By Scout Nelson
Venner Farm invites the public to an Organic and Grafted Vegetable Production Field Day. This special event is for current and beginning farmers, gardeners, technical service providers, and anyone interested in learning about organic farming practices.
Guests will enjoy a guided walking tour of the farm’s vegetable fields, high tunnels, farm stands, and on-farm trials. These include a grafted vegetable trial and a living mulch demonstration. The event will focus on managing plant diseases, controlling insect pests, and using warm season cover crops on organic farms.
Farm owners Denise Venner and Leah Rauktys will share their experiences and methods. They will be joined by several experts from South Dakota State University (SDSU): Sean Toporek, an assistant professor in specialty crops pathology and manager of the SDSU Local Foods Education Center; Kristine Lang, an SDSU consumer horticulture specialist; and Amanda Bachmann, SDSU urban entomology field specialist. These specialists will explain the lessons learned from their trials and answer questions.
Visitors are encouraged to ask questions and share ideas throughout the tour. The goal is to learn from each other in an open and friendly environment.
Attendees can relax with light refreshments provided by Venner Family Farms. Guests may bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets for this networking time.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-nicexray
Categories: South Dakota, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables, Education