Ballroom C, Main Level
Chairs: Kristy Grigg-McGuffin, Erika DeBrouwer, OMAFRA
Sponsored by:

9:30 TBD
Dr. Todd Einhorn, Michigan State University, USA (TBC)

10:00 Ambrosia Beetle (TBD)
Justin Renkema, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

10:30 Non-fumigant Approaches to Pre-plant Management of Nematodes and the Apple Replant Complex and Their Compatibility with Soil Health-building Objectives
Dr. Tom Forge, Agriculture & Agri-food Canada

11:00 TBD
(TBC)

Sponsored by:

2:00 Orchard Economics
Alison DeMarree, DeMarree Farms

2:30 TBD
Jennifer DeEll, OMAFRA

3:00 In Orchard Diagnosis
Bernardita Sallato, Washington State University, USA

3:30 Fungi, Bacteria, Viruses, Oh My! How Pathogen Diagnostics Can Inform Your Disease Management
Katie Goldenhar, OMAFRA

Room 204, Second Level
Chair: John Molenhuis, OMAFRA

2:00 - 3:00 Recordkeeping with Cost of Production in Mind
David Cohlmeyer

3:00 Labour Hours & Costs – Tracking and Using for Decision-Making
Dusty Zamecnik, Tommy DeVos, EZ Grow Farms

3:30 COP Toolbox
John Molenhuis, OMAFRA

Room 203, Second Level
Chair: Dr. Jason Deveau, OMAFRA

2:00 The Importance of Calibrating a RPAAS
Dr. Jason Deveau, OMAFRA

2:30 TBD
Cindy Haughton, Flight Operations Transport Canada

3:00 TBD
Dr. Michael Reinke

3:30 TBD
TBD

Ballroom D, Main Level
Chair: Kevin Vallier, FFO

9:30-11:00 Agritourism Liability: Reducing the Lawsuit Risk
Rusty Rumley, The National Agricultural Law Centre, USA

11:00-12:00 pm What Does the Year Ahead Hold and How You Can Capitalize
Jo-Ann McArthur, Nourish Food Marketing

1:00-3:00 Cultivating a Culture of Engaged Teams - Workshop
Neil Thornton, The Thornton Group

Ballroom A, Main Level
Chair: Deanna Chakarova, St. Catharines Farmers’ Market

9:30 Safe Place and Code of Conduct
Lori Brunetta, City of St. Catharines

10:30 Food Sovereignty for Indigenous Communities: Virtual Tour
Angela Proudfoot, Canadore College (Livestream); Jesse Russell, Canadore College

11:30 Seven Strategies for Better Market
(Join us at lunch to learn more) – Melanie Anderson, ByWard Market District Authority

2:00–3:00 Farm Labour, Food Security and Farmers’ Markets
Anne Durst, Bry-Anne Farms, Erin McLean, McLean Berry Farms

Room 203, Second Level
Chair: Dr. Melanie Filotas, OMAFRA

9:30–10:30 Crop Overviews:
Speciality Crops - Evan Elford, OMAFRA
Fruit Crops - Kathryn Carter, OMAFRA
Vegetable Crops - Dennis Van Dyk, OMAFRA

10:30 Planning and Scheduling Vegetable Crops: Sweet Corn Case Study
Elaine Roddy, OMAFRA

11:00 Experiences in Starting a Farm in Ontario (TBD)
Gail Winters, Goodlot Farm & Farmstead Brewing Company

Room 201-202, Second Level
Chairs: Amanda Tracey, OMAFRA
Sponsored by:

9:30 Adapting to Aggressive Anthracnose in Peppers
Katie Goldenhar, OMAFRA

10:00 Fusarium in Fruiting Vegetable (TBD)
Dr. Brenna Aegerter, University of California, USA

10:40 Growers Choice: An Interactive Exchange on Insect Issues (TBD)
Dr. Thomas Kuhar, Virginia Tech, USA

Room 201-202, Second Level
Chair: : Travis Cranmer, OMAFRA

2:00 Improving Production Practices
Travis Cranmer, OMAFRA

2:30 Major Pests of 2023 and How to Manage Them in 2024
Travis Cranmer, OMAFRA

3:30 Incorporating Clean Seed into Your Farm
Travis Cranmer, OMAFRA

Ballroom B, Main Level
Chair: Stefan Larrass, OFVGA

9:30 TBD
TBD

10:00 TBD
TBD

10:30 TBD
TBD

11:00 TBD
TBD

2:00 TBD
TBD

2:30 TBD
TBD

3:00 TBD
TBD

3:30 TBD
TBD

Room 207-208, Second Level
Chair: Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA
Sponsored by:

9:30 Alternative Approaches to Weed Management
Dr. Lynn Sosnoskie, Cornell University, USA

10:00 Assessing Fungicide Resistance Across Vineyards in the U.S. and Canada
Dr. Tim Miles, Michigan State University, USA

10:30 Getting the Most for Your Systemic Fungicide Buck
Dr. Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA

11:00 Smart Vineyard Panel
Jennifer Phillips Russo, Cornell University, USA; Leandro Tomás, Vinomatos (TBC); Chuck Bareisch, Haggerty Robotics (TBC)

Chair: Kathryn Carter, OMAFRA

2:00 Soil Health in Vineyards
Dr. Deirdre Griffin LaHue, Washington State University, USA (livestream)

2:30 Cover Cropping Research in Vineyards
Jennifer Phillips Russo, Cornell University, USA

3:00 Varietal Plan for Ontario
Rob Gamble

3:30 Grower Panel: Thinking Outside the Box
Josh Mitchell, Hillside vineyards (TBC); Craig Wismer, Glen Elgin Vineyards (TBC); Liam Reeves, Stratus Winery

Room 206, Second Level
Chair: Emilia De Sousa, OPMA
Sponsored by:

9:30-10:30 A Fresh View on Branding: Insights for the Produce Industry
Brian Ettkin, Numerator

10:30-11:30 Storytelling That Sells: How Sharing Your Story Sells Your Business and the Sector
Christina Crowley-Arklie, Crowley + Arklie Strategy & Co.

Room 204, Second Level
Chairs: Dr. Tejendra Chapagain, Danny Jefferies, OMAFRA

9:30 Mapping Orchard Variability and Soil Attributes to Improve Site-Specific Management Decision Making
Bernardita Sallato, Washington State University, USA

10:00–11:30 PANEL On-Farm Soil Mapping and Technology to Improve Site-Specific Management
Liam Reeves, Stratus Vineyards; Ben Vermeulen, Vermeulen Farms; Friedhelm Hoffman, Lakeside Grain & Feed; Herman Visscher, MEN’s Farming Inc.

The Lounge, Second Level
8:00 am-9:15 am
Speaker: Alison Robertson, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
Sponsored by:

The Lounge, Second Level
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Sponsored by: