Fall 2017 greenhouse Extension programs open for registration

Check our autumn schedule for unique and useful events for greenhouse and garden centers.

Photo by Jeremy Jubenville, MSU Extension.
Photo by Jeremy Jubenville, MSU Extension.

Autumn is the ideal season for education in Michigan’s greenhouse and garden center community. It’s also a great time for green industry professionals to reconnect with their colleagues across the region. The floriculture team from Michigan State University Extension is excited to present a series of events this fall that provide growers and retailers with the opportunity to brush up on rusty skills, learn about the latest trends, make new contacts or catch up with colleagues.

2017 e-GRO and MSU Greenhouse Production, Plant Health and Marketing Conference

Date: Sept. 13, 2017 (all day)

Location: Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Room 101
4125 Beaumont Rd
Lansing, MI 48910 (south of MSU campus)

About: e-GRO (Electronic Grower Resources Online) is a team of floriculture experts from universities around the nation that provide free educational materials and alerts on current issues in the commercial greenhouse industry. This September, the e-GRO and MSU Floriculture teams will present information on a variety of topics at a one-day conference in Lansing, Michigan. This is a fantastic opportunity, so don’t miss out!

Registration and conference agenda can be found at “2017 e-GRO and MSU Greenhouse Production, Plant Health and Marketing Conference.

Michigan Floriculture Industry Energy Efficiency Tour

Date: Sept. 19, 2017 (8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.)

Location: The tour will start at Arborview Greenhouse, 515 24th Ave. Hudsonville, MI 4942.

About: Efficient lighting and climate control can be a challenge for greenhouse growers due to the inherent nature of the production system. In an ever-changing economic landscape, it is becoming increasingly important for growers to reduce their costs and run as efficiently as possible. In partnership with the Michigan Agency for Energy, MSU Extension has arranged for a tour of local greenhouses and a series of presentations that highlight current energy-saving technology and government energy efficiency programs.

Registration and tour agenda can be found at “Michigan Floriculture Industry Energy Efficiency Tour.”

Marketing Boot Camp

Date: Sept. 28, 2017 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Location: MSU Tollgate Education and Conference Center
28115 Meadowbrook Rd.
Novi, Michigan 48377 

About: A successful retail season requires careful thought, diligent organization and a clear vision. Bring your team and join Dr. Bridget Behe, Horticultural Marketing Specialist from Michigan State University, in a fun and interactive program designed specifically to help retail garden centers improve teamwork and increase sales.

Normal registration opens on Sept. 7, 2017

Early-bird registration discount available through Sept. 6. Registration and other information can be found at Marketing Boot Camp.

Protecting Pollinators in Urban Landscapes Conference

Date: October 9-11, 2017 

Location: Park Place Hotel
300 East State Street
Traverse City, MI 49684

About: The second national urban pollinators conference explores the activities and functions of pollinators, as well as the challenges they may encounter, in our modern urban environments. The conference features 23 invited speakers, an academic poster session and a pair of optional tours of lakeshore attractions, botanical gardens and local wineries. For a more robust description of the event, please see the MSU Extension article “Second national conference on protecting pollinators in urban landscapes.”

Registration and conference schedule can be found at “Protecting Pollinators in Urban Landscapes Conference.”

Greenhouse Growers Expo 2017

Date: December 5-7, 2017

Location: DeVos Place Conference Center
303 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

About: For this annual event, the MSU Extension floriculture team worked with the Western Michigan Greenhouse Association and the Metro Detroit Flower Growers Association to develop an educational program consisting of 15 sessions on a variety of topics related to floriculture and greenhouse crop production. Additional interests include the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo (which runs concurrently), a large trade show, an academic poster session and an optional farm market tour.

The conference schedule can be found at “Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo.” Registration opens on Sept. 25 and will be available at the registration page.

Did you find this article useful?