Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference

January 6-8, 2016

IMPORTANT DEADLINES:December 15, 2015 – Hotel Reservations

December 28, 2015 – Conference Pre-Registration(After Dec. 28, you will need to register on site at the conference)

www.specialtygrowers.org

Pre-Conference WorkshopsWednesday, January 6, 2016

Small Fruits

10:00 Introduction. Elizabeth Wahle, University of Illinois

10:10 Blueberry Production and Marketing in Michigan. Mark Longstroth, Michigan State University

10:50 Growing Blackberries on a Rotating Trellis atEckert’sOrchard,Grafton,IL. TomDutkanych,Eckert’sOrchard

11:30 Weed Control in Brambles. Elizabeth Wahle, University of Illinois

Noon Lunch

1:00 Aronia, Haskaps, and Saskatoons – the Potential in Michigan is Not Unlimited. Mark Longstroth, Michigan State University

1:50 High Tunnel Production of Strawberries Using Vertical Stacking Systems. JeffKindhart,UniversityofIllinois

2:30 The Spotted Wing Drosophila Story in Michigan. Mark Longstroth, Michigan State University

3:00 Break

3:20 How We Produce Strawberries for Five Months in Ohio. BradBergefurd,TheOhioStateUniversity

4:10 QuestionsfortheDay’sSpeakers.

4:40 Adjourn to Trade Show

Pumpkins and Ornamental Vegetables

10:00 Introduction. Nathan Johanning, University of Illinois

10:05 InsectIdentificationandManagementinCucurbits. Rick Weinzierl, University of Illinois

10:30 Specialty Pumpkin and Gourd Varieties. BradPaulson,RuppSeeds;DerrillKregel,RispensSeeds;KevinHosey,Seedway

11:20 PlantDiseaseIdentificationandManagement in Cucurbits. MohammadBabadoost,UniversityofIllinois

Noon Lunch

1:00 Weed Management in Cucurbits. Nathan Johanning, University of Illinois

1:40 ProductionandMarketingatDiffey’sPumpkins. JackDiffey,Louisiana,MO

2:15 Maintaining Soil Fertility for Pumpkin Production. Mike Roegge, University of Illinois

2:45 Break

3:00 Bringing “Value-Added” to Pumpkins. Katie Kammler, University of Missouri

3:45 Looking Beyond Pumpkins: Broom Corn, Indian Corn, Sunflower,andPopcornProduction. MarkandMaryLouMatthew,M&M&MFarms,Blandinsville,IL

4:15 Grower Discussion: Looking Back at 2015 and Ahead to 2016.

GregSensenig,CountryLaneProduce,Shobonier,IL; DerrillKregel,Kregel’sPumpkinPatch,Lowell,IN; JackDiffey,Diffey’sPumpkins,Louisiana,MO; MarkandMaryLouMatthew,M&M&MFarms,Blandinsville,IL

5:00 Adjourn to Trade Show

Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference1

Cider Contest Reminder:

For more details or an application, contact Elizabeth Wahle, University of Illinois Extension, (618) 344-4230; wahle@illinois.edu or download at www.specialtygrowers.org/iscaoc.html

Thursday, January 78:00 – 9:45 am Registration10:00 am Judging6:30 pm Awards Presentation at Banquet

www.specialtygrowers.org

Pre-Conference WorkshopsWednesday, January 6, 2016

Conference Registration:Wednesday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Thursday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. – 12:00 Noon

Conference Trade Show:Wednesday: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Note: Not all vendors will be present.

Thursday: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

2

Social Media Boot Camp

10:00 Social Media Savvy: The Next Generation of Marketing. LeiaKedem,UniversityofIllinois

10:30 Consumer Insights: Understanding Your Customers From Every Angle. AndrewLarson,UniversityofIllinois

11:15 Facebook Insights: Analytics to Action. AnnHorack,Charleston-Orwig,LakeMills,WI

Noon Lunch

1:00 Building Your Brand Identity Through Social Media. MariahDale-Anderson,TripleMFarm:Mariah’sMums&More, Clinton, IL

1:30 A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Taking Photos That Maximize Your Social Media Engagement. JudyBingman,UniversityofIllinois

2:30 Video Storytelling: How to Create Simple & High-Impact Videos for Social Media. MarkPressberger,IllinoisFarmBureau

3:30 Break

3:45 Bringing It All Together: Your Digital ROI. JennySchweigert,AgChatFoundation,Hopedale,IL

4:30 Question and Answer and Discussion with Speaker Panel. 5:00 Adjourn to Trade Show

Legal Issues for Small Farmers

10:00 Introduction. DianeHandley,IllinoisSpecialtyGrowersAssociation

10:05 Employment Law: Minimum Wage, Overtime, PayrollTaxes,andWorker’sCompensation. LauraFisher,FarmCommons,NewYorkCity,NY

11:00 Lawsuits and Liability Issues: Understanding the Issues and Managing the Risks. LauraFisher,FarmCommons,NewYorkCity,NY

Noon Lunch

1:00 The Impacts of Zoning on Agritourism and On-Farm Marketing. LauraFisher,FarmCommonsFarm,NewYorkCity,NY

1:45 Insurance: Terminology, Trends, and Policies. LauraFisher,FarmCommons,NewYorkCity,NY

2:30 Break

2:45 How to Address Liability Risks and Put Together a Comprehensive Risk Management Package. DonDavisandEricVanasdale,CountryFinancial, Bloomington IL

3:30 Update on Immigration, I-9s, and H2As. RichSchell,SchellandWagner,LLP,DesPlaines,IL

4:30 Adjourn to Trade Show

Conference AgendaThursday, January 7, 2016

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9:00: Opening SessionWelcome and Introductions. DianeHandley,IllinoisSpecialtyGrowersAssociation,andRickWeinzierl,UniversityofIllinois

9:20 Keynote Speaker: Tom Turpin, professor of Entomology, Purdue University“Pollinators, Specialty Crops, and North American Agriculture” Insectsareimportantpollinatorsformanyplantsfrombackyardgardenstocommercialoperations.Whatinsectsplaythisrole andhowcanwepromotetheirsuccess?

Agritourism 10:45 Staying Safe and Legal in On-Farm Food Service. LauraFisher,FarmCommons,NewYorkCity,NY 1:30 Food Hubs: Working Together to Supply Grocery Stores and Restaurants. CynthiaHaskins,IllinoisFarmBureau,Bloomington,IL,andTaraRoberts-Turner,WisconsinFoodHubCooperative,Madison,WI

Fruits 10:45 UnintendedConsequences:PreventingHerbicideInjurytoFruitTreesandReducingFungicides’ImpactsonBees. DavidRosenberger,NewYorkAgriculturalExperimentStation 1:30 Grower Panel on 2015 Season. MosbahKushad,Moderator 2:00 2016 Summer Horticulture Day. ValleyOrchard,RaoulBergesen,CherryValley,IL 2:30 After Scab Control: Summer Disease Management in Apples. DavidRosenberger,NewYorkAgriculturalExperimentStation

Vegetables 10:45 Plasticulture Production of Tomatoes – Outdoors and in High Tunnels – in Ohio. BradBergefurd,TheOhioStateUniversity 1:30 2015 High-Tunnel Variety Trials on Heirloom Tomatoes and Unique Hot Peppers at the St. Charles Horticulture Research Center. Shelby Henning, University of Illinois 2:10 Updates on Management of Tomato and Pepper Diseases. MohammadBabadoost,UniversityofIllinois 2:50 Cover Crops in Vegetable Production. Katie Kammler, University of Missouri

Herbs 10:45 Hops Production. JamesAltwies,GorstValleyHops,Mazomanie,WI 1:30 Growing and Marketing Hops in the Eastern Midwest. BradBergefurd,TheOhioStateUniversity 2:30 Harvesting, Drying, and Marketing Hops. JamesAltwies,GorstValleyHops,Mazomanie,WI

10:45-11:45 First Breakout Session - See Tracks Below

11:45-1:30 Lunch in the Trade Show

Conference AgendaThursday, January 7, 2016

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Organic 10:45 Farmer to Farmer Idea Exchange. Facilitated by the IL Organic Growers Association. Whataretheissuesmostimportanttoyourfarmingoperation?Thisisanopportunityforfocusedconversations andinspiredlearningwithyourpeersontopicscriticaltoyourfarmingoperation.Submittopicsuggestionsfor anideaexchangediscussionatillinoisorganicgrowersassociation@gmail.com.Beginningandexperiencedfarmers ofalltypeswelcomed. 1:30 Marketing and Selling Small Grains. AndyHazzard,HazzardFreeFarms,Pecatonica,IL 2:10 Simple Tools for Soil Health. EllenPhillips,C-PEnterprises,Lombard,IL 2:50 Making Cents with Cover Crops. Nathan Johanning, University of Illinois

Emerging Issues

Irrigation

10:45 Designing Drip Irrigation Systems to Match Pressure, Flow, and Demand. JeffKindhart,UniversityofIllinois

Financing Small Enterprises

1:30 High Tunnels, Pollinator Habitats, and Soil Health, OH MY! Seeking Financial and Technical Assistance through NRCS. Jamie Jones, USDA NRCS 2:15 USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Loan Programs for Small and Beginning Farmers, and Risk Management Tools for Crops for Which Traditional Crop Insurance Is Not Available. USDAFarmServiceAgency 2:40 “Invest In Illinois” Programs. RebeccaHuston,IllinoisStateTreasurer’sOffice 3:15 Q&A with Moderator

4:00-4:45 Association Annual Meetings Illinois Herb Association Annual Meeting Illinois Vegetable Growers Association Annual Meeting Illinois State Horticulture Society Annual Meeting Illinois Irrigation Annual Meeting Illinois Organic Growers Association Annual Meeting

5:30 Cash Bar6:00-7:30 BanquetHowSocialMediahasRevolutionizedHowWeDriveTraffictoOurFarm.ChrisEckert,EckertsOrchard,Belleville,ILWearedependentondestinationtraffictoourfarmeachseasontobesuccessful.Traditionalformsofmediasuchasprint,radio andTVhavebeenthefocusofourmediaplanfordecades.Startinginthemid2000’s,wenoticedthatspendingmoredollars ontheseformsofmediawasnolongergeneratingmoretraffic.Threeyearsago,westartedtransitioningourmediaplaninto digitalformssuchasFacebookandTwitter.Sincethenwehavetransformedourentiremediastrategytothesenewformats. Joinmeforadiscussionofthistransition,thesuccessstrategieswehaveuncovered,andthedigitalmediaformatsthathaveproveneffectiveforourfarmmarket.

Conference AgendaFriday, January 8, 2016

Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference5

NOTE: ConcurrentsessionsonFridayrunfrom9:00to11:30(or11:45)a.m.andfrom1:30to3:30(or4:00)p.m. TheISGAAnnualMeetingwillbeheldat11:45a.m.Lunchwillbeservedinthetradeshowareafrom11:30to1:30.

Agritourism 9:00 Changes to Farmers Market Food Sampling and Cottage Food Laws.

WesKing,IllinoisStewardshipAlliance,Springfield,IL

10:30 Adding Animals to Your Agritourism Operation. JamesAikman,AikmanWildlifeAdventure,Arcola,IL

CSA Boot Camp: Starting Up Without Burning Out

1:30 Recruiting and Retaining Customers. CheriDoetch,BeaverCreekGardens,PoplarGrove,IL 2:10 Week after Week: Filling and Distributing Shares. TracyBarkley,SolaGratiaFarm,Urbana,IL 2:50 Communication and Newsletters Made Easier.

MariahDale-Anderson,TripleMFarm:Mariah’sMums&More,Clinton,IL

Fruits

9:00 Peach and Apple Insect Management Updates. Rick Weinzierl, University of Illinois 9:40 Production and Marketing at Christ Orchard. Kurt,Connie,andMollieChrist,Elmwood,IL 10:10 Production and Marketing at Edwards Orchard West. Kristen,Brian,andKariEdwards,Rockford,IL 10:40 Peach and Apple Disease Management Updates. MohammadBabadoost,UniversityofIllinois 1:30 Updates from the Midwest Apple Improvement Association. DavidDoud,DavidDoud’sCountylineOrchard,Wabash,IN 2:00 Our Transition from Post to Trellis Training at Eckert Orchards. ChrisandJimEckert,Belleville,IL 2:45 Evaluating Options for Selection of Apple Rootstocks and Training Systems. MosbahKushad,UniversityofIllinois

Vegetables

9:00 Hydroponic Production Systems in Greenhouses and High Tunnels. JeffKindhart,UniversityofIllinois 9:40 Hydroponic Production of Tomatoes and Herbs at Liberty Farms Hydroponics. RayMummeandChrisClark,Waterloo,IL 10:20 Mushroom Production in High Tunnels. DK Lee, University of Illinois 11:00 Secrets of a Successful Hydroponic Start-up in Northern Illinois. TonyNdoca,GardenPatchFarm,HomerGlen,IL 1:30 An Extended Discussion on Vegetable Insect Management (Before the Bug Guy Retires).

Rick Weinzierl, University of Illinois

Conference AgendaFriday, January 8, 2016

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Herbs 9:00 Fire in the Garden. ChuckVoigt,UniversityofIllinois 10:00 WhatYouDidn’tKnowaboutPeppers.MaryBuckles,Mt.Pulaski,IL 1:30 Habanero Madness. ShelbyHenning,UniversityofIllinois. 2:30 Capsicum and Other Leading Therapeutic Herbs. Mike King, Mari-Mann Herbs, Decatur, IL

Organic 9:00 Seed to Sourdough: Farmers, Millers and Bakers Discuss Local Grain. BillDavison,UniversityofIllinois;DaveBishop,PrairiErthFarm,Atlanta,IL;MartyTravis,

TheSpenceFarm,Fairbury,IL;andGregWade,PublicanQualityBread,Chicago,IL 10:00 OrganicFertilizersandAmendments:ExploringAlternativeUsesandPotentialBenefits.

Sam Wortman, University of Illinois 11:00 MarketingStrategies:NowandWhat’sComing. MartyTravis,TheSpenceFarm,Fairbury,ILandDaveCleverdon,KinninnickFarm,Caledonia,IL 1:30 The Emerging Local Grain Economy in Illinois. Bill Davison, University of Illinois 2:10 SuccessesandFailuresofDiversifiedLivestockProductiononaSmallFarm. DavidBane,BaneFamilyMeats,SidneyIL 2:50 Selling Your Story Through Social Media. KatieBishop,PrairiErthFarm,Atlanta,IL

Emerging Issues

Preventing Wildlife Damage to Specialty Crops

9:00 Regulations and Permits for Nuisance Animal Removal. TimKelley,IllinoisDepartmentofNaturalResources. 9:40 Integrated Management of Small Mammals. DavidShiley,UniversityofIllinois. 10:20 Reducing Losses to Deer. JeffKindhart,UniversityofIllinois. 11:00 Bird Control in Specialty Crops. ScottBeckerman,USDAAPHIS

Post-Harvest Handling for 2016 and Beyond: Sound Practices and FSMA Regulations

1:30 Harvest and Postharvest Practices that Enhance Produce Quality. JeffKindhart,UniversityofIllinois 2:30 GAPS Training: Still the Starting Point for Small Growers. BronwynAly,UniversityofIllinois 3:15 How the New Rules of the Food Safety Modernization Act will Affect Small Scale Producers. Laurie George, University of Illinois

Illinois Specialty Growers Association1701TowandaAvenueBloomington, IL 61701

DIRECTIONS FROM I-55Exit94,StevensonDrive.Gowestoneblock toDirksenParkway.Turnright(north)1.5blocks. Hotelisontheright(3000S.DirksenParkway).

HOTEL RESERVATIONSLodgingisavailableattheCrownePlazafor $94pernight(singleordouble)plus12%tax. LodgingroomInternetfeechargeshavebeen waivedforthisconference.LodgingReservationsmustbemadebyDec.15tobeguaranteedthe $94roomrate.

BY PHONE: Call (217) 529-7777 Askforin-housereservations,identifyyour organizationas“IllinoisSpecialtyCrops, AgritourismandOrganicConference.”

VISIT US ON LINE: www.cpspringfield.com Registeronline.Selectyourdatesandclickon “booknow.”Intheleftcolumn,fillin“SP5”as yourgroupcode,andclickon“modifysearch.”

QUESTIONS?ContactDianeHandleyPhone:(309)557-2107•Fax:(309)557-3729 Email:dhandley@ilfb.org

Getting There and Staying There

Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference

January6-8,2016 CrownePlazaHotel&ConventionCenter•3000S.DirksenParkway,SpringfieldIL

Address Service Requested

ISGA651_W5

NON-PROFITORGANIZATION

U.S.POSTAGEPAID Bloomington,IL61702-2901

PERMITNO.2

- Must be received by December 28, 2015 for pre-registration -After Dec. 28, on-site registration will be available. Lunch is not guaranteed with on-site registration.

Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference Registration Form

Please Note: Both pages of registration form MUST be returned in order to be correctly processed.

Please print clearly or type the following registration information for each participant. Please circle any pre-conference workshops each participant will be attending.

Name(s) ______________________________________________ 1, 2, 3, 4 ____________________________________________________ 1, 2, 3, 4

_____________________________________________________ 1, 2, 3, 4 ____________________________________________________ 1, 2, 3, 4

Farm Name or Organization ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________City __________________________ State __________ Zip ____________________

Phone _____________________________________Email (required for registration confirmation) __________________________________________________

Description of Operation: _______ Vegetable _______ Fruit _______ Herb _______ Irrigated Grower _______ Organic

_______ Agritourism _______ Master Gardener _______ Roadside _______ U Pick _______ Wholesale _______ Farmers Market

_______ Industry Support __________________________________________________ Other

FREE Magazine Subscriptions to all Registrants!

PLEASE CHECK any of the following you’d like to receive a complimentary one-year subscription to:

___ Growing Magazine ___ American Fruit Grower ___ American Vegetable Grower ___ The Fruit Grower News

___ The Vegetable Grower News ___ Country Folks Grower ___ No thanks – none at this time.

Pre-Conference Workshops (Wednesday, January 6, 2016) (Select one workshop per attendee.)

#1 - Pumpkin and Ornamental Vegetables# Attending _______@ $35/member*; $45/non-member (includes lunch); on-site registration $15 more per person .........................................................$ _____________

#2 - Small Fruits# Attending _______@ $35/member*; $45/non-member (includes lunch); on-site registration $15 more per person .........................................................$ _____________

#3 - Social Media Boot Camp# Attending _______@ $35/member*; $45/non-member (includes lunch); on-site registration $15 more per person .........................................................$ _____________

#4 - Legal Issues for Small Farmers# Attending _______@ $35/member*; $45/non-member (includes lunch); on-site registration $15 more per person .........................................................$ _____________* member = member of Illinois Specialty Growers Association (ISGA)

Wednesday Lunch Options: (If not indicated, “meat ticket” will be provided.)

Vegetarian Option: # of Vegetarian tickets_______ Name/s______________________________________________________________

Meat Option: # of Meat tickets_______ Name/s_______________________________________________________________

Trade Show Only Pass (Thursday – Friday, January 7-8, 2016) (For those individuals attending only the trade show activities; No lunch provided)Please note: Trade Show also open 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 6 with limited vendors.

# Attending _______@ $15/person = ............................................................................................................................................................... $ ___________

Please return completed form with payment no later than December 28, 2015 to: Treasury Operations • Illinois Specialty Growers Assoc. • P.O. Box 6228 • Bloomington IL 61701 • Fax: 309.557.2008 • Phone: 309.557.2481Pay By Check - Make payable to ISCC

Credit Card Payment

Cardholder name: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address ______________________________________________________ City _______________________________State _________Zip _________________

Total Amount of Transaction: $ ___________.___________ Type of Card: r MasterCard r VISA r Discover

Signature of Cardholder: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Account Number: ____________________________________________________________________ Expiration Date: __________________ _____________________(month) (year)

(as it appears on statement)

TOTAL DuE: $ ___________

Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference (Thursday & Friday, January 7-8, 2016)

Registration Fee (Includes trade show, lunch (select below), and educational sessions; on-site registration $15 more per person)

First Person Attending..........$65/member*; $75/non-member = .......................................................................................................................... $ ___________

Additional Person(s) #_______ at $45/member*; at $50/non-member = ........................................................................................................... $ ___________* member = member of Illinois Specialty Growers Association (ISGA)

Important Notes: Lunch is included in your registration fee for the Thursday—Friday Conference as well as the Wednesday Workshop. Lunch is NOT guaranteed with on-site registration.Cancellation Policy: Prior to December 28, 100% refund; December 29-31, 75% refund; After Jan 1, your money will NOT be refunded. Eligible refunds will be made after the conference.

YOu MuST specify your choices in advance in order to receive a lunch ticket upon check in. Thursday Lunch Options: (both options also include drink and cookie)

Veggie Option: # of Veggie tickets ___________ Name/s _____________________________________________________________________________Meat Option: # of Meat tickets ______________ Name/s _____________________________________________________________________________

No Meals _____________ Name/s _______________________________________________________________________________________

Friday Lunch Options: (both options also include drink and cookie)

Veggie Option: # of Veggie tickets ___________ Name/s _____________________________________________________________________________Meat Option: # of Meat tickets ______________ Name/s _____________________________________________________________________________

No Meals _____________ Name/s _______________________________________________________________________________________

2016 ISGA DuES (see below) ...................................................................................................................................................................... $ ___________

Designate as my specialty association: (check one)**

_______ Illinois Herb Association ($50) _______ Illinois Vegetable Growers Association ($50)

_______ Illinois Irrigation Association ($45) _______ Illinois State Horticulture Society ($70)

**If you choose to join more than one association, the basic ISGA membership fee is $40 plus $5 for IIA, $10 each for IVGA and IHA, and $30 for ISHS.

Thursday Evening Banquet Tickets

#_______ @ $25 ($30 on-site) .......................................................Vegetarian Option (circle if preferred) #________ ................................. $ ___________

Chris Doll Scholarship Fund (optional donation)

A scholarship fund has been set up by the ISGA at the University of Illinois to support eligible junior or senior horticulture majors with an interest in fruits or vegetables. This scholarship will be awarded for the 2016 fall semester or once a minimum of $1000 is raised. All donations to the Chris Doll Scholarship Fund given through the ISGA will be forwarded to the U of I Foundation. These gifts will be considered a charitable, tax-deductible donation to the UIF. Contributions received by December 31, 2015 may be claimed on your 2015 tax return contributions.

Donation: $ ___________