New resource: Weekly lunch chats with Midwest vegetable experts

Author: Natalie Hoidal, Extension Educator

In-person farm visits, field days, and other in-season educational opportunities canceled for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, our team is working to create new ways to keep in touch with growers to provide updates on nutrient management, insect and disease issues, and more throughout the season. While our Minnesota fruit & veg team is small, we are connected to some great networks of researchers and Extension educators across the Midwest and Great Lakes region. One of those groups is the Great Lakes Vegetable Working Group. 

Together with the GLVWG, we will be co-hosting a weekly lunch time 30 minute discussion every Wednesday about a current topic or issue relevant to vegetable farmers. These discussions will feature a 5 minute insect and disease update from a couple of states including Minnesota; you'll be able to see what insects and diseases to anticipate in the coming week, as well as a preview of pest issues that are showing up further south (many of which will eventually make it to MN). The next 15-20 minutes will feature a discussion of the week's topic with 2 content experts, and we'll leave 10 minutes at the end for discussion + Q&A. All sessions will be capped at 30 minutes so that growers can fit them in to lunch breaks. They will also be recorded for later listening. 

Our first session is next Wednesday May 6th at 11:30. Join us for a discussion of communicating your COVID-19 response plans to customers, and keeping employees safe. (If you're tired of talking about it, all future sessions will be non-COVID related). 

You can join us by visiting bit.ly/glvpnlive (Zoom link) at 11:30 on Wednesdays, or call in using the number 1-312-626-6799, password 936 7176 7610. 

Sign up for email updates or calendar reminders at www.glveg.net/listen.