Michigan Spring Peach Meeting scheduled for March 10, 2015
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EmailMichigan Spring Peach Update attendees will learn ways to improve their profitability with educational sessions and discussions on growing and marketing high quality peaches and nectarines.
Peach growers are always looking for ways to improve their profitability. The 2015 Michigan Spring Peach Update is the best annual meeting in Michigan to learn about this crop. This one-day meeting will be held Tuesday, March 10, at the Michigan State University Extension Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center near Benton Harbor, Michigan, with registration starting at 8 a.m. and the program starting at 9 a.m.
The meeting will focus on fresh market peaches including varieties, insect and disease management, marketing strategies, rootstocks and high density plantings.
Topics covered include:
- How to get new orchards off to a good start.
- Current and new rootstock options.
- New peach tree buying options.
- Managing oriental fruit moth and stink bug.
- Bacterial spot control.
- Tree training options.
- Update on winter damage to peaches.
- Michigan processing peach update and recommendations.
Guest speakers include Jim Schupp of Penn State University, Kay Rentzel of the National Peach Council, Rich Eshleman of Eshleman Fruit Farms, Mike Haas of the MSU Department of Entomology, Leo Steffens of Peterson Farms Inc., David Ritchie of North Carolina State University, Joe Herman of Herman Orchards, Ed Czuba of Czuba Fruit Farms, Scott Phelps of Gold Coast Orchards, Matt Moser of Moser Tree Sales, Wanda Gale of Summit Tree Sales, and Bill Shane of MSU Extension. Attendees will be eligible for credits toward their recertification of their Michigan pesticide applicators license.
Deadline for early registration is Monday, March 2. Registration is $30 per person or $25 for current Michigan Peach Sponsor members, with catered lunch included. Registrations mailed after March 2 or at the door are $5 more per person. To pay in advance by check or money order, please download the registration form and mail with payment by March 2 to Spring Peach Conference 2015, Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center, 1791 Hillandale Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022. After this time, you may register at the door with check, money order or cash. Credit cards will not be accepted.
For additional meeting information or assistance, contact the conference coordinator, Bill Shane, at 269-944-1477 ext. 205 or 269-208-1652 (cell).
The Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center, 1791 Hillandale Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022, is located 2.5 miles east of I-94 exit 30 (Napier Avenue), approximately 4 miles southeast of Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, Michigan. Numerous accommodations are available close by at I-94 exits 23, 27, 28 and 29.
This meeting is sponsored by the Michigan Peach Sponsors, Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan Society for Horticultural Science.
