Jan 22, 2017

Greenhouse tomato course set for March 7-8

Greenhouse tomato growers and other interested individuals are invited to attend the 27th annual Mississippi Greenhouse Tomato Short Course March 7-8.

Experts with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, and Auburn University will present the latest production information. Experienced growers and industry professionals from around the U.S. also will speak.

The short course will be at the Eagle Ridge Conference Center, located at 1500 Raymond Lake Road in Raymond.

The event teaches both production and business aspects of growing greenhouse tomatoes. It attracts participants from the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Topics include marketing, alternative crops, alternative heating options, using grafted tomato plants, budgets for greenhouse growers, components of the greenhouse system, greenhouse design and engineering, and using social media for business marketing. A pest management workshop will cover physiological disorders, pest management, diagnosing plant problems, and plant disease identification and control.

Participants also will tour a local, diversified greenhouse vegetable business that produces tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce.

Exhibitors from across the U.S. and Canada will display and demonstrate their products.

Advance short course registration is $200 per person and must be received by Feb. 20. Registration at the door is $225. Credit cards are not accepted at the door. Registration includes coffee, refreshments, lunch both days, Extension publications and a Greenhouse Tomato Short Course cap.

Advance exhibitor registration is $375 and must be received by Feb. 20.

Participants and exhibitors can register on the Greenhouse Tomato Short Course website or print a mail-in registration form at http://greenhousetomatosc.com.

For more information, visit the Greenhouse Tomato Short Course website or email Rick Snyder at [email protected], or call 601-892-3731. Mississippi growers can contact the local MSU Extension Service office.