Strawberry School

Are you interested in growing strawberries as a commercial crop? Would this crop work well on your land? Would strawberries give a bump to your bottom line? Join UMass Extension and the New England Vegetable & Berry Growers' Association for a full-day workshop on strawberry production. There will be presentations, as well as plenty of time for questions and discussion amongst growers. Lunch will be included.

Strawberry School is designed to help people who are interested in strawberry production as a commercial enterprise.  Basic site requirements, site preparation, production systems, plant selection, care of young plants, nutrient management, pest management and will be presented by Dr. David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. 

Agenda

• The Strawberry Plant: What You Should Know
• Varieties
• Pre-plant Considerations and Preparation
• Matted Row Perennial Production
• Plasticulture Production: June-bearing Plants
• Plasticulture Production: Day-neutral Plants for Off-season Harvest
• Pest Identification and Management

Presenter

Dr. David T. Handley is the Extension Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist and a Cooperating Professor of Horticulture for the University of Maine. Dr. Handley has been based at the Highmoor Farm Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station in Monmouth since 1983, where he carries out applied research regarding berry and vegetable variety evaluation, production techniques and pest management strategies.  He coordinates statewide integrated pest management (IPM) programs for strawberries and sweet corn.  He is a member of the Maine Food Safety Team, and is certified to train farmers on meeting requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act.   Dr. Handley is the author of numerous Extension fact sheets, articles and newsletters, and co-editor of two regional small fruit production guides.