Produce and Greenhouse Tour

University of Missouri Extension is planning a tour of two farms in Northwest Missouri, to be held on Thursday, June 2, 2011. The tour will be held in Atchison County and will feature a mixed vegetable farm and a greenhouse.

The tour will begin with registration at 10 AM. We will meet at the Atchison County Extension Center, 201 Highway 136 East, Rock Port, Missouri.

Our first stop will be at the farm of Terry and Cathy Lesher. The Leshers have a very diversified farm which includes vegetables, corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and also a cow herd.

For vegetables, the Lesher Family Farm specializes in growing tomatoes, sweet corn, asparagus as well as a variety of other crops. They make use of high tunnels to lengthen the growing season. One of their high tunnel crops is strawberries, which gives them several weeks to almost a month of advanced berry picking compared to outdoor strawberries.

Fall is a busy time for the Leshers, with their Pumpkin Patch and related activities. In addition to U-pick pumpkins, they have a corn maze and a children's barnyard.

Our second stop will be at Hurst Greenery, a farm featuring greenhouses near Westboro, MO. The Hurst family started this operation in 1982. Today, they have over 2 acres under greenhouses, and produce annual flowers, vegetables, potted plants, baskets, and perennials.

Some of the greenhouses are fairly large, including a multiple-bay, gutter-connected range. They employ up to 15 people, depending on the season. With a business this large, they have developed a customer base over a four state area, with their own truck fleet.

After touring these farms, we will return to the Atchison County Extension Center for lunch. In the afternoon, we will have a short educational meeting, featuring presentations from specialists such as Dr. Sanjun Gu, Missouri State Extension Vegetable Specialist.

Registrations may be made by calling the Atchison County Extension Center at (660) 744-6231. Further information and registrations may also be made by calling Tom Fowler at (816) 279-1691, or Tim Baker at (660) 663-3232.

(by Tim Baker, Northwest Regional Horticulture Specialist)