In 2017, the Potato Conference and Trade Show is organized for the 32nd time on January 18 and 19.
Scheduled speakers include UMaine Extension crop and soil specialists, UMaine and UMaine Presque Isle researchers, Maine Board of Pesticides Control and Maine Potato Board staff, and McCain Foods agronomists.
Topics include soil health and combating drought, storage practices, technology in agriculture and certified seed results. Participants will receive 2.0 pesticide recertification credits and 3.5 Certified Crop Adviser credits.
Cost is $20 for one day, $25 for two.
Tentative Agenda
Wednesday, January 18, 2017:
8:40 a.m. — Soil Health: How to Combat Drought. Dr. John Jemison, Soil and Water Quality Specialist, UMaine Extension
9:00 a.m. — Investing in Soil Health for Short and Long Term Profitability. Eric Giberson, Soil Conservationist, NRCS
9:20 a.m. — Soil Health Initiative. Dr. John Jemison, Soil and Water Quality Specialist, UMaine Extension
9:40 a.m. — Board of Pesticides Control Update. Megan Patterson, Maine Board of Pesticides Control
10:00 a.m. — Coffee Break
10:30 a.m. — Storage Management in a Warm Fall. John Walsh, McCain Foods
10:50 a.m. — PVY Research Results. Dr. Andrei Alyhokin, Entomologist, UMaine
11:10 a.m. — Insecticide Best Management Practices. Jim Dwyer, Crops Specialist, UMaine Extension
11:30 a.m. — Potatoes USA. Sarah Reece, Global Marketing Manager
11:50 a.m. — Lunch (on your own)
1:20 p.m. — Dickeya Update. Dr. Steve Johnson, Crops Specialist, UMaine Extension
1:40 p.m. — Evaluation of Strategies in Managing Pink Rot of Potato. Dr. Jay Hao, Plant Pathologist, UMaine
2:00 p.m. — Soil Health, Disease Management, and Potato Cropping Systems. Dr. Robert Larkin, Plant Pathologist, USDA/ARS Soil and Water Lab, Orono
2:20 p.m. — Coffee Break
2:50 p.m. — UMPI Ag Program. Dr. Jason Johnston, Assoc. Professor of Wildlife Ecology, UMPI
3:10 p.m. — Technology used in Precision Agriculture. Sukhwinder Bali, Extension Educator, UMaine Extension
3:30 p.m. — Site Specific Agriculture. Dr. Lakesh Sharma, Soil and Crops Specialist, UMaine Extension
3:50 p.m. — Climate Change, What’s Happening in Maine. Glen Koehler, Associate Scientist, UMaine Extension
4:10 p.m. — Wrap Up and Adjourn
Central Aroostook Young Farmers Hospitality room will be in the Tradeshow Area.
6:30 p.m. — Worker Protection Standard Training. Megan Patterson, Board of Pesticides Control
Thursday, January 19, 2017:
8:40 a.m. — Phosphorus and Water Quality of Local Rivers & Streams. Kathy Hoppe, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
9:00 a.m. — P-Use Efficiency. Dr. John Jemison, Soil and Water Specialist, UMaine Extension
9:20 a.m. — Managing Grain for Different Markets. Dr. Ellen Mallory, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, UMaine Extension
9:40 a.m. — Alternative Crop Markets. Jake Dyer Agronomist, Maine Potato Board
10:00 a.m. — Coffee Break
10:30 a.m. — Stress Management on the Farm. Ralph McPherson, LCSW, The Aroostook Medical Center
10:50 a.m. — Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency. Dr. Lakesh Sharma, Soil and Crops Specialist, UMaine Extension
11:10 a.m. — Fumigation, the Process and Stewardship .Dr. Chad Hutchinson, Director of Research, TriEst Ag Group
11:30 a.m. — Fumigation Trial Results in Maine. Erica Fitzpatrick-Peabody, Agronomist, McCain Foods
11:50 a.m. — Lunch (on your own)
1:20 p.m. — Nurse Cropping. Gilles Moreau, Agronomist, McCain Foods
1:40 p.m. — Stand Count Evaluations. Sam Delano, McCain Foods
2:00 p.m. — Stem-end Chip and Fry Color Disorders. Dr. Greg Porter, Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, UMaine
2:20 p.m. — Seed Rules Changes May 2016. Eric Hitchcock, Director of Seed Certification, MDAFC
2:40 p.m. — Powdery Scab and Mop-Top Virus. Dr. Steve Johnson, Crops Specialist, UMaine Extension
3:00 p.m. — Certified Seed Results. Eric Hitchcock, Director of Seed Certification, MDAFC
3:20 p.m. — Wrap Up and Adjourn
For more information and registration, contact Pam Hickey at pam.hickey@maine.edu
