AMES, Iowa — The 2014 Fruit and Vegetable Field Day Aug. 11 will cover topics for fruit and vegetable farmers at Iowa State University’s Horticulture Research Station.
"The field day is geared toward commercial production, but the event also would be helpful to small-scale growers, master gardeners and homeowners who are interested in enhancing their production skills and diversifying their gardens and acreages,” said Ajay Nair, ISU Extension and Outreach vegetable specialist.
Online registration closes Aug. 4. There will be limited on-site registration.
It will start at 2 p.m. and end with supper and networking for participants. A welcome from Jeff Iles, chair of the Iowa State horticulture department, will begin the field day and the program will go from 2:15 to 5:15 p.m. Supper will begin at 5:30 p.m.
The schedule will cover a variety of topics, including:
- Organic broccoli and pepper production
- Cover-cropping in potato production
- Sweet potato plastic mulch trial
- Importance of bees in fruit and vegetable production, with a visit to the Bee Research Facility
- High tunnel production of tomatoes, cucumbers and raspberries
- Peach cultivar trials
- Tools and implements used in horticultural crop production
The field day is presented by Iowa State, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
The Horticulture Research Station is located at 55519 170th St. near Ames.