Field Night for Berry Growers

Tips for New Growers and Fresh Ideas for Commercial Growers

News Release – July 3, 2000
Jerry Wright, Extension Engineer, University of Minnesota, Morris, Minnesota

Start-up tips for establishing a commercial blueberry planting and new ideas for maintaining an existing blueberry operation will be shared Wednesday evening, August 2nd, at the Central Lakes Ag Center in Staples starting at 6:00 p.m. The registration desk will be open at 5:30 p.m. at the University of Minnesota blueberry plots.

A registration fee of $3 per family will be collected at the door for handouts and refreshments including blueberries and ice cream at the end of the meeting. If raining, the meeting will be held indoors.

Topics on marketing, cultural, irrigation and organic production practices will be discussed by University of Minnesota faculty, a blueberry grower, and a Minnesota Department of Agriculture specialist.

Field night will start with a discussion on checking out the local market potential by Larry Zilliox, Extension Educator from Douglas County. Berry grower, Jerry Neseth, from Perham will share his experiences learned over the years with blueberry production. MDA Ag Marketing and Development specialist, Kevin Edberg will lead a discussion on new tools and techniques to increase blueberry markets. University of Minnesota Horticulturist, Dave Wildung, from the North Central Research and Outreach Center, will present information on soil pH, cultivars, spacing, fertility, weed control, mulch and organic production system alternatives. Irrigation options will be shown by Jerry Wright, Extension Engineer, from the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris.

Field night is co-sponsored by the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Central Region Partnership and Central Lakes Ag Center. For more information, contact local Extension office, LaVonne Blackwell, 218-894-5196 (Central Lakes Ag Center-Staples) or Jerry Wright, Extension Engineer, jwright@umn.edu or 320-589-1711 (Morris).

Co-Editors: Bill Hutchison, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, hutch002@tc.umn.edu
Jeanne Ciborowski, IPM Program, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, jeanne.ciborowski@state.mn.us
Cindy Tong, Department of Horticulture, University of Minnesota, ctong@extension.umn.edu
Production Editor: Suzanne Wold, Research Specialist, University of Minnesota, woldx018@tc.umn.edu

Disclaimer
Reference to products in this publication is not intended to be an endorsement to the exclusion of others which may have similar uses. Any person using products listed in this publication assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer

Last Revised July 13, 2000.
The University, including the Minnesota Extension Service, is an equal opportunity educator and employer.©1999 Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Contact copyright@extension.umn.edu for information on reproduction or use of this material.