Extension to offer a beginning vegetable production workshop

A beginning vegetable production workshop is slated for Feb. 5 at Rich Hill, in the old school cafeteria.

University of Missouri is conducting the workshop, which focuses on the needs of produce auction growers. The 2008 workshop will discuss beginning or basic issues; another seminar to take place in 2009 will discuss advanced topics.

Some of the topics include soil sampling, interpretation and fertilization; irrigation equipment and water quality issues, greenhouse transplant production, introduction to high tunnel production, recommended varieties, tactics for more continuous production through the season; basics of weed, disease and insect control; and harvesting and storage of vegetables.

Funded by Region 7 of the Evironmental Protection Agency, the workshop will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a break for lunch at noon and training relaing to a private pesticide applicator's license afterwards, in a one-hour session.

Reservations should be made by Friday, Feb. 1. For more information or to register, contact the Vernon County University of Missouri Extension Center, 100 W. Cherry, Suite 2, Nevada (inside the Vernon County Courthouse) or call the center at (417) 448-2560. To get to the site, go west from U.S. 71 on A Highway, then north one block on First Street.

The workshops are free and open to all producers.