Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association

The Vermont legislature enacted Act 182 in 2024, titled “An Act Relating to the Regulation of Neonicotinoid Pesticides.” The Act aims to regulate the sale and use of neonicotinoid treated seeds and neonicotinoid pesticides within Vermont to protect pollinator populations and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Learn about Vermont’s Act 182 related to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, and how it impacts sales and use of neonicotinoid treated seed and neonicotinoid pesticides. This law is similar to legislation in New York. Speaker: Stephanie Smith, Deputy Director, Public Health and Agriculture Resource Management Division, VT Agency of Ag. Food & Markets. Stephanie manages a team addressing the consumer protection side of agricultural inputs: feed, animal health products, seed, fertilizer, lime, soil amendments, nursery stock, and pesticides.FYI, 'neonics' include products containing Imidacloprid (Admire Pro, Confidor, Gaucho...)Thiamethoxam (Actara, Platinum, Cruiser...)Acetamiprid (Mospilan, Assail, TriStar 8.5 SL...)Clothianidin (Belay, Poncho, Dantosu...) ----All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Learn about research-based strategies to manage Alternaria, flea beetles, cabbage aphids and more. Speakers: Susan Scheufele, UMass Extension, Becky Sideman, UNH, and Ethan Grunberg, Cornell University Cooperative Extension. All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

WPS are intended to protect employees and others from exposure to pesticides. All farms that apply pesticides are required to follow the WPS. There have been changes to the WPS. This webinar explains what you need to do to be in compliance and how you can get assistance. Speaker: David Huber, Deputy Director, Public Health and Agricultural Resource Management Division, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. Michael Desrochers, Executive Director, Division of Fire Safety, will provide an overview of the Division of Fire Safety and describe the authority it has. He will describe different types of farm housing occupancy classifications, what DFS looks for in farm housing occupancies, what the expectations are, and owner and occupant responsibilities regarding safety. All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Living mulches can provide many soil health benefits and reduce erosion. Learn innovative strategies and how these practices impact yield. Speakers: Lincoln Fishman, Momentum Ag; Ash Loehr, Hurricane Flats, South Royalton; Jason Lilley, UMaine Extension. All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

What strategies are effective for mitigating excess water during wet years? There are a range of techniques to help your crops stay drier and more productive, ranging from field layout to subsurface drainage. Speaker: Joshua Faulkner, UVM Extension. All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

This webinar explores the spectrum of reduced tillage practices at all scales, covering equipment and methods that can improve soil health and save labor. Speakers: Julie Fine, American Farmland Trust; Natalie Lounsbury, University of New Hampshire.All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Growers and researchers are always inventing and refining methods of managing this very persistent pest. Explore mechanical bug beaters, data on delayed planting, and updates on spray efficacy. Speakers: Vic Izzo, UVM; Jon Cohen, Deep Meadow Farm, Ascutney; Goran Johanson Goranson Farm, Dresden, Maine; Phil Mason, Crossroad Farm, Post Mills.Beating Beetles Better: Mechanically Controlling Colorado Potato Beetlehttps://go.uvm.edu/cpbbeaterAll webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Growers will share cover crops mixes and sequences designed for pollinator habitat and soil health benefits. Speakers: Jake Kornfeld, (The Farm at VYCC, Richmond); Spencer Hardy, (The Farm Upstream, Jericho); Colin O’Brien (Common Roots Farm, S. Burlington); Laura Johnson, UVM Extension. Cover cropping for pollinators and beneficial insectshttps://xerces.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/15-054_01_SARE_Cover-Cropping-for-Pollinators%2BBeneficial-Insects_web.pdfPollinator Friendly Cover Croppinghttps://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/22-013_web-screen.pdfAll webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Growers will discuss planting style, comparing production costs, varieties, and pest and disease management. Speakers: David Marchant (Riverberry Farm); Kevin O’Dwyer (Langwater Farm, North Easton, Massachusetts).All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

This webinar will focus on organic management of multiple onion diseases (bacterial bulb rot, bacterial leaf blight, downy mildew, Stemphylium leaf blight) and thrips. Speakers: Christy Hoepting (Cornell Cooperative Extension) and Ann Hazelrigg (UVM).How to Diagnose Onion Bacterial Bulb Rothttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpmGHBUezVcHow to Identify Foliar Symptoms of Bacterial Diseaseshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTYmdIwjbaoAll webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Did you know that basic NAP coverage is free to underserved farmers? That's beginning farmers, low-income farmers, people of Color, women and veterans. You can also buy up the coverage. Learn how the program works, and how to get the most out of it if you ever need it. Speakers: Julie Jacque, (Farm Service Agency, Vermont) Jacob Mills (McDonald Farmstand, Danville).CCC-860 Form for free basic NAP coverage for “socially disadvantaged,” “limited resource, beginning or veteran farmer or rancher https://www.farmers.gov/sites/default/files/forms/farmersgov-form-ccc-socially-disadvantaged-cert-860-1-11-23.pdf NAP details link Julie referred to in presentation https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/noninsured-crop-disaster-assistance-related-information Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Have you ever wondered what an average yield for tunnel tomatoes is? Are you curious to know what other growers do for spacing, pruning, fertility, pest management, etc.? We'll share production benchmarks and simple things that could improve high tunnel yields. This webinar is supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Speakers: Christa Alexander (Jericho Settlers Farm, Jericho); Phoenix O’Brien (Hall Brook Farm, Maine), Cheryl Frank Sullivan (UVM).Work Platformshttps://manaculture.ca/en/Purdue High Tunnel cucumber Production Guidehttps://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/ID-521/ID-521-W.pdfTweaking Your Tomato High Tunnel- Vern’s NEVF Talkhttps://newenglandvfc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Tomatoes_Tweaking-TomatoTunnels-Vernon-Grubinger.pdfNew England Vegetable and Fruit 2024 proceedings & presentationshttps://newenglandvfc.org/2024-presentations-and-proceedings/Ventilation in Greenhouses and High Tunnels- UVM Ag Engineeringhttps://blog.uvm.edu/cwcallah/2019/08/14/ventilation-in-greenhouses-and-high-tunnels/Shade Cloth for Vegetable Production- University of Marylandhttps://extension.umd.edu/resource/trying-beat-heat-our-vegetable-production-systems/Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Growers share strategies for growing healthy, profitable certified organic plant starts, including crop selection, fertility, watering, and work efficiencies. This webinar is supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Speakers: Jack Manix (Walker Farm, Dummerston), Andrew Knafel (Clearbrook Farm, Shaftsbury), Eli Hersch, (Honeyfield Farm, Norwich). All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible! Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

See a short demonstration of how to set up your farm’s PYO listing, and what it looks like to potential customers. Q&A about using the platform. Hosted by Julie Callahan, UVM Extension.

UVM’s pest and disease specialists will host a session with strategies to help you avoid unwelcome problems this coming season. Margaret Skinner and Cheryl Frank from the UVM Entomology Lab will discuss how to prepare for high tunnel pests. Ann Hazelrigg from the UVM Plant Diagnostic Clinic will discuss early season diseases. Vic Izzo, senior lecturer in UVM’s Department of Plant and Soil Science will share strategies to avoid Colorado potato beetle this season. Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Sam Oschwald Tilton from Glacial Drift Enterprises in Minneapolis, MN will share principles of mechanical cultivation (Sam has been featured on the Thriving Farmer Podcast and has extensive experience with cultivation on all scales). Justin Rich from Burnt Rock Farm in Huntington will also join to share mechanical cultivation strategies and his favorite tools. Bring your own experience, ideas, and innovations to join this discussion! Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Wenjing Guan from Purdue University will talk about high tunnel cucumbers. She will discuss fertility, spacing, pruning, and a little about grafting. Andy Jones, Intervale Community Farm, Burlington and Christa Alexander, Jericho Settlers Farm, Jericho, will provide an overview of their high tunnel cucumber production practices. Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Are you a VVBGA grower in the process of building your farm’s production systems and markets? Are you trying to make the most of what you have, and apply your planning and development muscle where it counts? If so, don’t miss this grower-focused webinar on building production efficiency and market integrity through the lens of produce safety planning. Successful growers from VT and NH will share photos, and reflect back on planning for and building their own systems and markets. In addition, support program specialist Hans Estrin (VVBGA CAPS, UVM Extension) and Mary Choate, (Jumpstart Program, UNH Extension) will share photos of market-building essentials in action on other VT and NH farms.

What is on your mind as the new season begins? Join Vern Grubinger, Hans Estrin, Ann Hazelrigg, Laura Johnson, Becky Maden, Andy Chamberlin and fellow growers for a chance to ask questions and share ideas as the 2024 season kicks off. Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

What does a hamburger have in common with pollinator support? Come find out when you attend this webinar where we will also learn what a pollinator support plan is, take a tour of the pollinator support plan tool on the VVBGA website, and address questions about using the tool and creating a plan. Hosted by Laura Johnson Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org