11th Annual Urban and Small Farms Conference

2023 Urban and Small Farms Conference (February 21-24)

Tuesday, February 21

Drought

Time	Speaker	Session	Resources
9:00-9:30am	Grant Cardon, Utah State University: Grant’s work at USU focuses on the training and assisting of county Extension agents on soil management issues, particularly soil fertility and salinity management. As the Extension Soils Specialist, Grant works to provide accurate interpretation of test results for soils, waters, plant tissues, manures and composts.	Managing Soil Salinity	Presentation Recording
9:30-10:00am	Dan Drost, Vegetable Specialist, Utah State University: Dan Drost grew up on a small diversified farm in western Michigan and has degrees from Michigan State and Cornell Universities. He came to Utah State University in 1992 to work as the Extension Vegetable Specialist. Dan is interested in small farm production systems, organic agriculture, alternative farming approaches, and intensive land-use management.	Improving Water Management in Vegetables	Presentation Recording
10:00-10:30am	Burdette Barker, Utah State University	Irrigation Scheduling Using Sensors	Presentation Recording
10:30-11:00am	Laura Haskell, Utah Department of Natural Resources: Laura Haskell works at the Utah Division of Water Resources in the River Basin Planning Section. Her main duties include coordinating Division drought efforts with federal and other state agencies, and collecting and compiling water flow data for the Utah water budget. Prior to joining the Division, Laura worked in the public and private engineering sectors for over 15 years. She joined the Division in 2017 and has been coordinating the drought effort since 2018.	Utah Water Status and Outlook Description: This session will provide information on how the snowfall has affected the water status and the outlook for this year.	Presentation NRCS Utah Snow Survey USGS Water Dashboard Colorado Basin River Forecast Center NOAA & NRCS forecast comparison tool Reservoir map, wildfire information, algal blooms, etc. CoCoRaHS rain gauge
11:00-11:30am	Shital Poudyal	Irrigation Efficiency in Urban and Small Farm Settings	Presentation Recording
11:30am-12:00pm	Burdette Barker, Utah State University	Small Plot Drip Irrigation Design	Presentation Recording

Microfarming and Budgets

Time	Speaker	Session	Resources
1:00-1:30pm	Grant Cardon, Utah State University: Grant’s work at USU focuses on the training and assisting of county Extension agents on soil management issues, particularly soil fertility and salinity management. As the Extension Soils Specialist, Grant works to provide accurate interpretation of test results for soils, waters, plant tissues, manures and composts.	Organic and Conventional Fertility Management: A Grower's Toolbox	Presentation Recording
1:30-2:00pm	Wesley Crump, Utah State University: Wesley Crump is a new Horticulture Extension Assistant Professor covering Wasatch and Summit counties. He received a BS in Genetics from Brigham Young University working with wildflowers in the Penstemon genus and a MS in Horticulture from Washington State University working with Sweet Cherry. A few of his interests include perennial crops/cropping systems, plant breeding, urban and small-scale farming, and gardening.	Crop Rotation	Presentation Recording
2:00-2:30pm	Nick Volesky, Utah State University: Nick works with the 'Integrated Pest Management' program team at Utah State University Extension. He scouts various vegetable production farms and sites for any signs of disease or pests. He sends out seasonal pest advisories, edit publications and fact sheets, along with develop web content, and design outreach programs to better help our farmers and home owners.	Pest Management for Small-Scale Growers	Presentation Recording Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Small-Scale Farms in Developed Economics: Challenges and Opportunities Important Components of a Successful Pest Management Program Integrated Pest & Pollinator Management Pest Management Decision-making: The Economic-injury Level Concept The Integrated Pest Management Concept Utah Home Orchard Pest Management Guide Utah Vegetable Production and Pest Management Guide Vegetable Pests of Utah Beneficial Insects of Utah Abiotic Disorders of Tomatoes Using Row Covers for Pest Control How to Make Row Covers to Protect Plants from Pests Companion Planting and Trap Cropping How to Scout your Garden for Pests Squash Bug Management
2:30-3:00pm	Laura Horn, Wild Bee Project: Laura Arneson Horn is a conservationist and owner of the Wild Bee Project, an organization dedicated to helping farmers execute agroecological strategies and increasing awareness of native bees. Laura spent several years studying bees in various locales before moving to Utah, where she received her MS in Biology in 2004, spent ten years as a specialist with an environmental consulting firm, then in 2015 started the Wild Bee Project. Her work at the Wild Bee Project consists of outreach projects and scientific studies funded by federal grants.	Attracting Beneficial Insects to Manage Pests	Presentation Recording Beneficial-Insects-of-Utah-ID-Guide.pdf Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture Habitat Planning for Beneficial Insects \| Xerces Society
3:00-3:30pm	Ruby Ward, Professor, Utah State University: Dr. Ruby Ward was raised on a farm and ranch in South-eastern Idaho. From Texas A&M University she received an MBA and a PhD in Agricultural Economics. Dr. Ward is a professor in the Department of Applied Economics at Utah State University. She teaches agricultural finance and community planning. Dr. Ward has delivered educational programs in Utah and the surrounding region for the last 18 years. Ward currently co-chairs the Urban and Small Farms Conference in Utah. Ward is the project leader for the Rural Tax Education website (RuralTax.org) and Co-chair of the National Farm Income Tax Extension Committee.	Budgets for Successful Small Scale Operations	Recording
3:30-4:00pm	Tyler Montague, Keep It Real Vegetables: Tyler Montague, founder and farmer at Keep It Real Vegetables. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Studied gardening, sustainable agriculture, and food systems at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Studied tropical agriculture and food systems in Costa Rica and Nicaragua with the community food systems program. His farming credentials include his work as Assistant Farm Manager at Sandhill Farms in Eden, Utah; University of Utah Lifelong Learning Program Adjunct Professor; Wasatch Community Gardens Tomato Garden Steward 2011; Slow Food Utah Microgrant Recipient 2011; Sugarhouse Farmer's Market Board Member 2014-2016; Small Farm and Urban Garden Consultant 2011-present; and of course his independent work as a small-scale urban farmer, a project that became Keep It Real Vegetables. All the while Tyler's research into permaculture and urban farming continues. Tyler has also worked in the specialty foods industry as the grocery department buyer at Good Earth Natural Foods in Fairfax, California, and then as specialty grocery manager at Liberty Heights Fresh, and produce manager at Cali’s Natural Foods in Salt Lake City.	Keep it Real Vegetables: Experiences, Lessons, and Successes from a Grower's Point of View	Presentation Recording

Wednesday, February 22

Fruit Production

Time	Speaker	Session	Resources
9:00-9:30am	Sheriden Hansen, Assistant Professor of Horticulture, Utah State University: Sheriden Hansen is an Assistant Professor of Horticulture with USU Extension in Davis County, Utah. Sheriden started as a nurse, receiving a BS in nursing from the University of Utah in 2002. After many years working as an operating room RN, she decided to pursue her passion in horticulture. Sheriden graduated from Utah State University with a BS in Plant Science (Summa Cum Laude) in 2015 and a MS in Plant Science with an emphasis in fruit production in 2017.	Cold Injury	Presentation Recording Critical temperatures for frost damage on fruit trees Frost Protection, USU Pest Advisory Assessing frost and freeze damage to flowers and buds of fruit trees, MSU Evaluating tree fruit bud & fruit damage from cold, CSU
9:30-10:00am	Brent Black, Professor and Extension Fruit Specialist, Utah State University: Dr. Brent Black is Professor and Extension Fruit Specialist at Utah State University. He holds a B.S. degree in Plant and Soil Science from Utah State University, an M.S. degree in Horticulture from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from Oregon State University. Prior to joining USU in 2005, Dr. Black was a research scientist with the USDA Agriculture Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland for 6 years, where he studied production systems for strawberry and blueberry. His current research interests are in precision orchard management, and strategies for extending the production season of berry crops.	High Tunnel Strawberry Production	Presentation Recording www.berry.usu.edu www.tunnel.usu.edu
10:00-10:30am	Mike Pace, Utah State University	Basics of Grafting Apples	Presentation Recording
10:30-11:00am	Wendy Hoashi-Erhardt, Washington State University: Wendy Hoashi-Erhardt directs the Small Fruit Plant Breeding program and cultivar development for red raspberry in the Pacific Northwest, with emphasis on processing traits of machine harvestability, fruit quality, and disease resistance. She also researches other traits of interest in strawberry and raspberry genotypes.	Raspberry Cultivars for Utah	Recording
11:00-11:30am	Teryl Roper, Utah State University: Teryl Roper is a Professor of Horticulture. He has worked in Extension at Utah State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 35 years. He has published numerous research and extension papers dealing with topics related to fruit crops. He holds BS and MS degrees in Botany from Brigham Young University and a PhD in Horticulture from Washington State University.	Mistakes to Avoid in Planning Tree Fruit and Tree Nut Orchards in Northern Utah	Presentation Recording
11:30am-12:00pm	Mair Murray, Professional Practice Extension Assistant Professor, Integrated Pest Management for Specialty Crops, Utah State University: Mair Murray is the IPM Specialist for USU Extension and the Utah liaison for WSARE, and Stacie Clary is the Communications Manager for Western SARE.	Common Fruit Pests	Recording

Animal Science

Join us to discuss common issues and health concerns for your animals in backyard, urban, and small farms. We will have presentations on the current avian flu outbreaks, beekeeping, horse hoof health, how to prevent predation, and even a cost of production discussion. We look forward to taking questions and giving some valuable information to ensure your animals are healthier and happier than ever.

Time	Speaker	Session	Resources
1:00-1:30pm	David D. Frame, DVM, Diplomate ACPV, Utah State University Extension: Dr. David Frame received his DVM degree from Oregon State University and subsequently completed an avian medicine residency with the University of California, Davis. He is board certified in the American College of Poultry Veterinarians. Dr. Frame has received national awards for his poultry extension work, and has served on the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan, an official advisory committee to the US Secretary of Agriculture. He currently serves as the Utah State University Extension Poultry Specialist with an additional assignment as poultry diagnostician for the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Before beginning his professional career in poultry, Dr. Frame extensively bred and showed exhibition chickens.	Update on the High Path Avian Influenza in Utah and How it Impacts Small Flock Owners	Recording https://birdcast.info/migration-tools/live-migration-maps/
1:30-2:00pm	Karl Hoopes, DVM, Equine Extension Specialist, Utah State University: Karl grew up on a small dairy farm in western Wyoming. Horses were, and still are, an important part of his life. He grew up trail riding, 4H and FFA, chariot racing, and draft horse pulling contests. He graduated with a BS from the University of Wyoming and then a from Colorado State University with a DVM. Karl came to Cache Valley in 2003 and worked in a general veterinary practice for 12 years before coming to USU to teach and work in Extension. He is currently the Equine Extension Specialist at USU and teaches Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Equine Nutrition, and Equine Lower Limb Form and Function.	Equine: Importance of a Balanced Hoof Description: A basic understanding of Equine Hoof Balance. This includes an introduction to the biomechanical forces acting on an equine hoof and how trimming the equine hoof can help maintain balance.	Presentation Recording
2:00-2:30pm	Chad Page, Utah State University: Chad works for Utah State University as the Sheep and Goat Extension Specialist. He also teaches a variety of classes at the university, including sheep and wool management. Originally, he and his wife are from Chandler, AZ, but now reside in Logan, UT with their four children. Chad has worked across the intermountain west conducting applied sheep research while he obtained his Bachelor, Masters, and PhD degrees.	Predation	Recording
2:30-3:00pm	Andree' Walker Bravo, Professional Practice Assistant Professor, Utah State University Extension: Andree’ Walker Bravo is a Professional Practice Associate Professor with USU Extension in Salt Lake County. Andree’ has a statewide administrative assignment but also provides Extension education programs pertaining to sustainability and urban homesteading topics. Andree’ manages 20+ beehives between her personal hives and the teaching and demonstration apiaries at Wheeler Historic Farm. Andree’ graduated from Utah State University with a BS in Environmental Studies and a MS in Watershed Science.	An Introduction to Beekeeping	Presentation Recording
3:00-3:30pm	Jake Hadfield, Agriculture Extension Faculty, Utah State University: Jake Hadfield grew up on a small beef farm in Lehi, Utah. He has always loved raising and handling livestock. He grew up doing 4H and FFA Contests and graduated from Utah State University with a BS and a MS focused on Animal Nutrition. He and his wife continue to raise all sizes of livestock including meat rabbits on our family’s farm. While Jake loves focusing on the animal science side of livestock, he has come to find that the finances and budgeting is equally as important. The best strategies begin with knowing your cost of production.	Small Scale Livestock Budgets	Presentation Recording
3:30-4:00pm	Bruce Richards, Utah State University	Backyard Dairy	Recording

Thursday, February 23

Cut Flower Production

Time	Speaker	Session	Resources
9:00-9:30am	Shannon Rauter, Utah State University: Shannon is a research technician in the Small Farms Lab within the Plants, Soils, and Climate Department at USU. She graduated from USU in 2022 with her MS in Plant Science, where her research was focused on optimizing management practices for anemone and ranunculus cut flower production in the Intermountain West. Melanie Stock, Urban and Small Farms Specialist, Utah State University: Melanie is an Assistant Professor / Extension Urban & Small Farms Specialist in the Plants, Soils, and Climate Department at USU. As a soil scientist, her research targets improving cut flower production in the Intermountain West, small farm resource use efficiency – particularly soil fertility and water management, and urban soil contamination. She is also an avid urban homesteader.	Session Intro and USU Trials: Improving Mountain West Anemone and Ranunculus Production Description: Anemone and ranunculus can be challenging cut flowers to grow because of their narrow window of optimal flowering temperatures. The USU Small Farms Lab tested pre-sprouting, cultivars, planting dates, and combinations of winter protection for high tunnel and field production in Northern UT from 2019 to 2022. We will share how these management practices impacted cut flower harvest timing, yield, quality, and profitability and our final recommendations to optimize production.	Presentation Recording
9:30-10:00am	Krynn Knepfel, Bloom Chick Flower: Krynn is the owner of Bloomchick Flower Company in Springfield, TN. Over the last eight years, she’s tried out many flowers and means of sales but is now focusing on growing unique blooms for retail work. She’s also a dog person that has three mutts under foot at all times.	Dried Florals: Grow, Preserve, Sell Description: Dried florals have made a comeback and are an excellent season extension/off season product. Today we’ll be discussing some things to consider and the basics of adding drieds to your cut flower program.	Presentation Recording
10:00-10:30am	Claudia Nischwitz, Utah State University: Claudia is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at USU since August 2010. She works on diseases of plants with focus on cut flowers and vegetable diseases. In addition, she performs diagnostics for the UPPDL lab.	CSI Cut Flower Farm: Disease and Insect Cases from 2022 Description: Cut flowers are a new and growing crop in Utah, as well as across the US, but disease challenges and management have been less documented than in other horticultural crops. The USU Plant Pathology Lab has surveyed insects and diseases of cut flowers across Utah. This presentation highlights emerging findings and management recommendations.	Presentation Recording
10:30-11:00am	Jessie Westover, Hidden Creek Farm: Jessie Westover of Hidden Creek Farm and Stephen Workman of Mountain Man Flowers are flower farmers and the creators of the Utah Premier Flower Collective. They created the Collective to link florists to locally produced flowers, a problem they both experienced first hand. The Collective provides a consistent avenue to quality and quantity of flowers for florists. Growers experience ease of access to logistics and sales outlets empowering a balanced life. Stephen Workman, Mountain Man Flowers: Jessie Westover of Hidden Creek Farm and Stephen Workman of Mountain Man Flowers are flower farmers and the creators of the Utah Premier Flower Collective. They created the Collective to link florists to locally produced flowers, a problem they both experienced first hand. The Collective provides a consistent avenue to quality and quantity of flowers for florists. Growers experience ease of access to logistics and sales outlets empowering a balanced life.	The Utah Premier Flower Collective: What It Is and Why It Works Description: I don't have enough time! Understanding this problem for both growers and florists was the catalyst for the Utah Premier Flower Collective. We will unravel what it takes to work in a collective setting and if this partnership is right for your farm.	Presentation Recording
11:00-11:30am	Kynda Curtis, Professor and Extension Economist, Utah State University: Kynda Curtis is a Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Applied Economics at Utah State University (USU). She received her PhD in Economics from Washington State University in 2003. Her research interests include agriculture/food marketing, direct-to-consumer marketing, as well as consumer demand for value-added, specialty, and differentiated foods. As an Extension Specialist, Dr. Curtis assists small-scale growers in developing new markets for their products and assessing the feasibility of new food products and value-added processes.	Florist Market Needs and Preferences Description: In the fall of 2021 and 2022 online surveys (via Qualtrics) of florists in Utah and surrounding communities were conducted by the UCFFA (with the help of USU) to better understand their needs, preferences, and hurdles to sourcing cut flowers locally. Today we will discuss the survey results highlighting florist preferences and needs for local cut flowers. Preferred flower types, colors, and market capacity will be discussed.	Presentation Recording Florists in Utah
11:30am-12:00pm	JayDee Gunnell, Utah State University: JayDee Gunnell is an Extension Professor of Horticulture at USU. He has more than 20 years experience in the field and his specializations include tree selection and care, identifying native wildflowers, and water-wise landscaping. He recently went through the NRCS cost-share program for high tunnels and built his own.	The Ins and Outs of Adding a High Tunnel: Grant and Build Considerations Description: Working with the NRCS on cost share to building a high tunnel and incorporating function with style in your design. This presentation provides all the details of making your high tunnel dreams come true.	Presentation Recording

Funding Programs, Resources and Updates

Time	Speaker	Session	Resources
1:00-1:30pm	Brittni Echols and Yvette Garcia Danielle Barber, USDA AMS: Dr. Jeanette “Danielle” Barber serves as an Agricultural Marketing Specialist for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Danielle joined the USDA in June 2022, where she works to provide technical advice and outreach assistance to local and regional food systems. Additionally, Danielle has assisted with the launch of the Regional Food Business Centers, which will support a more resilient, diverse, and competitive food system by offering coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building support to small and mid-sized food and farm businesses. Ron Batcher, USDA: Ron Batcher is the USDA lead architect for the Wholesale Markets and Facility Design program. Ron joined USDA in 2017 where he has worked to improve the Wholesale Markets and Facility Design program which provides no cost architectural design services to stakeholders across the United States for wholesale/terminal markets, food hubs, farmers markets, shared use kitchens, public markets, and other food related facilities. Jenna Segal, USDA AMS: Jenna Segal, MPH, is an Agricultural Marketing Specialist with USDA-AMS’s Local and Regional Foods Division. She has been working with agricultural communities for over 15 years to support the development of equitable food, nutrition, and farming systems across the United States and abroad.	Local and Regional Foods: Opportunities for Local, Regional, & Urban Farm Business Development Description: USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will share information about how the Local and Regional Foods Division is working to explore and share common challenges that local and regional food system stakeholders face. The presentation will highlight upcoming AMS Grant opportunities as well as training and technical assistance resources that can be leveraged to help urban farmers grow their businesses.	Presentation Recording Food Supply Chain Fact Sheet USDA AMS Techinical Assistance Form
1:30-1:50pm	Jason Justesen, USDA Rural Development: Jason grew up on a small farm in a rural community in Central Utah. His family also owned and operated a small business for 25 years. He graduated from USU with a Bachelor’s in Finance and has worked in the lending industry for 24 years. Jason has worked in various positions for USDA Rural Development over the past 18 years and currently works as the State Energy Coordinator. Since taking on the Energy Coordinator position in 2015 Jason has helped fund 84 energy projects for Utah’s rural small businesses and agricultural producers. Barry Christensen, USDA Rural Development: Barry Christensen is the Cooperative Specialist for USDA Rural Development in the state of Utah. He has worked for USDA for about 16 years and has worked in Business & Cooperative programs for about 8 years. He holds a BS degree from Utah State University. Value Added Producer grants are one of the programs within USDA that Mr. Christensen has worked in. He enjoys assisting agricultural producers who want to expand and create new opportunity’s through adding value to their commodities.	Rural Development Funding Opportunities for Ag Producers and Small Businesses	Presentation Recording
1:50-2:10pm	Jamie Rex, Farm Service Agency: Jamie Rex has worked at Farm Service Agency since 2009. She started out as a Program Technician assisting farmers with the safety net disaster programs. She is now a Farm Loan Manager over Summitt, Rich, and Utah Counties.	USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Description: This session will focus on microloans	Presentation Recording
2:10-2:30pm	Jenny Jo Cox, USDA-NRCS: Jenny Jo Cox, NRCS District Conservationist, is a Utah native who attended BYU to study soil science. She has been a conservation planner with NRCS for ten years and has experience working on every land use.	USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Description: NRCS Technical and Financial Assistance – A discussion of the technical assistance NRCS can provide, followed by the funding programs available within the next couple years.	Presentation Recording
2:30-2:50pm	Caroline Hargraves, UDAF: Caroline Hargraves, UDAF Director of Marketing and Economic Development, has spent over 15 years working in local food. She brings a lifelong love of food and local ag and experience in marketing and communications to her role at UDAF. Caroline has a degree in public health and is a certified Community Health Education Specialist. She spent 8 years operating a photography and marketing business dedicated to supporting local restaurants and small businesses and several years as a baker before landing at UDAF. She has an adorable son she coerces into farm chores, a little hound dog, two cats, and 11 chickens at her very, very tiny urban farm in Salt Lake City.	Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Updates Description: Updates from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food including information on open and upcoming grants, the Utah's Own program, and the new Ag Stress Assistance Program offering mental healthcare reimbursement and stress management resources for Utah producers.	Recording
2:50-3:10pm	Mair Murray, Professional Practice Extension Assistant Professor, Integrated Pest Management for Specialty Crops, Utah State University: Mair Murray is the IPM Specialist for USU Extension and the Utah liaison for WSARE, and Stacie Clary is the Communications Manager for Western SARE.	Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE) Resources and Grants Description: Learn about the plethora of information, including books and fact sheets, available to farmers on the Western SARE website, as well as a grant opportunity for farmers and ranchers.	Recording https://western.sare.org/grants/ https://western.sare.org/resources/ https://westernsare.buzzsprout.com/ Western SARE Grant information Western SARE Flyer
3:10-3:40pm	Anne Dunaway, UDAF: Anne began engaging with sustainable agriculture in the early 2000s. From there, her interest grew towards the importance of low barrier access to food, for all. Currently, as the Grants Program Manager in the Marketing and Economic Development Division of Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Anne works to support grant awardees through education and infrastructure. She also spends time educating the community on the grant opportunities available. As an active sustainable agriculture farmer and a passionate agriculture activist, Anne has experience in both educational needs and grant practices as they apply to small farms and the future of agriculture.	The "Win" Depends on Where You Begin: Grants Readiness Description: Learn how to be prepared and qualified for grant funding opportunities, and project planning with grants in mind.	Presentation Recording
3:40-4:00pm	Randall Bagley, AgrAbility: Randall has been the AgrAbility of Utah program coordinator for four years. Please contact Randall at 435-797-0350 or randall.bagley@usu.edu to learn more about AgrAbility.	Other Programs: AgrAbility of Utah Description: The goal of AgrAbility is to help farmers and ranchers with disabilities continue to farm and ranch by providing assistive technology. Utah is just one of 21 states that have AgrAbility. Our services are free and confidential. AgrAbility provides on-site assessments, technology recommendations and safety recommendations. Please contact Randall at 435-797-0350 or randall.bagley@usu.edu to learn more about AgrAbility.	AgrAbility Brochure Local Microfood Grant Program AgrAbility Presentation AgrAbility Recording Conservation Districts Recording Local Food Microgrant Program Recording
	Carly Gillespie	Local Food Microgrant Program
	Daniel Gunnell	Conservation Districts

Friday, February 24

Vegetable Production "All Things Cucurbits"

Time	Speaker	Session	Resources
9:00-9:30am	Dan Drost, Vegetable Specialist, Utah State University: Dan Drost grew up on a small diversified farm in western Michigan and has degrees from Michigan State and Cornell Universities. He came to Utah State University in 1992 to work as the Extension Vegetable Specialist. Dan is interested in small farm production systems, organic agriculture, alternative farming approaches, and intensive land-use management.	Better Water-Nutrient Management- Better Performance Description: We’re all aware of Utah’s water issues (drought, low snow pack, low reservoir levels) and have seen increases in fertilizer costs. There are ways to manage these issues without sacrificing plant performance and productivity. This presentation will highlight proven ways to reduce water and fertilizer inputs while keeping productivity high	None
9:30-10:00am	Josh Martin, MS Student, Utah State University: Josh Martin is currently a master’s student at Utah State University working with Dr. Dan Drost. He grew up in southwest Utah working on farms and growing vegetables on family property. At USU he has managed the university’s Student Organic Farm. He graduated with dual majors in Plant Science and Land, Plant, and Climate Systems with a focus on sustainable food production. His passion is growing, studying, and sharing what he knows about vegetable crops.	Organic Options for Cucurbits- Keys to Success Description: The organic vegetable market is growing quickly. Growing organic cucurbits can be challenging and requires a unique set of tools and knowledge. This talk will focus on solutions to some of the more difficult challenges in organic cucurbit production including plant nutrition, weed management, and pest management. Knowing how to deal with these aspects of production can expand management options, make better producers, and open doors in the growing organic market.	None
10:00-10:30am	Dr. Daniel Leskovar, Texas A&M: Daniel Leskovar, professor in vegetable crop physiology and center director at the Uvalde and Dallas AgriLife Centers at Texas A&M University, received degrees in Horticulture from Universidad del Comahue, Argentina; post-graduate training at the University of Wageningen, the Netherlands; Master of Science at UC Davis, and Ph.D. at the University of Florida. His current research is on seed-transplant physiology; soil and plant growth regulators; grafted tomato; Controlled Environment Agriculture - high tunnel/hydroponics; and genotype selection for heat, drought stress tolerance, nitrogen use efficiency, water use efficiency, yield, and quality. He was the chair of the International Society for Horticultural Sciences (ISHS) Division ‘Vegetables, Root and Tubers’ for eight years. Dr. Leskovar has authored +150 journal publications and is member of three editorial boards.	Improving Watermelon Performance Through Science Description: The interaction of genetics (G), environment (E) and management practices (M), or G×E×M for short, has direct or indirect effects on root/shoot growth, plant physiology, marketable yield and fruit quality traits. Once a certain watermelon variety is selected by the grower, crop growth, yield and the expression of fruit quality traits such as sweetness, color, or size will depend on: a) the environmental growing conditions of the location, b) seed and transplant quality, and c) selected crop management practices such as planting time, nitrogen fertilization, irrigation application, soil amendments, plant growth regulators, and harvest time. Designing efficient management strategies targeting nutritional, quality and yield attributes will benefit growers and consumers demanding high-quality watermelon fruits.	None
10:30-11:00am	Cody Zesiger, Assistant Extension Professor of Agriculture, Utah State University: Cody Zesiger is a Utah native living in Ogden with his wife and two daughters. He joined Utah State University Extension in 2019 after leaving the K-12 classroom. Cody's interests include the sustainable management of small family farms, weed ecology and management, and production horticulture.	Better Weed Management Option for Cucurbits Description: Weeds have been shown to reduce crop yield and quality. They also are hosts to six-legged pests and plant pathogens. All farms have weeds and to the chagrin of most growers, weed management is often a time-consuming and a never-ending process. This presentation will provide time saving strategies for IPM weed management in cucurbits and other vegetable crops.	None
11:00-11:30am	Nick Volesky, Utah State University: Nick works with the 'Integrated Pest Management' program team at Utah State University Extension. He scouts various vegetable production farms and sites for any signs of disease or pests. He sends out seasonal pest advisories, edit publications and fact sheets, along with develop web content, and design outreach programs to better help our farmers and home owners.	Insect/Disease Management Strategies for Cucurbits Description: This presentation will cover arthropods, diseases, and abiotic disorders commonly found within Utah’s cucurbit production. We will cover identification, monitoring, and management strategies.	Presentation Commercial Use Fungicide Options for Cucurbits Commercial Use Insecticide Options for Cucurbits Aphids of Vegetables (Fact Sheet) Cucumber Beetles (Fact Sheet) European Earwigs (Fact Sheet) Sap Beetles (Fact Sheet) Fusarium and Verticillium Wilts of Vegetables (Fact Sheet) Powdery Mildew on Vegetables (Fact Sheet) Utah Vegetable Production and Pest Management Guide (Guide Book) Vegetable Pests of Utah (Guide Book) Beneficial Insects of Utah (Guide Book) Using Row Covers for Pest Control (Webinar) How to Make Row Covers to Protect Plants from Pests (Video Tutorial) Companion Planting and Trap Cropping (Webinar) How to Scout your Garden for Pests (Video Tutorial) Squash Bugs (Fact Sheet) Squash Bug Management (Video Tutorial)
11:30am-12:00pm	Melanie Stock, Urban and Small Farms Specialist, Utah State University: Melanie is an Assistant Professor / Extension Urban & Small Farms Specialist in the Plants, Soils, and Climate Department at USU. As a soil scientist, her research targets improving cut flower production in the Intermountain West, small farm resource use efficiency – particularly soil fertility and water management, and urban soil contamination. She is also an avid urban homesteader.	Winter Squash Variety Trials at Utah State University Description: USU partnered with several states to trial winter squash over the past three years. Each year we trial 10 cultivars of a different type of winter squash. Today we will share our production methods and results of yield, quality, and storability for cultivars of kabocha (C. maxima), pumpkin (C. maxima), and acorn (C. pepo) squash.	None