The Capital Resource Conservation and Development Area Council’s spring webinar series will focus on techniques and tools that both new and experienced high tunnel growers can implement to improve soil health, reduce pest and disease issues, and improve crop yields.
Specifically, webinars detailing use of cover crops, anaerobic soil disinfestation, and tunnel plastics research--
-- April 2: A Fresh Start: Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation in High Tunnel Systems - Part I, 9:00 a.m. Francesco Di Gioia, Ph. D., Assistant Professor of Vegetable Crop Science at Penn State University will discuss anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) and how it can be used within high tunnel systems to control soil borne bacteria, fungi, plant-parasitic nematodes, and weeds, as well as to enhance soil fertility.
The topic will be covered across two sessions, the first (April 2nd) providing an introduction to the technique, its development, the principles of how it works, and how it can be applied.
-- April 9: A Fresh Start: Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation in High Tunnel Systems - Part II, 9:00 a.m. - This second webinar will go into greater detail about application, quality of inputs required during the process, as well as how to find required inputs. Both sessions will feature examples of the practice as applied before planting and during tomato crop production.
-- April 16: Plastics, They Make a Difference in Your High Tunnel, 9:00 a.m. Kathy Demchak, Senior Extension Associate with Penn State, will share details about her research studying impacts of various cover plastics on pest management (specifically Japanese beetles) and crop yields in raspberry production, as well as how this may be applied to strawberry production and other crops.
The webinar will also focus on light transmission issues experienced during late and early season production, recommendations if issues are experienced, details to consider before purchasing a new plastic cover, and discussion about plastics durability in tunnel structures.
Click Here for details about these high tunnel webinars, including registration information, is available.
The webinars will be recorded and available to view in the future. The live webinars will include time for participant questions and offer opportunity for discussion.
There is no cost to participate but registration is required. Funding support has been provided by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.
Questions should be directed to Cheryl Burns at Capital RC&D at 717-241-4361 or send email to: cburns@capitalrcd.org.
The Capital Resource Conservation & Development Area Council is a seven-county, nonprofit that provides leadership to promote regional partnerships for the responsible use and conservation of our natural, community, and economic resources. The Capital RC&D serves Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York.
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