March

March 1-4: WV Small Farm Conference; Morgantown, WV; The 2010 WV Small Farm Conference will be at the Lakeview Resort and Conference Center in Morgantown. This year’s event features seven learning tracks, including Fruit and Vegetable Production; Value-adding; Beginning Farmers; Agritourism; Energy; Farmers Market Management; and Animal Production and Marketing. Call WV Extension offices for more info.

March 3-4: International Trade Workshop; Norfolk, VA; The theme for the event is Agricultural Trade: From Farm, to Port, to the Global Marketplace. The workshop is designed to provide farmers, private sector businesses, industry officials and policymakers a forum to discuss export opportunities for U.S. and Virginia agriculture, federal and state programs to promote agricultural exports and specific opportunities and obstacles to agricultural and food exports. Location: Sheraton Waterside, Norfolk, VA; Registration is limited. For more information and to register call Spencer Neale at 804.290.1153. See web site www.vavarmbureau.org/trade/welcome.htm.

March 4: Greenhouse Growers Seminar; Wye Mills, Md; A greenhouse grower’s seminar will be held Thursday, March 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chesapeake Community College in Wye Mills.  The event is open to novices as well as experienced greenhouse operators.  Topics covered will include bedding plant nutrition, business management, water quality, and pest management.  Maryland pesticide re-certification credits and Maryland Department of Agriculture Nutrient Management Program continuing education credits are available for attending this conference.  Registration is $40 and includes conference materials, continental breakfast and lunch.  To register, contact the Talbot County Extension office by March 1 at 410-822-1244.  The event is sponsored by University of Maryland Extension and the Maryland Greenhouse Growers Association.  

March 5: Northern Piedmont Specialty Crops School; Roxboro, NC; Course is designed to explore the art and science of growing and marketing specialty crops. Topics include design, construction, and thermal performance of high tunnels; growing tomatoes, melons, raspberries and blackberries in high tunnels; asparagus and seedless table grape research trial results. Call (919) 603-1350.

March 5: NC Muscadine Grape Association Meeting; 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Willow Springs, NC; The event will at the Adams Vineyards. Contact Amie Newsome at (919) 989-5380

March 6: Maryland Grape Growers and Maryland Wineries Association annual meeting; Oxon Hill, MD; The conference is open to anyone involved with or interested in the production of wine and wine grapes in the state of Maryland. The meeting will include a full day of instructional sessions for current and prospective grape growers, winemakers, and those interested in learning more about wine and grape production. For more information contact Taylor Spies, Promotion & Outreach Coordinator for the Maryland Grape Growers Association. Location: Clarion Hotel in Oxon Hill, MD. Register online prior to February 28 at www.marylandgrapes.org.

March 9: Maryland Organic Grain & Hay Workshop; Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park, 8:30 a.m. to  3:30 p.m. Topics will include an overview of grant and on-farm research and biological weed control. Call (410) 758-0166.

March 11: 3rd Annual Virginia Berry Production and Marketing Conference; Petersburg, Virginia; Topics include blueberry production, blackberry production, high tunnel strawberry and raspberry production, U-pick marketing and promotion, importance of trellises, pests and diseases of berries, etc.;   Program begins at 9 am, Location: Virginia State University, Petersburg. Phone: (804) 524-5962 or  (804) 524-5960.

March 13-14 and 20-21, Highland Maple Festival; Monterey, VA, Celebrating the maple industry in Virginia's Little Switzerland; Contact: Highland Co. Chamber 540.468.2550;

March 15 - 24: Rural Energy for America Workshops in Virginia; various locations; The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) offers a 25% cost share for the installation/replacement of products that will increase energy efficiency or the installation of systems which will generate renewable energy.  Funds are offered as grants, loans or grant/loan combinations. These one day intensive workshops will give the attendee a basic understanding of this valuable program and how to apply for funding. Schedule: March 15 – Danville; March 16 – Exmore; March 17 – Richmond; March 23 – Wytheville; March 24 – Front Royal; March 25 – Fredericksburg. For exact location and more info, contact Laurette Tucker 804-287-1594. To register, visit www.vafairs.com or call Brenda Fleming (804) 290-1155.

March 20: NCSU Equine Forage Clinic; Hampstead, NC; Area forage clinic will address problems related to forage selection, pasture establishment, weed management, and pasture management. Speakers for these topics will include NCSU Extension Horse Specialist Dr. Bob Mowery and Dr. Mike Yoder along with Amanda Hatcher, Emily Walton and Mitch Binnarr. The event will be held 9:30-3:00pm. Call 910-259-1235 for more information, questions, and to register for this event.

March 23: Agroterrorism Conference; Weyers Cave, Virginia; The agriculture industry is a potential target for terrorists and Virginia experts want farmers and others involved in the industry to be prepared. The FBI and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will sponsor the Second Annual Virginia Agroterrorism Conference at Blue Ridge Community College. The conference is for individuals involved in crop, livestock and poultry production; livestock market managers; food and dairy processors; retailers; local and state government officials; law enforcement personnel; and other emergency management officials. For info and registration, contact Tony Banks at 804-290-1114.