Are you new to farming? This year the 2020 Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention (OFVC) will feature a full day session designed specifically for the new farmers interested in fruit or vegetable production. The session, which is titled ‘Farming Basics for New Fruit and Vegetable Growers’, will give an overview of all aspects of farming horticultural crops from purchasing a farm through selling and marketing.
The OFVC takes place on Feb 19-20 at the Scotiabank Convention Centre, 6815 Stanley Ave, Niagara Falls, Ontario.
The Farming Basics session will take place on Feb 19. Here is the agenda for the session:
- 9:30 Introduction to Farming and Finding Markets
Dr. Sean Westerveld, OMAFRA
Robb Wagner, OMAFRA - 10:00 The Business of Farming: Setting Up
Robb Wagner, Erich Weber, John Molenhuis, Mark Ferguson, OMAFRA - 10:30 The Business of Farming: Day to Day
Robb Wagner, Erich Weber, John Molenhuis and Mark Ferguson, OMAFRA - 11:00 It All Begins with Your Soil
Anne Verhallen, OMAFRA - 11:30 Waterlogged or Dry as a Bone? Manage Water Before You Plant
Rebecca Shortt, OMAFRA
- 2:00 Pest Management and Weed Control 101
Dr. Melanie Filotas and Kristen Obeid, OMAFRA - 2:30 Cropping Systems Introduction: Fruit Production
Kathryn Carter, OMAFRA - 2:50 Cropping Systems Introduction: Vegetable Production
Dennis Van Dyk, OMAFRA - 3:10 Cropping Systems Introduction: Specialty Crop Production
Evan Elford, OMAFRA - 3:30 Grower Experience: Starting a Farm in Ontario
Hayden Dooney, Norfolk Fruit Grower’s Assoc. - 4:00 Q & A Session
The conference also has other learning opportunities for new growers such as an Intro to Organic Production session on the morning of Feb 20 and sessions on a range of fruit, vegetable and specialty crops. There is also a large trade show that includes financial institutions, equipment dealers, suppliers and much more that can assist a new farmer. For the full agenda, more information about the convention, and to register please visit the OFVC website at www.ofvc.ca.
Post re-blogged from the ONspecialtycrops blog.