MFGA Winter Meeting • January 31, 2023
J. Calareso Greenhouses
32 Hudson Road, Stow, Massachusetts 01775 (Formerly D&D Farms)
Sponsored by the Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association
Registration includes catered lunch! Registration must be received by January 29, 2023.
Click the button below for a downloadable pdf that includes the registration form and complete agenda.
8am
Registration opens—Complimentary coffee and pastries
8:30am–3pm
Allied Trade Tables open
8:50am
Welcome: Ed Bemis, MFGA President and Joe Calareso, owner- Calareso Greenhouses
9–10am
Updates with Pesticide Products, Policies and More with Taryn LaScola-Miner, Director Crop & Pest Services Director 1 pesticide credit available—Taryn, as Director of the MASS Crop and Pest Services Division will review of recent and upcoming changes relative to pesticide products, policies, laws and regulations. Basic pesticide information will be weaved into this session. This is a free-flowing presentation where questions are welcome. Topics may change depending on the needs of the audience.
10–11am
Composition of Growing Medias for Floricultural Crops to Make you Successful with Steve Jarahian, Master Blender, Oldcastle Proline Growing Media Division—This presentation will review the essentials of selecting a Growing mix for your plant production. He will review what makes up a good growing mix. Steve has been a formulator going back to the 80’s when he was at W.R. Grace in Cambridge, MA. He will discuss the new mix formulations on the market which incorporate the new hydro fiber and how you manage your cultural techniques to produce successful crops.
11am–12pm
Recognizing Diseases of Floricultural Crops: Prevention & Control with Dr. Nora Catlin, Ph.D., Plant, Soil, Insect Science, Floriculture Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County, NY 1 pesticide credit available—Nora will review all of the major symptoms of plant disease for greenhouse crops showing you what to look for on your plants, what are the preventative measures to prevent the disease conditions to occur environmentally and what would be the other good control methods to use. She is the Floriculture Specialist servicing the long Island Region.
12–1:15pm
Catered Lunch—Reservations requested by January 29, 2023
MFGA Annual Meeting—Ed Bemis, President and Bob Luczai, Secretary MFGA
1:15–1:45pm
Where’s the Money?—There is funding available out there on the Federal and State Level. Funding to help you improve the efficiency of you operation and lower costs. We’ll hear about those programs from members of the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture (MDAR) and Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) about the various Programs to get funding help and what type of projects you can apply for funding in our Greenhouse and Garden Center businesses.
1:45–3:30pm
Outdoor Production of Cut Flowers in New England with Dave Dowling, Ball Seed Cut Flower Specialist—We’re pleased to have Dave Dowling, a very well known speaker in the outdoor and high tunnel production & marketing of cut flowers. Dave had his own business in growing outdoor cut flowers for the wholesale and retail market. Then was with the Gloeckner Co. before coming over to Ball. He is a very active member in the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. This is a must see presentation for people growing cut flowers for wholesale or retail. Stay and talk to Dave after the presentation. Separate registration for this presentation is available.
For more information contact:
Bob Luczai, MFGA: Email Bob or call 781-275-4811 (office)/508-935-8264 (cell)
