The Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative is hosting the 15th Annual Upper Midwest Hazelnut Growers Conference March 22-23 at The Grand Event Center in Northfield, Minnesota.
Join growers, researchers, and other nut enthusiasts for two days of lively hazelnut production research and agroforestry presentations, discussions, and delicious food.
The festivities will start in the afternoon of March 22 with a visit to the University of Minnesota’s 7-acre hazelnut breeding field at Rosemount. Early spring before leaf-out is an excellent time to observe Eastern Filbert Blight, bush architecture and size, and flowering.
The field visit will lead to an evening of networking, hors d’oeuvres, and live music. A vendor showcase will feature exhibits from growers and other organizations throughout the conference beginning Friday afternoon. The evening networking event is in collaboration with the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, whose annual Regenerative Poultry Convergence in Northfield will conclude Friday afternoon.
A series of mini-presentations on Friday night will allow attendees to become acquainted with agroforestry techniques, options for purchasing hazelnut plants, and potential future funding opportunities. If you are interested in sharing about your work or hazelnut-related business at the Friday night event, sign up for a 10-minute time slot by contacting Greg Schweser at [email protected].
On March 23, the day kicks off with a welcome and opening statement from University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative Director Dr. Don Wyse. The morning features research updates on topics including propagation, irrigation, and entomology as well as discussions of hazelnut cultivars and flavor compounds.
Following a catered lunch, the afternoon will bring discussions of seed-based strategy including genomic prediction models and genetic improvements. Two industry development sessions will round out the day with representatives from the American Hazelnut Company and other partner organizations who will discuss new agroforestry funding opportunities.
Register today: https://learning.umn.edu/portal/events/reg/participantTypeSelection.do?method=load&entityId=45689726