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Antigo, WI — The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) will host the 2012 University of Wisconsin-Extension (UW) and WPVGA Grower Education Conference and 63rd Annual Industry Show in Stevens Point, Wisconsin from January 31 through February 2, 2012. Over 500 potato growers and industry members from throughout the United States and Canada will attend the three-day conference held at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center.
“We’ve made some remarkable advances in sustainability, storage management, and Potato Early Dying (PED) research over the past year that I think the industry will be very interested in,” notes Duane Maatz, Executive Director of the WPVGA. “Our growers work extensively with UW researchers – the majority of whom will be presenting their research at the conference. In addition, we’ll have industry experts from around the nation presenting research findings that are critical to growers.” Notes AJ Bussan, Associate Professor in the Horticulture Department, UW-Madison, “The WPVGA has worked extensively with the UW research and extension team to come up with a dynamic agenda that will help producers cope with management, policy, and potential marketing issues that will arise in 2012.”
Presenters include:
* Leslie Wanner of the USDA-ARS Vegetable Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland will present findings about the potato common scab.
* David Douches of Michigan State University will provide a biotechnology update concerning genetic engineering and genomics.
* David Moll of the UW Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics will provide an overview of grain markets.
* John Toaspern of the United States Potato Board will discuss agribusiness export opportunities.
* John Panuska of UW Biological Systems Engineering will discuss the latest irrigation scheduling tool.
* Jed Colquhoun of the UW Horticulture will present on sustainability certification and weed management.
* AJ Bussan of the UW Horticulture will discuss optimization of potato production systems.
Breakout sessions will focus on seed production, variety development, advances in storage, groundwater issues, agribusiness management, PED, trait selection, drought resistant crops, soil borne disease and new quality control technologies. Indoor and outdoor exhibition areas will feature large agricultural equipment.
Attendees will also network at evening events where they can win prizes and meet Green Bay Packer, and motivational speaker, Blaise Winter.
The 2012 agenda can be found on the WPVGA website (http://www.wisconsinpotatoes.com).
About Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA)
Established in 1948, the WPVGA is headquartered in Antigo, Wisconsin. WPVGA provides grower education, government support, environmentally sound research and consumer education for 150 grower organizations across the state. WPVGA is responsible for expanding the Wisconsin potato markets through advertising, promotion and research. WPVGA also supports the Wisconsin Healthy Grown® initiative – reduced crop protection inputs, integrated pest management, sustainable farming practices overseen by Protected Harvest, an independent oversight organization. http://www.wisconsinpotatoes.com.
