Session Details

​The following session details are from the 2023 Conference which has passed. Click on the presentation title below to view additional details about the session.

Session PowerPoints are being posted in PDF format on the Conference Archives page as they are provided/approved by the presenters. 

​Pesticide Recertification Credit: 16 of the sessions being offered at the 2023 Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo have been approved for Pesticide Recertification Credit. Look for the bug image below to see which sessions have been approved. Learn more about earning credits at this conference! ​

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8

BLOCK 1 (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)

Environmental factors to get nutritious crops
PRESENTER: Kellie Walters, University of Tennessee
TRACK: Controlled Environment

Controlled-environment agriculture gives us the opportunity to precisely control the growing environment to elicit our desired plant responses including enhancing phytonutrients. The problem is, what exact strategies should we use to enhance phytonutrients? In this session, we will share insights regarding how phytonutrients change with altered environmental conditions. Additionally, we will share some new data on consumer preference and willingness to pay for these enhancements.
LOCATION: Frost / Hawthorne
CREDITS: TBD

Biostimulants to improve plant health and quality
PRESENTER: Michelle Jones, Ohio State University
TRACK: Floriculture Disease & Pest Management

Biostimulants are products that can stimulate natural plant processes that increase nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to environmental stress, and crop quality.  Active ingredients in these products may include beneficial microorganisms, seaweed extracts, humic acids, protein hydrolysates, and many other substances.  How do you choose from all the available products and how do you incorporate them into your production system?  How is the efficacy of biostimulants affected by the greenhouse environment and other inputs? This session will address these questions and share current research results on different biostimulant products for both greenhouse ornamentals and vegetables.
LOCATION: Piscataquog and Merrimack
CREDITS: TBD

Perennials: Past, Present, and Future
PRESENTER: Paul Pilon, Director of Growing at Opel Growers
TRACK: Perennials and Natives

Growers, retailers and landscapers are not only looking for the best new perennials, they aim to offer the best of the best when it comes to their perennial offerings. Paul will share some perennial standouts from his travels revealing some underutilized gems, promising recent introductions and even a couple up and coming varieties.
LOCATION: Contoocook
CREDITS: TBD

Diagnóstico de Enfermedades y Desórdenes Abióticos/Diagnosis of diseases and abiotic disorders
PRESENTER: Rosa Raudales, University of Connecticut
TRACK: Spanish Session

This presentation will include a description of biotic and abiotic disorders in ornamental greenhouses. By the end of the presentation attendees will know how to the general guidelines to identify and manage disorders caused by plant pathogens, environmental factors, and nutrients imbalances.
LOCATION: Dartmouth
CREDITS: TBD

 

BLOCK 2 (10:30 AM - 11:30 AM)

Hydroponics: water quality to grow high-quality crops
PRESENTER: Rosa Raudales, University of Connecticut
TRACK: Controlled Environment

Water is a foundational component of hydroponics production. In this session, we will discuss the quality parameter that may affect crop health and how to manage these parameters to achieve high quality crops.
LOCATION: Frost / Hawthorne
CREDITS: TBD

What's new in the Biocontrol World
PRESENTER: Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, Buglady Consulting
TRACK: Disease & Pest Management

The market for biopesticides and beneficial organisms is expanding rapidly, leading to continuous product development. This presentation aims to provide you with the latest updates on new products, enhancements to existing products, and a glimpse into what we can expect in the future. Stay informed about the advancements in this evolving field during this informative session
LOCATION: Piscataquog and Merrimack
CREDITS: TBD

Perennials, Natives and Beagles
PRESENTERS: Peter Van Berkum, Van Berkum Nursery
TRACK: Perennials and Natives

Peter will discuss plants in the horticulture world, and help clarify terms such as open pollinated, cultivars, natives, and generally share a bit of his passion for plants.
LOCATION: Contoocook
CREDITS: TBD

Leer las etiquetas y el equipo de protección personal (PPE, por sus siglas en inglés)/Reading labels and PPE
PRESENTER: Anna Meyerhoff, New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health and Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety (NYCAMH/NEC)
TRACK: Spanish Session

In this session in Spanish we will review pesticide label information and basic first aid for emergencies, as well as how to use and care for personal protective equipment.

En esta sesión en español vamos a repasar la información que se encuentra en las etiquetas de los pesticidas, los primeros auxilios en caso de emergencia, y cómo usar y cuidar su equipo de protección personal (PPE, por sus siglas en inglés).
LOCATION: Dartmouth
CREDITS: TBD

 

BLOCK 3 (1:30 PM - 2:30 PM)

Strategies for growing high-quality herbs
PRESENTER: Kellie Walters, University of Tennessee
TRACK: Controlled Environment

Controlled-environment agriculture gives us the opportunity to precisely control the growing environment to elicit our desired plant responses. The problem is, what should that environment be? In this session, we will focus on culinary herb responses to temperature, light, CO2, and nutrient solutions both during propagation and throughout production. Learn how the production environment and cultural practices influence yield, color, flavor, and consumer perceptions. 
LOCATION: Frost / Hawthorne
CREDITS: TBD

Stopping Xanthomonas and Other Plant Spotters
PRESENTER: Margery Daughtrey, Cornell CALS
TRACK: Disease & Pest Management

Xanthomonas, Pseudomonas, Acidovorax and other fearsome sounding bacteria will be featured, along with rusts and downy mildews and fungal leaf spots plus powdery mildews. Learn how they are recognized, prevented and treated through using your wits, managing the environment, and deploying fungicides and biofungicides. 
LOCATION: Piscataquog and Merrimack
CREDITS: TBD

Growing and Selling Native and Naturalized Perennials for Pollinators
PRESENTER: Jane Sorensen, Northeast Pollinator Plants
TRACK: Perennials and Natives

This presentation will cover: The role and status of pollinators in the U.S.; What makes a good pollinator habitat; Building a pollinator plants niche for a nursery business; Selecting Plants to Grow and Sell; A Short List of Key Pollinator Plants; Accessing/Collecting Seeds; Techniques for Growing Native/Naturalized Perennials; Resources.
LOCATION: Contoocook
CREDITS: TBD

Regando Cultivos en Contenedores en Invernaderos y Viveros/Watering Containers in Greenhouses and Nurseries
PRESENTER: Mayra Toro-Herrera, University of Connecticut
TRACK: Spanish Session

In this presentation, we discuss tips on how to water containers properly, factors that affect irrigation frequency, the importance of maintaining a balance of water and air in the root zone, and how to communicate within a farm so that everyone waters the same way.
LOCATION: Dartmouth
CREDITS: TBD

 

BLOCK 4 (2:30 PM - 3:30 PM)

Food safety issues when growing greenhouse/CEA leafy greens
PRESENTER: Shirley Micallef, University of Maryland
TRACK: Controlled Environment

This presentation will discuss what we know and what we don't know about food safety issues of CEA grown leafy greens and ways to reduce risk.
LOCATION: Frost / Hawthorne
CREDITS: TBD

Dealing with Diagnosis
PRESENTERS: Nora Catlin, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County
TRACK: Disease & Pest Management

This interactive presentation will both quiz and teach attendees about the process of diagnosing plant problems, with a focus on plant diseases. Participants will be led through the process of diagnosis and will learn what to look for, what questions to ask, and how and where to seek help.
LOCATION: Piscataquog and Merrimack
CREDITS: TBD

Perennial trial results
PRESENTER: Eileen Anderson, Aris Horticulture, Inc.
TRACK: Perennials and Natives

This presentation will cover the last two years of trial garden results including head-to-head comparisons of new genetics with industry standards.  Trial ratings as well as visitor favorites will be highlighted.
LOCATION: Contoocook
CREDITS: TBD

Monitoreo de Plagas de Insectos y Ácaros en el Invernadero/Scouting for Insect and Mite Pests in the Greenhouse
PRESENTER: Carla Caballero, University of Connecticut
TRACK: Spanish Session

This session focuses on helping individuals with the identification of key greenhouse pests, their different life stages, and their plant damage.
LOCATION: Dartmouth
CREDITS: TBD

 

BLOCK 5 (4:00 PM - 5:00 PM)

Lighting up CEA crops
PRESENTERS: Neil Mattson, Cornell CALS; Roberto Lopez, Michigan State University
TRACK: Controlled Environment

CEA crops have different requirements for light quantity (daily light integral) . Mattson will discuss lighting requirements for the most common CEA crops and free online tools our e-GRO team has developed to calculate requirements for your crop. Lopez will talk about the effect of light quality (spectrum) in both the greenhouse and under sole-source lighting, giving examples for several CEA crops. In addition, he will discuss considerations for selecting lighting systems.
LOCATION: Frost / Hawthorne
CREDITS: TBD

Why can’t they just stay home? What’s new in invasive pests of ornamentals
PRESENTER: Elizabeth Lamb, New York State Integrated Pest Management Program, Cornell CALS
TRACK: Disease & Pest Management

It seems like the number of new invasive pest species just keeps increasing.  We’ll discuss some of the newer pests – box tree moth, spotted lanternfly, beech leaf disease, elm zigzag sawfly, Thrips parvispinus – and how to identify and manage them.
LOCATION: Piscataquog and Merrimack
CREDITS: TBD

You Grow Perennials, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
PRESENTER: Paul Pilon, Director of Growing at Opel Growers
TRACK: Perennials and Natives

It seems like perennials practically grow themselves in some instances; however, certain perennials require more work and attention to detail to produce high quality crops. In various roles (Grower, Horticultural Consultant, Technical Manager and Director of Growing) over the past three decades, Paul has certainly seen his share of good crops as well as a few less than admirable ones. In this webinar, he’ll be discussing how growers can lessen the pain from the all too common issues growers frequently face.
LOCATION: Contoocook
CREDITS: TBD

Trabaje con seguridad/Work Safely
PRESENTER: Anna Meyerhoff, New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health and Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety (NYCAMH/NEC)
TRACK: Spanish Session

This session in Spanish will provide information about how to prevent injuries and pesticide exposure while working in agriculture. Esta sesión en español proveerá información sobre cómo prevenir lesiones y exposición a pesticidas cuando trabaja en agricultura.
LOCATION: Room
CREDITS: TBD

 

RECEPTION & TOWN HALL (5:00 PM - 6:00 PM)

What’s New in Floriculture Breeding & Genetics
PRESENTERS: Jim Devereux, Chief Executive Officer of Green Fuse Botanicals; Gary Sainsbury, Account Manager at Syngenta Flowers; Stephanie Whitehouse, North American Product Manager at Dummen; Megan Bowman, Ph.D., Director of Research Operations, Ball Helix

View session details.
LOCATION: Pemigewasset

 

 

 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9

 

BLOCK 1 (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)

Pricing Strategies from a Grower/Retailer's Perspective
PRESENTER: Mark Adams, Adams Fairacre Farms
TRACK: Business and Marketing

50 years trying to sell garden products! The lowest price is not always the best. Learn about KV items, pay-by-scan, dynamic, dartboard and drip pricing.
LOCATION: Frost / Hawthorne
CREDITS: TBD

Outdoor Dahlia Production for Cut Flowers
PRESENTER: Stephanie Burnett, University of Maine
TRACK: Cut Flowers

Dahlias are an ideal cut flower for outdoor or high tunnel production. This talk will cover information about growing dahlias outdoors, including planting environment, techniques for staking, and considerations for protecting plants from the cold. Stephanie will also share results from a two-year trial at the University of Maine exploring which cultivars are suited for outdoor production in the northeast.
LOCATION: Dartmouth
CREDITS: TBD

Feeling a bit grey and fuzzy?
PRESENTER: Mary Hausbeck, Michigan State University
TRACK: Floriculture Disease & Pest Management

Botrytis has become one of producers’ biggest challenges in producing high quality plants. New research from Michigan State University shines a light on the reasons that this pathogen is creating such a fuzzy dilemma and how you can implement solutions that keep this grey mold away.
LOCATION: Piscataquog and Merrimack
CREDITS: TBD

Getting the most out of PGRS and new PGR combos with great promise
PRESENTER: Roberto Lopez, Michigan State University
TRACK: Floriculture Production

In this session Roberto will share the latest MSU research results on the effectiveness of foliar rooting hormone applications on difficult-to-root species to tips for consistent ethephon spray results. He will also show you the benefits of micro drenches for those that struggle keeping annuals and perennial in check with PGR sprays but are afraid of utilizing a drench due to the residual effects for consumers. Lastly, Roberto will discuss how PGR combos can lead to compact and well branched crops.
LOCATION: Contoocook
CREDITS: TBD

 

BLOCK 2 (10:30 AM - 11:30 AM)

Omni-Channel Plant Purchases: How are online and in-store plant purchasers and purchases different?
PRESENTER: Bridget Behe, Michigan State University - Retired
TRACK: Business and Marketing

For many plant buyers, making online purchases is not either in-store or online, it is both. Recent 2022 data of online and in-store plant buyers shows how they are different demographically and regarding the plants they buy. Bridget will also highlight how customer satisfaction differs between them. The results are useful to retailers with and still-thinking-about online sales.
LOCATION: Frost / Hawthorne
CREDITS: TBD

Pest Issues for Cut Flowers
PRESENTER: John Sanderson, Cornell University Entomology
TRACK: Cut Flowers

Managing insect and mite pests of cut flowers can be challenging, depending on the circumstances. This presentation will cover the identification and management options for many of the common insect and mite pests of cut flowers, as well as some not-so-common pests.
LOCATION: Dartmouth
CREDITS: TBD

They seek them here, They seek them there…. How to effectively scout a greenhouse
PRESENTER: Elizabeth Lamb, New York State Integrated Pest Management Program, Cornell CALS
TRACK: Disease & Pest Management

Knowing which insect, disease or weed pests you need to manage requires knowing which ones you have – but who has the time to spend looking?  There are ways to make scouting for pests more efficient and therefore more likely to get done AND be effective.  I’ll cover some tips for the major greenhouse insect and disease pests and for scouting in general.
LOCATION: Piscataquog and Merrimack
CREDITS: TBD

Success with Unrooted Cuttings From the Box to the Rooted Liner
PRESENTER: Roberto Lopez, Michigan State University
TRACK: Floriculture Production

In this session, Roberto will share step-by-step tips to help improve your success during annual and perennial cutting propagation. You will gain a better understanding of the ins and outs of rooting stages 0 to 4: from cutting arrival, storage, and handling to rooting, callusing, and toning.
LOCATION: Contoocook
CREDITS: TBD

 

BLOCK 3 (1:30 PM - 2:30 PM)

Effective Marketing on a Budget: The Most Bang for Your Buck!
PRESENTER: Maggie Bridge, Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses
TRACK: Business and Marketing

Learn about effective marketing strategy that stretches every dollar. Practical and proven, real world solutions to market your retail garden center, landscape services or even a B2B wholesale operation
LOCATION: Frost / Hawthorne
CREDITS: TBD

Scouting methods for greenhouse pests and beneficials
PRESENTER: John Sanderson, Cornell University Entomology
TRACK: Floriculture Disease & Pest Management

Accurate, timely, and consistent scouting for pests and diseases leads to peace of mind and cost savings, because scouting can provide early pest detection before problems get out of hand, can track pest levels through time to reveal population increases or decreases, and can provide the information needed to optimize pest management decisions. Scouting is the backbone of an IPM program. This presentation will cover the basics of a scouting program including the mechanics of setting up and conducting a scouting program in a greenhouse business; tools to use; where, when, and how often to scout; what to do with the scouting information; and how to detect signs of different pests and identify the most common pests.
LOCATION: Piscataquog and Merrimack
CREDITS: TBD

What's new in substrates, peat and alternative amendments
PRESENTER: Brian E. Jackson, North Carolina State University, Department of Horticultural Science
TRACK: Floriculture Production

The growing media industry, both retail and professional, is facing unprecedented demand, growth, popularity, and significance both domestically and globally. As the global demand for soilless substrates is projected to increase over 400% in the coming decades, coupled with transportation and supply chain uncertainties, future peat supply instability, sustainability concerns, and new growing markets for peat alternative substrates, we find ourselves facing many unique challenges and opportunities, many of which will be highlighted in this presentation.
LOCATION: Contoocook
CREDITS: TBD

 

BLOCK 4 (2:30 PM - 3:30 PM)

Managing through a labor shortage
PRESENTER: Erin Pirro, Farm Credit East
TRACK: Business and Marketing

Good help is so hard to find! And these days, it seems like there’s never enough. Join Erin Pirro in this strategic planning session to discuss different ways to make sure all the important things get done in your business, even when you’re shorthanded.
LOCATION: Frost / Hawthorne
CREDITS: TBD

Don’t let your roots rot!
PRESENTER: Mary Hausbeck, Michigan State University
TRACK: Floriculture Disease & Pest Management

Roots can begin to decay long before being noticed. Soil-loving pathogens may instigate root invasion at any time during the crop’s development and if uncontrolled for too long, the damage is irreversible. A combination of new and established tools are the best defense and will be discussed in this program.
LOCATION: Piscataquog and Merrimack
CREDITS: TBD

The basics of sensing media moisture and ways to manage irrigation
PRESENTER: John Lea-Cox, University of Maryland
TRACK: Floriculture Production

Timing irrigation applications to optimize plant-available water -- and yet minimize leaching and loss of nutrients from the rootzone is the “holy grail” of irrigation management.  Irrigation systems that apply water on a timed schedule typically rely on active (human) management which is labor intensive and usually not very precise. However, recent advances in sensor-based techniques and especially software capabilities now allow us to cost-effectively achieve highly precise water and nutrient applications, based on real-time substrate and environmental measurements. This presentation will cover the basics of how this is achieved, and demonstrate the impacts of better irrigation on crop yield, disease incidence, and nutrient management.
LOCATION: Contoocook
CREDITS: TBD

 

BLOCK 5 (3:30 PM - 4:30 PM)

Lessons from the International Retail Garden Congress in The Netherlands
PRESENTER: Bridget Behe, Michigan State University - Retired
TRACK: Business and Marketing

Every year (except during COVID-19) the International Retail Garden Centre Association convenes a tour of the best retail garden centers in one country. The association has active members from five of seven continents and the meeting in 2022 was held in The Netherlands. From cool signage to new products, the dozen retailers we visited showcased trends only beginning to emerge in the U.S. Sustainability was the key theme of likely the last Floriade (International Horticulture Show) but did not disappoint. Bridget will share many of the trends she observed there for you to capitalize on.
LOCATION: Frost / Hawthorne
CREDITS: TBD

Pesticides and beneficials - How to get the best of both worlds in your operations
PRESENTER: Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, Buglady Consulting
TRACK: Floriculture Disease & Pest Management

In modern pest management programs, a combine conventional pesticide, biopesticides, and beneficial organisms such as mites, insects, and nematodes are commonly used. One challenge lies in effectively integrating these diverse components together to maximize on their individual benefits. During this session, The Buglady will address the strategies for combining these tools and optimizing the potential of each product.
LOCATION: Piscataquog and Merrimack
CREDITS: TBD

Top 10 tips for saving water/fertilizer
PRESENTERS: Neil Mattson, Cornell CALS; Stephanie Burnett, University of Maine
TRACK: Floriculture Production

We will share tips for saving water, fertilizer, and money without sacrificing plant quality. The range of approaches we discuss will help growers who are looking for quick, inexpensive fixes or those who are ready to make a big change in their approach to irrigation and fertilization.
LOCATION: Contoocook
CREDITS: TBD

Pesticide Recertification Credit

​Sessions with this insect image next to the presentation title have been approved for (1) Pesticide Recertification Credit per session. 

Pesticide applicator recertification credits will be available at the conference for the six New England states plus New York. A total of 16 one-hour presentations (credits vary by state) will be offered that are eligible for credits. If you want to earn recertification credits, attend the appropriate sessions. Check at the Pesticide Credit Information Table outside the meeting rooms to determine the process you should follow to complete credit submission for your state. All applicators should check in at the pesticide credit information table BEFORE you attend a session! ​Below are approved license categories by state:

Key to New York (NY) license categories:
1a=Agricultural Plant
3a=Ornamental and Turf
24=Greenhouse and Florist
25=Nursery, Ornamentals and Turf

Key to New England (NE) license categories:
26=Greenhouse (private license)
29=Nursery (private license)
31=Vegetable (private license)

Key to New Hampshire (NH) license categories:
Private Category