The Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo will feature educational sessions on growing greenhouse vegetables on November 8, 2018. 

• Choosing Varieties for Greenhouse Leafy Greens and Vegetables, Andrew Mefferd, Growing for Market Magazine
• Maximize Vine Crop Production with Proper Environmental Control, Richard McAvoy, University of Connecticut 

Andrew Mefferd has been the editor and publisher of Growing for Market magazine since 2016. Before that, he spent seven years in the research department at Johnny’s Selected Seeds, traveling internationally to consult with researchers and farmers on the best practices in greenhouse growing. For more about the magazine, visit www.growingformarket.com. 

​Dr. Richard McAvoy received his PhD from Rutgers University.   He joined the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture at the University of Connecticut as Extension Specialist for Greenhouse Crops in 1988.  He has served as Professor and Department Head since 2011. Dr. McAvoy’s research has focused on issues related to greenhouse crop production. 

​Dr. Chieri Kubota is a professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, the Ohio State University. Dr. Kubota received Ph.D. in Horticultural Engineering and M.S. in Horticultural Science from Chiba University, Japan. Dr. Kubota worked as faculty for 6 years in Chiba University, 16 years in University of Arizona and recently joined the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at the Ohio State University. Her research program focuses on the development of science-based technologies in the area of controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Dr. Kubota’s research includes value-added grafting, soilless strawberry production, as well as LED lighting applications. 

​Rosa E. Raudales is an assistant professor in Plant Science at the University of Connecticut. Rosa received a Ph.D. in Horticulture from the University of Florida, a M.Sc. in Plant Pathology from The Ohio State University, and a B.Sc. in Agricultural Science and Production Systems from Zamorano University. Rosa’s research program focuses on understanding how to use low-quality water for irrigation of greenhouse crops. The Raudales team conducts research on control of plant pathogens in closed-loop hydroponics, evaluating factors that affect clogging of irrigation systems, safe use of reclaimed-water, and water treatment options for control of pathogens, algae, biofilm and residual chemicals.  Rosa’s research and outreach program address management of biological, chemical and physical parameters in water that affect the plan health and irrigation efficiency of greenhouse crops.
Follow Rosa on Instagram @rosaraudales or Twitter @RaudalesLab 

​Ronald Valentin was born in the heart of the greenhouse industry in the Netherlands. His family owned a greenhouse operation and his father started using biological control in 1971. At a very young age, Ronald developed an interest for the “bugs” and as a teenager; he was managing and producing the biological control agents for the family greenhouse operation. After finishing his education in crop protection management, biochemistry and vegetable production at State Secondary College of Agriculture in De Lier the Netherland, he embarked on a career in biological control in 1986. Over the years, Ronald has worked with many growers to set up sustainable and effective pest management programs with as a focus to use BCA’s as a first line of defense. Ronald is currently Technical Lead and Commercial Manager for Bioline Agrosciences in North America and Director for Bioline Canada Inc.

​Paul Sellew has over 30 years of experience developing and leading successful companies, Paul has built a career on his belief in sustainable agriculture. As the founder of Backyard Farms, he brought locally-grown tomatoes to the East Coast market. Paul also founded and served as CEO of Harvest Power, North America's largest processor of organics. Paul holds a BS in Horticulture from Cornell University.

​The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management. 

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @negreenhouse and look for our hashtag #negreenhouse on Twitter.

For information about registration, contact Delaney Meeting & Event Management, Phone: 802-865-5202, [email protected], http://www.negreenhouse.org 

The Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo will feature educational sessions on starting hydroponic leafy greens and herb production on November 7, 2018.

• Production Systems for Leafy Greens and Herbs, Neil S. Mattson, Cornell University
• Nutrient Solution and pH Management for Hydroponic Crops, Ryan Dickson, University of New Hampshire

Space is limited, requires pre-registration. See the whole program schedule at http://www.negreenhouse.org.

​Neil S. Mattson joined Cornell University in 2007 and is currently an associate professor and greenhouse extension specialist in the School of Integrative Plant Science. His research is focused on the physiology of both floriculture and vegetable crops in controlled environments. Research interests include supplemental lighting strategies to improve crop quality and reduce greenhouse energy use, conventional and organic nutrient management, and plant abiotic stress physiology. Mattson is director of Cornell Controlled Environment Agriculture group. He has a PHD from University of California Davis.

​Ryan Dickson is the State Extension Specialist for Greenhouse Management and Technologies at the University of New Hampshire. Ryan has a PhD in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida.

The Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo will feature educational sessions on advanced biocontrol on November 7 and 8, 2018. 
On Wednesday, November 7th 

• ID of Key Insects and Mites, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, Buglady Consulting
• Making the most of Biopesticides in your Crop Production System, Michael Brownbridge, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

On Thursday, November 8th 

• Evaluating Biological Control Recommendations, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, Buglady Consulting  
• Next Generation Biological Control - Coming Soon to a Greenhouse near You?  Michael Brownbridge, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

See the whole program schedule at http://www.negreenhouse.org. 

Meet the Presenters 

• Suzanne Wainwright-Evans is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in entomology and environmental horticulture. She has been working in the horticulture industry for more than 25 years.  Her focus has been on biological control and using pesticides properly.  Suzanne has worked throughout the United States and internationally consulting to greenhouses, nurseries, and gardens.   She is the owner of Buglady Consulting, now in business for 16 years. 
• Michael Brownbridge received his Ph.D. from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in the UK and has worked in biological control and crop management systems for over 25 years. His work has taken him to positions in Israel, Kenya, the USA and New Zealand prior to joining the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Canada as Research Director, Horticultural Production Systems in July 2009. He leads a diverse research team and an industry-focused portfolio of projects on production, biological control and integrated management systems for greenhouse, nursery, landscape and field vegetable crops.

Pesticide recertification credits will be available for the six New England states plus New York; however, the number of credits may vary by state. 

The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management. 

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @negreenhouse and look for our hashtag #negreenhouse on Twitter.

This session will feature:

• Propagating Perennials - Stephanie Burnett
• Natives, A Grower’s Perspective - Peter van Berkum
• Nutrient Management with Herbaceous Perennials - Sinclair Adam
• Biocontrol in Perennials for Indoor and Outdoor Production - Roger McGaughey
• Deer Resistant Plants - Sinclair Adam

Meet the presenters:
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Stephanie Burnett is an associate professor of horticulture at the University of Maine in the School of Food and Agriculture. She graduated with a B.S. in Zoology, a M.S. in Horticulture from Auburn University, and a Ph.D. in Horticulture from the University of Georgia. Her research focuses on greenhouse irrigation and fertilization; she is also working on improving propagation systems and protocols.

Peter van Berkum holds a degree in Plant Science from UNH. He studied horticulture for a year in the Netherlands. He and his wife Leslie started Van Berkum Nursery 30 years ago, and currently supply natives and other perennials to the northern New England wholesale market. Peter was a recipient of the 2012 Perennial Plant Association Grower of the Year award.

Sinclair Adams is an extension educator in floriculture with Penn State Extension, based in Lebanon County PA, and flower trial director since 2013. He has received a B.S. from the Univ. of Wyoming in Plant and Soil Science, and a M.S. from the Univ. of Vermont in Plant and Soil Science. Holder of 15 plant patents, Sinclair has developed Tiarella, Chrysanthemum, and Phlox selections for industry, and is a member of ASHS, PPA, Pi Alpha Xi, & the Hardy Plant Society.

Roger McGaughey is the head grower at Pioneer Gardens in Deerfield, MA. He has a B.S. in Horticulture from Reading University (Grade Second Class Honors). Roger has 44 years of experience as a grower and is a columnist for GrowerTalks magazine.

The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management.

The Basic Production Skills session (November 7, 2018) at the NEGC will feature four presentations on the fundamentals of greenhouse production. These presentations are appropriate for new growers or experienced growers interested in learning training topics. 

• 9:00 am - Controlling Height: Chemical, cultural and environmental approaches,  Christopher J. Currey, Iowa State University
• 10:30 am - The art and science of watering, Rosa Raudales, University of Connecticut 
• 1:30 pm - Managing the greenhouse environment: Light, temperature, carbon dioxide, and humidity, Christopher J. Currey, Iowa State University 
• 2:30 pm - Nutrient management: Fertilizers and substrates, Ryan Dickson, University of New Hampshire 

Meet the presenters:

Christopher J. Currey is an assistant professor of Horticulture in the Department of Horticulture at the Iowa State University, specializing in greenhouse and controlled-environment crop production. Chris received his B.S from the University of Minnesota. After graduating he went to work as a commercial orchid producer in Minnesota, and was also a horticulturist for the National Park Service, growing native plants for restoration at Glacier National Park. After realizing he wanted to teach, conduct research, and work with commercial growers, he went back to the University of Minnesota for his M.S. and the received his Ph.D. in from Purdue University. Chris has responsibilities in teaching, research, and Extension. He teaches courses on greenhouse operations and management, hydroponic food crop production, floriculture crop production, and landscape crop production. Chris’s greenhouse crop and controlled-environment research is focused on providing research-based best-management practices to support commercial producers of ornamental and food crops to improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability using and managing light, temperature, mineral nutrition, and plant growth regulators.

Rosa E. Raudales is an assistant professor in Plant Science at the University of Connecticut. Rosa received a Ph.D. in Horticulture from the University of Florida, a M.Sc. in Plant Pathology from The Ohio State University, and a B.Sc. in Agricultural Science and Production Systems from Zamorano University. Rosa’s research program focuses on understanding how to use low-quality water for irrigation of greenhouse crops. The Raudales team conducts research on control of plant pathogens in closed-loop hydroponics, evaluating factors that affect clogging of irrigation systems, safe use of reclaimed-water, and water treatment options for control of pathogens, algae, biofilm and residual chemicals.  Rosa’s research and outreach program address management of biological, chemical and physical parameters in water that affect the plan health and irrigation efficiency of greenhouse crops. Follow Rosa on Instagram @rosaraudales or Twitter @RaudalesLab 

​Ryan Dickson is the State Extension Specialist for Greenhouse Management and Technologies at the University of New Hampshire. Ryan has a PhD in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida.The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management. 

The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management. 

The Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo is thrilled to announce that Carmen Johnston, nationally renowned garden lifestyle expert and founder of Carmen Johnston Gardens, will keynote their 2018 Conference and Expo.
Carmen, who specializes in commercial and residential landscape and garden design, is also an authority in event and wedding design. Carmen is a Southern Living Garden Lifestyle Expert, and she regularly contributes to the magazine as well as others such as Real Simple, etc.
During this exciting session, Carmen will forecast the latest gardening trends and discuss one of the most important aspects of the business: social media.
In the ever-expanding world of digital media, to be successful, growers and retailers, alike, have to utilize social media. Not only is social media necessary from a business perspective, but it is also dictating the trends in gardening. These days, the ideas clients bring to the table are often those they have found while scrolling through Facebook or Instagram. In this exciting session, Carmen Johnston, nationally renowned garden lifestyle expert, will share the secret to social media success and illustrate how it is forecasting the future of gardening.
The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management.
Exhibit space and sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Karen Forbes at [email protected].
Attendee registration will open in August.
Follow “negreenhouse” on Instagram and Facebook and look for our hashtag on Twitter.

​The Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo held on November 9 and 10, in Boxborough, MA was a great success with over 800 attending.

Sue Adams (NEF President), Mark Adams Greenhouses in Poughkeepsie, NY hosted the Dazed and Infused Educational Cocktail the evening before the conference. According to Sue, "Everyone loved the Rosemary Infused White Wine Sangria."

The educational sessions on pest management were all well attended. Dan Gilrein, Extension Entomologist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County is sharing Tips on Thrips, Pot Drips, Mite Blips and Neonic Hit, Management Matters, from 2016.

Spanish language sessions were held for the first time and were much appreciated. Carlos Bogran, Technical Manager from OHP is sharing his knowledge with everyone.

5-5-5 Best Ideas for Marketing Grower Panel featured 5 panelists, including Sue Adams, Kirsten Smith Maskell, Teri Boardman, and Dustyn Nelson who shared what worked to attract customers and attract sales.

Inspiring and right to the point. Great session!

Thank you to our 2016 conference sponsors and exhibitors! Thank you for joining us and to everyone who helped make the conference a success.

New England greenhouse growers have long relied on the New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide, for its unbiased, detailed information about insect and mite management, disease prevention and management, weed control, and plant growth regulation. The Guide is updated every two years to ensure that it provides up-to-date information about crop management methods and products. The 2017-18 edition will be available at the 2016 Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo, 9-10 November 2016, at the Holiday Inn Boxborough, in Boxborough MA.

In addition to updated recommendations, the new edition presents:

• An updated discussion of Best Management Practices to minimize the threat to bees and other pollinators.
• An update on OSHA’s Worker Protection Standard, reflecting the changes that will become effective in January 2017. This information is invaluable to all greenhouse owners and pesticide handlers.
• A greatly expanded section on biological controls, which provides details for beginners as well as for experienced pest managers looking for new research based information.
• The pest and problem identification website, maintained by Guide contributors Leanne Pundt of University of Connecticut and Tina Smith of University of Massachusetts, is continually updated to include emerging pest problems. You can access it online at: http://negreenhouseupdate.info/photolibrary. This resource provides photographs and descriptions of cultural problems, diseases, insects, mites, nutritional disorders, weeds and algae. It also presents photos of biological control agents, and symptom look-alikes.

The Guide is updated every two years by floriculture faculty and staff from the six New England State Universities, and is published by New England Floriculture, Inc.
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The 2017-18 edition of the Guide will be available to attendees of the Northeast Greenhouse Conference at a special conference price of $30 per copy. After the conference, it will be available for $40 per copy via the Northeast Greenhouse Conference website, and from the Extension publication offices of the Universities of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.