612th Meeting New England Vegetable and Berry Growers’ Association

There is a $20 registration fee, which is waived for members of NEV&BGA. Lunch buffet is an additional $25.

To register, please RSVP to 978-423-6694 or by December 30th!  

9:00 Registration 

9:30  Sweet Corn Bird Control Innovations: Chris Clegg 4 Town Farm, Seekonk Mass has battled bird damage in sweet corn plantings in various ways in the past. Chris will discuss their decision to use custom netting to exclude not only birds but other pests for their retail sweet corn production, and how they have adapted their growing plan to accommodate the netting to grow a clean crop of sweet corn. 

10:15 Common Pest and Pathogens of Strawberries and Blueberries in New England: John Galvan UMass Extension Small Fruit Extension Educator- High quality strawberries and blueberries are crucial to many operations in New England. The ability to identify and diagnose pathogens and pest early is an important skill for growers to be successful. 

11:00 One Size Does Not Fit All- Devon Smolak, Eastern Shores Crop Insurance will uncomplicate the decision making process when it comes to selecting crop insurance for vegetable and fruit operations. Devon will offer a unique perspective with case studies of different operations and how they made a certain policy work for them. This will be an opportunity to ask questions to an actual crop insurance agent and offer feedback on what works for you and your operation and what does not.  

Noon LUNCH & Commercial Member introductions, extension updates, NEVBGA updates

1:15 40 Years of the Massachusetts Tomato Contest, What Varieties Stand The Test Of Time- 2025 was the 40th anniversary of the Massachusetts State Tomato Contest hosted by NEV&BGA and Mass Department of Agricultural Resources. The statistics of the highest ranking tomato varieties will be discussed, along with a panel of award winning tomato growers. 

1:45 Comparing Strawberry Bare Root Vs. Plug Systems and how to set yourself up for success- Heather Kase is the Regional Commercial Berry Specialist for Essex County in New York. Strawberry growers have been establishing plantings with bare root crowns for generations, but with the advent of commercially available plug plants, growers need to reevaluate their planting strategies. Cost, timing, and management strategies all differ between bare root and plugs, so tailoring your plan  will be essential to the success of this valuable spring crop. 

2:30 Winter legumes survival, growth, and nitrogen contribution in New England: Dr. Artie Siller is a UMass Extension educator specializing in healthy soil and cover crops- Warming winters may allow a wider range of winter legumes in New England. Unfortunately, winter survival, spring biomass growth, and nitrogen contribution can be inconsistent and the cover crops need to be well managed for maximum benefit. This NEV&BGA-supported research presentation will discuss the effect of species selection (hairy vetch, crimson and balansa clovers, or winter peas), planting date, and companion small grains on winter legume cover crop quality in MA, ME, and VT. 

3:15 Adjourn

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Host or Publisher New England Vegetable & Berry Growers Association