Don’t forget about the Insect ID/Organic Pest Management Workshops:

February 24: Vegetable and Cut Flower Insect Pest Identification

March 24: Beneficial Insect ID

April 25: Organic Pest Management for Vegetables and Cut Flowers

Each of these three workshops above will provide 2 continuing certification credits for private and commercial pesticide applicators in classes L, N, O, D, and X.

All of these workshops are conducted by the Chatham County Center of North Carolina Cooperative Extension and will be held in the Agriculture Building Auditorium in Pittsboro. All workshops require advance registration. Visit the Growing Small Farms website at http://bit.ly/qb7UB for complete details or contact Agriculture Agent Debbie

Roos at 919-542-8202 or .

Debbie Roos
Agricultural Extension Agent
Chatham County Center
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
919.542.8202

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