The 2017 Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association’s Conference will be held Nov. 15 and 16 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, WA, and registration can be done online at http://pnva.org/pnva-conference/.
The first day will be devoted to onions and general vegetables, with day two taking in pest management and organics.
The Onion Session will kick off at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 15 with a presentation entitled “What’s Now and What’s Next for Onion Producers and Marketers” featuring Kim Reddin, director of public and industry relations for the National Onion Association.
Following Kim at 9 a.m. will be Dr. Bill Cobb of Cobb Consulting with a look at “Abiotic Issues Impacting Onions.” And following Dr. Cobb will be Jill Wisehart, MEd, management analyst with the produce safety program for the USDA. Jill will speak on “Produce Safety Rules for Onions.”
The trade show will open at 10 a.m., and at 10:45 Dr. Ian Burke with the WSU Department of Crop and Soil Science will discuss “Impacts of Soils on Herbicide Sensitivity of Onions and Herbicide Options for Onion Production.”
That presentation will be followed by Dr. Stuart Reitz of Oregon State University at 11:15 a.m. with a look at “ Non-Thrips Arthropods Impacting Onions.” The morning sessions will conclude with the 11:45 presentation by Dr. Gina Greenway from the College of Idaho who will discuss “Cost of Production and Break Even Points.”
During the luncheon that begins at 12:15 p.m., Chad Kruger from WSU will speak on “The Effects of Climate Change on Pacific Northwest Agriculture.”
The sessions pick up at 1:30 with “Lessons from Onion Downy Mildew and Stemphylium Leaf Blight” presented by Dr. Lindsey du Toit, WSU Mt. Vernon NWREC. At 2 p.m. Dr. Carrie Wohleb and Dr. Tim Waters of WSU will look at “Thrips Biology and IYSV Basics.”
At 2:30 a second break is scheduled, with the trade show ongoing. “Nutrient Management for Dry Bulb Onion Production” will be presented at 3:15 by Dr. Andre S. Biscaro, Cooperative Extension Ventura County, and at 3:45 Dr. Lindsay du Toit will look at “Evaluating Irrigation Management and Bactericides for Internal Dry Scale and Bacterial Bulb Rots of Onion.”
The Columbia Basin Onion Research Committee will provide an update on current and future research projects at 4:15, and at the trade show social will get going at 4:45.
Featured Image: PNVA Conference tradeshow 2016
