Hemp a topic at Indiana Horticultural Conference and Expo

Hemp production, a hot topic in Indiana agriculture, will be covered from multiple angles at the upcoming Indiana Horticultural Conference and Expo on Feb. 11-13 in Indianapolis.

Bryan Parr of Legacy Hemp will focus on the production of hemp for grain and fiber. Farmers who grew hemp last year will share what they learned. Growing hemp for cannabinoids, licensing and pesticide use, and legal and insurance issues also are on the agenda at the annual conference. Speakers include experts from Purdue, Minnesota and Vincennes universities and the Bose McKinney & Evans law firm.

After the Indiana Vegetable Grower Association annual meeting, experts will discuss soil management, weed control, cover crops, pest management, and less commonly grown crops. Purdue experts Wenjing Guan, Petrus Langenhoven, Elizabeth Maynard and Stephen Meyers will speak, as will Steve Groff of Cover Crop Innovators. Researchers from Ohio State, Iowa State and Purdue will share insights about design, lighting and nutrient management in greenhouse and high tunnel production.

Urban agriculture makes its expo debut with a three-hour evening session. Attendees can also dive deeper into farm life by engaging in Farm 360 sessions where panelists will discuss farm health. Emphasis will be placed on farmers who are experiencing stress, succession planning, Farm 360, worker protection standards, and available grower and worker resources.

The conference is at the Indianapolis Marriott East, 7202 E. 21st St., Indianapolis. To review the agenda and register, visit https://www.indianahortconference.org/registration-pricing/. A limited number of exhibit booths are still available to purchase at https://www.indianahortconference.org/exhibitors/.

Contact Lori Jolly-Brown, events and communications coordinator for Purdue’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, at 765-494-1296, ljollybr@purdue.edu for additional information.