Beginning Farmer Workshop - Berry Options for U-pick or Direct Marketing

June 22-23, 2010

Berry Options for U-pick or Direct Marketing

Columbia, MO

The Berry Options Workshop will start at 1 pm, Tuesday, June 22, at University of Missouri's Bradford Research Farm's Education Building.  The first day of the workshop will go until about 3:00 or 3:30 pm at the Bradford Research Farm and then we'll go on a field tour, concluding at 5 pm.  The second day of the workshop starts at 8 am at Bradford Research Farm with the indoor instructional teaching going until 10 am, followed by another field tour.  Instruction will be led by Patrick Byers, University of Missouri Horticultural Specialist.

The field tour sites are Pick & Pick Farm (private u-pick farm) and the Jefferson Farm (public education farm with nearly 100 fruit varieties demonstrated).

Curriculum to be covered includes:

- pros and cons of major and minor berry species for Missouri soils and climate

- establishment and management practices for strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries (a few other berry crops will also be briefly discussed)

- labor needs for these crops and their fit into a small farm operation in Missouri

- marketing options for berry crops in Missouri

- typical costs of production and potential economic returns over time

To register contact the Lorin Chann at the Jefferson Institute,  at 573-449-3518 or lchann@jeffersoninstitute.org

Registration limited to 25 participants, cost will be $20 in advance or $30 at the door, but advance registration requested

Onsite registration and check in from 12:30 to 1 pm on June 22 at Bradford Farm conference center, 4968 Rangeline Road (http://www.aes.missouri.edu/bradford/contact.php)

Be on the lookout for future Beginning Farmer Workshops. Those to be included are: Growing Produce for Local Markets, Tractors 101, Selling Directly to Consumers, Introduction to Care and Marketing of Sheep and Goats and more.