IPM Update, Corn Heat, & Winter Greens
Twilight Farmers Meeting at Farmer Dave’s in Dracut MA

Time: Monday, March 14, 2011, 3:30 pm to 7:00pm

Location: Farmstand and greenhouses at Brox Farm, 1276 Broadway Road (Rte 113), Dracut, MA 01826-2813

Hosted by Dave Dumaresq

Sponsored by UMass Extension Vegetable Program

Join us for our first 2011 vegetable twilight meeting, hosted by Dave Dumaresq of Farmer Dave’s farm. Dave farms about 90 acres of vegetables and about 18,000 ft of heated greenhouse space, at three different locations including Bronx Farm in Dracut, MA. Dave uses greenhouses to grow flowers, winter and spring greens, greenhouse tomatoes, and vegetable transplants. Dave sells through two farm stands, several farmers markets, a summer CSA with many pickup locations, and some wholesale. Recently he has started selling through winter farmers markets and both winter and early spring CSA’s.

The full program will include:
•    Pre-season IPM update & weather monitoring information. Dave will describe innovative IPM techniques that he uses with assistance from crop consultant Jim Mussoni. Ruth Hazzard will introduce a new UMass Extension project that will offer basic and advanced training in specific IPM tactics, and Jon Clements will talk about our new network of weather stations and how you can use them to access on- line weather data and pest modeling and make more informed pest management decisions in both vegetables and fruit crops.

•    Corn burning furnace for greenhouse heat. This is the third winter that Dave has heated his warmest greenhouse with shelled corn. We will see his innovative heating system in action and discuss the costs, benefits, and challenges. We will review the economics of using corn for greenhouse heat, based on several years of economic data.

•    Growing & marketing greens in the wintertime. Farmer Dave’s has recently started growing and harvesting greens through the winter and early spring greens for a 10-week spring CSA using a sub- irrigation bench filled with compost and potting soil. Becky Sideman UNH Extension Veg. & Berry Specialist and UNH Extension Greenhouse Specialist Brian Krug will discuss their studies comparing benchtop production vs in-ground winter production for yield and energy use. Kate Donald from Seacoast Eat Local will talk about profitably marketing winter produce. Discussion of winter production and sales will continue over refreshments.

1 pesticide applicator recertification credits will be offered. Refreshments will be served.

Directions from Route 93: Take exit 46 for MA-110/MA-113 toward Lawrence/Dracut. At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto Lowell St. Slight right at MA-113/N Lowell St. Continue for ~2.4 miles, the farm stand will be on your right.

For pre-registration or more information contact Andy Cavanagh at 413-577-3976 or acavanagh@psis.umass.edu. Pre-registration is encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. Attendance is free.