Blackstone Field Day
2001 VIRGINIA BRAMBLE AND BLUEBERRY DAY - ARRANGEMENTS
WHEN & WHERE: 2001 Virginia Bramble & Blueberry Day will occur (rain or shine) Thursday, July 12 at Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SPAREC), near Blackstone. A registration fee ($10/participant) is requested to cover some of the costs for lunch and meeting materials. Pre-registration (see attached form) by July 9 is requested to assist in arranging for lunch and reduce time required for final registration on July 12. Registration will occur from 8:15 to 9:00 a.m. at the small fruits plots on Military Highway (if the weather is clear) or at the Center's auditorium if it is raining. The program will begin at 9:00 a.m. and adjourn by 4:30 p.m. If you have specific questions or comments on this event, you may address them to H.D. Stiles [E-mail (rasbry@vt.edu] or Margaret J. Kenny. Both these individuals can be reached by telephone & voice mail (804-292-5331) or FAX (804-292-5623) at SPAREC.

WHAT & WHO: Updates on integrated crop management tools, breeding, and other small fruits work will be provided by Extension Specialists and Researchers from Virginia Tech, North Carolina State University and University of Maryland. Participants are encouraged to discuss or ask questions about production practices and situations that may apply to their own operations.

Producers will have opportunities to make or renew acquaintances with other farmers so that sharing of perspectives and experiences can lead to mutual benefits in the production and marketing of these crops. Similarly, this meeting will allow producers to welcome the new Department Head (Jerzy Nowak) and Extension Horticulturist - Small fruits & Vegetables (Tony Bratsch) who are headquartered at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

TRAVEL INSTRUCTIONS: Morning Session: from its intersection with Blackstone's North Main Street (Bus. 460), travel 1 1/2 miles east on Rt.40 to a blinker light at Military Highway, turn left (north) and go 6/10 mi. to our plots. Afternoon Session (and Morning Session if raining): from Military Highway, go 3/4 mile further east on Rt. 40 to SPAREC's sign, turn left onto our access road for parking. Auditorium entrance is on the main building's east side (closest to Rt. 40). If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Dr. Herbert D. Stiles or Dr. James L. Jones at (804) 292-5331 during business hours (M-F; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) to discuss accommodations at least 7 business days prior to the event.

Program: 2001 VIRGINIA BRAMBLE & BLUEBERRY DAY - AGENDA JULY 12
TIME & PLACE TOPIC, SPEAKERS, etc.

8:30-9:00 Field Register & obtain meal ticket

9:00-9:10 Field Orientation - Herb Stiles, Va. Tech, SPAREC Extens. Hort. - Fruit

9:10-9:25 Field Welcome & Update on SPAREC Programs and Operations- James L. Jones, Va. Tech, SPAREC Director

9:25-9:40 Field Developments & Perspectives in Horticulture Programs & Staffing Jerzy Nowak, Department Head, Virginia Tech, Anthony D. (Tony) Bratsch, Extension Horticulturist

9:40-10:30 Field Tour Research Plots (H. Stiles) with discussions of: 10:30-10:45 Travel to Auditorium (Aud) at SPAREC main building on Rte. 40.

10:45-11:00 Aud break

11:00-11:30 Aud N.C. Blackberry & Blueberry Production Update - Gina Fernandez, Fruit Specialist, NCSU

11:30-11:50 Aud NCSU Micropropagation Unit Programs and their Importance to Small Fruit Producers in North Carolina and the Mid-Atlantic Region - Zvezdana Pesic-VanEsbroek, virologist and Unit Director

11:50-12:15 Aud Self-Introduction Of Participants.

12:15 -1:15 Aud LUNCH (meal ticket must be obtained during registration).

1:15 - 1:45 Aud Newly Patented Bramble Varieties, Changes in the Md./Va./N.J./Wisc. Breeding Program, & New Resources for Mid-Atlantic Producers - Harry Swartz, Horticulturist, Breeder, Dept. NRS&LA, U. Md., College Park.

1:45 - 2:15 Aud Soil Type Selection & Nutrient Assays for Success in Small Fruit Production - Steve Donohue & Jim Baker, Soil Scientists, Crop, Soils & Environmental Sciences Dept., Va. Tech, Blacksburg

2:20 - 2:35 Aud break 2:35 - 2:50 Aud Reflections and Perspectives on Small Farms & Marketing - Howard (Bud) Kerr, Former Director (retired), USDA Office of Small Scale Agriculture.

3:00 - 3:30 Aud Bramble and Blueberry Pest Management Update - Doug Pfeiffer, Extension Entomologist, Dept of Entomol., Va. Tech. , Blacksburg

3:30 - 4:00 Aud Nematode Pests of Brambles; Biology and Control - Jonathan Eisenback, Nematologist, PPWS Dept., Virginia Tech, Blacksburg

4:20 - 4:30 Aud Closing comments, collect evaluation forms & adjourn -- H. Stiles.

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