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Michigan Greenhouse Expo
November 8 and 9 in Lansing
- The annual Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo will feature two full days of activities Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 8 and 9 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich.
Educational sessions each day include sessions of the “Floriculture College of Knowledge” and breakout sessions. A trade show featuring 105 exhibitors will run from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Wednesday, November 8
The first session of the college of knowledge runs from 8 a.m. until noon. It will offer two tracks- disease management and growth regulators.
A breakout session from 9-10:30 a.m. will focus on the future of marketing floricultural crops,” featuring speakers Delilah Onofrey and Stan Pohmer. Onofrey’s topic is “Finding Your Place in a Changing Market.” She is the editor of Greenhouse Grower magazine. Pohmer, a consultant from Minnetonka, Minn., will talk about “Staking a Claim For Our Fair Share of Consumer Dollars.”
A 90-minute breakout session called “Sell the Experience and the Plants” starts at 10:30 a.m. The moderator will be Bridget Behe of Michigan State University’s (MSU) Department of Horticulture. Speakers will be Joe Colasanti of Colasanti Farms in Ruthven, Ont.; Chuck Massab of Massab Acres in Taylor, Mich.; and Michael Beck of Uncle John’s Cider Mill in St. Johns, Mich. These three retailers will discuss how they make the experience of shopping at their operations one of their major customer draws.
Dave Smitley of MSU’s Department of Entomology will conduct an insect update from 9 to 10 a.m. He will share his latest research findings, including data on new insecticides and biological controls.
From 10 to 10:45 a.m., MSU Extension agent Tom Dudek will discuss grower ideas to save labor and be more efficient. This presentation will cover what some Michigan growers have found to be useful in their operations. A wide range of grower-developed ideas will be discussed.
Three speakers will discuss new developments in cuttings from 10:45 a.m. until noon. Karl Batschke of Oglevee will discuss “Adding Scent and Sight to Mixed Containers.” John Gaydos of Proven Winners is set to give an update on three of his company’s newest varieties. Jack Williams of Paul Ecke Ranch will share details of the Flower Fields program.
The college of knowledge resumes from 2 to 6 p.m. Areas of study include root zone management and production of bedding plants.
Thursday, November 9
From 9 a.m. until noon, the “Floriculture College of Knowledge” will concentrate on seedling plug production and light and plant growth. Afternoon topics from 1-5 p.m. include insect management and forcing of perennials.
An update on MSU research will be presented from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m., and will be coordinated by Behe. Researchers will share their findings on six research projects funded by the Metropolitan Detroit Flower Growers Association and the Western Michigan Greenhouse Association. Projects include perennial disease management, greenhouse light and temperature management, thielaviopsis control, consumer surveys on purchasing plants, purple fountain grass production and biological control of fungus gnats.
Four breakout sessions are set for Thursday afternoon. Mary Hausbeck of MSU’s Department of Botany and Plant Pathology will give a disease update and discuss new fungicide product trials from 2:30-3:30 p.m.. From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., John Biernbaum of MSU’s Department of Horticulture will explain how greenhouse operators can determine their costs of production and crop profitability.
Allen Hammer of Purdue University’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture has a session from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on growth regulators in greenhouse flower production. Janet Macunovich, garden columnist for the Detroit News, will speak from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on perennials in demand for 2001.
For information, contact Convention Management Services at (800) 878-5131.
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