Research

Upcoming Educational Opportunities

As the holidays approach and poinsettias hit the market, educational events in Ohio hit the ground running! Here are a few opportunities that you might be interested in attending:

50th Annual Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Conference and Show with the OSU Green Industry Short Course

December 5-8, 2016
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, OH

For 50 years, the OTF Conference & Show has offered quality education close to home. Our partnership with the OSU Green Industry Short Course has strengthened the conference by introducing more opportunities to increase your knowledge of trees and ornamentals. Whether you manage turf, trees or anything in between, the education conference is a can’t miss event for the serious professional.

For details and registration information, please visit: http://www.otfshow.org/home

Midwest Green Industry Xperience (MGIX) 2017 from the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

January 16-18, 2017
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, OH

MGIX 2017 features:

  • More than 90 education sessions led by national speakers comprise a wide variety of topics, from business and marketing best practices to design, irrigation, and lighting trends. Educators from The Ohio State University lead 24 sessions focused on horticulture, pest and disease management, and industry research.
  • Pre-conference sessions on Sunday, January 15 include Perennial Plant Association’s Annual P.L.A.N.T. Seminar, Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement Specialist Course by ICPI, and Landscape Business BootCamp by Greenmark Consulting.

For details and registration information, please visit: www.mgix2017.com

 

OSU Bioproducts Information Survey is Now Open!

Do you grow ornamental, fruit, or vegetable plants in a greenhouse, high tunnel or other structure? If so, The Ohio State University would like to invite you to participate in an industry-wide survey on bioproducts at http://go.osu.edu/ghbioproducts.  Your responses will provide valuable input to set research priorities and assist in the development of educational materials on bioproducts for the industry.  The survey will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes of your time.  For additional information, questions, or to receive a printed copy of the survey, please contact Beth Scheckelhoff, OSU Extension Educator for Greenhouse Systems at 419-592-0806 or at Scheckelhoff.11@osu.edu.  The electronic survey can also be accessed with your smartphone or other device here: QR CODE

2015 Greenhouse Growers Expo features sessions on diverse topics

The 2015 Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo, in coordination with the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo, will feature numerous sessions for greenhouse floriculture and vegetable growers. The Greenhouse Growers Expo will be held Dec. 8-9, 2015, at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Highlights of this year’s conference will include information on production practices, how to become more profitable and reduce inputs, and how to grow niche crops.

Entry-level employees will learn the fundamentals of floriculture crop production from Roberto Lopez of Purdue University. The session will be offered in Spanish and English. Growers and assistant growers will also be interested in:

  • Grower experiences with insect biocontrol for spring crops – a panel presentation
  • Greenhouse disease control update
  • Greenhouse insect control update and the latest neonicotinoid research results
  • Growing leafy greens and herbs in hydroponic systems
  • Keys to successful containerized herb production

Owners or general managers of greenhouse businesses will be interested in sessions on how to boost their profits, cut their input costs and learn how to manage their businesses. Owners or managers will be interested in:

  • How I grew my business: Recent adaptations we’ve made to stay competitive and profitable – a panel presentation
  • Conventional lamps or LEDs? Factors you should consider
  • Boomers or bust? Drawing GenX and GenY to the garden center
  • Marketing strategies for novices, intermediates and experts
  • Best performing annuals from the 2015 Michigan Garden Plant Tour
  • How to reduce your fertilizer use
  • MSU floriculture research update
  • Transitioning your business
  • Are using good bugs a cost-effective strategy for controlling insect pests of spring crops?
  • Labor sessions: Review of seasonal labor supply for Michigan specialty crops, H2A and MIOSHA consultation
  • Family business workshop: The Top Ten Mistakes that Break up a Family Business (Dec. 10)

In addition to the two talks on containerized herbs and leafy greens, greenhouse vegetable growers will be interested in the following sessions in the vegetable and general interests track:

  • Prepare now, sweat less later: Key elements of greenhouse sanitation
  • Cucumber production
  • Pollination in the greenhouse
  • Leafy greens production
  • Food safety: FSMA final rules, environmental sampling in packhouses, sanitizer options for dunk tanks
  • Food safety workshop (three-hour, hands-on workshop on Dec. 10, additional $25)

For an overview of the educational sessions at the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo, visit the 2015 Greenhouse Growers Expo website. Visit the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo website for additional information, including the large trade show and how to register.

Take the Greenhouse Bioproducts Survey Today!

The Ohio State University would like to invite you to participate in a survey on bioproducts used in the greenhouse production of ornamental and vegetable plants at http://go.osu.edu/ghbioproducts.  This survey will provide valuable feedback to set research priorities and assist in the development of educational materials on bioproducts for the industry.  The survey will involve approximately 10 minutes of your time.  If you would like additional information, have specific comments or questions, please contact Beth Scheckelhoff, OSU Extension Educator for Greenhouse Systems at 419-592-0806 or at Scheckelhoff.11@osu.edu.

Greenhouse Bioproducts Workshop

The rapid growth of the bioproducts market is outpacing the dissemination of knowledge on how to integrate these different products into a sustainable and profitable greenhouse production system. A coordinated effort is needed to address the research and educational needs of the greenhouse industry relative to bioproducts. This workshop will bring together industry and academic leaders to present research and develop a strategic vision for bioproduct use in the greenhouse industry. Participants will identify perceived obstacles to the adoption of bioproducts by the greenhouse industry and work to resolve these problems with targeted research projects and educational programs.

USE OF BIOPESTICIDES, BIOSTIMULANTS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS IN ORNAMENTAL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS

January 13-15th 2016
Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center
Columbus, OH

Bioproducts workshop flyer

WORKSHOP AGENDA:
January 13th, 2016
Research presentations and stakeholders panel discussion, FREE FOR THE FIRST 75 REGISTRANTS

  • Update on current use of biopesticides, biostimulants, and beneficial insects
  • Application technologies
  • Economic analysis – cost/benefits, consumer preferences
  • Stakeholders panel discussion – greatest benefits and barriers to the use of bioproducts in commercial greenhouses

January 14-15th, 2016
Grant development activities

  • Working groups with breakout sessions
  • SCRI proposal plan

To register, visit: http://go.osu.edu/bioreg

 

The following industry, academic, and greenhouse collaborators have confirmed their attendance to date:
DRAMM Corporation, AmericanHort, Biobest, BioWorks, Chase Agricultural Consulting, University of California Cooperative Extension, OSU Extension, C. Wayne Ellett Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic, IR-4 Ornamental Horticulture, USDA-ARS, The Center for Applied Horticulture Research (CA), Altman Plants (CA), C. Rakers & Sons (MI), Metrolina Greenhouses (NC), Green Circle Growers (OH)

For general workshop information contact Eileen Ramsay (ramsay.18@osu.edu).  For information on the SCRI grant development (Jan 14-15) contact Michelle Jones (jones.1968@osu.edu).  This workshop is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture SCRI Planning Grant – Award # 2015-51181-24284.