AGRITOURISM: FARM FRESH ONTARIO
Ballroom D, Main Level
Chair: Kevin Vallier, FFO

9:30-11:00 Agritourism Liability: Reducing the Lawsuit Risk
Rusty Rumley, The National Agricultural Law Centre, USA

11:00-12:00 pm What Does the Year Ahead Hold and How You Can Capitalize
Jo-Ann McArthur, Nourish Food Marketing

1:00-3:30 Cultivating a Culture of Engaged Teams - Workshop
Neil Thornton, The Thornton Group

APPLES
Ballroom C, Main Level
Chairs: Kristy Grigg-McGuffin, Erika DeBrouwer, OMAFRA
Sponsored by:

9:30 Crop Load Management
Dr. Todd Einhorn, Michigan State University, USA

10:00 Ambrosia Beetles in Ontario Apple Orchards
Dr. Justin Renkema, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

10:30 Non-fumigant Approaches to Management of Nematodes and Apple Replant Disease
Dr. Tom Forge, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

11:00 Adventures in Cider Apple Growing
Elizabeth Garofalo, University of Massachusetts, USA

Sponsored by:

2:00 Calculating the Costs of Spraying Apples including Labor and Machinery Costs
Alison DeMarree, DeMarree Farms

2:30 Abiotic Factors Affecting Fruit Quality & Storage
Dr. Randy Beaudry, Michigan State University, USA

3:00 In Orchard Diagnostic for Soil and Nutrient Management
Bernardita Sallato Carmona, Washington State University, USA

3:30 Fungi, Bacteria, Viruses, Oh My! How Pathogen Diagnostics Can Inform Your Disease Management
Katie Goldenhar, OMAFRA

COST OF PRODUCTION
Room 204, Second Level
Chair: John Molenhuis, OMAFRA

2:00-3:00 Collecting Data to Calculate Costs of Production
David Cohlmeyer, Sustainable Good Foods

3:00 Maximizing COP for Farm Business Strategy and Growth
Dusty Zamecnik, Tommy DeVos, EZ Grow Farms

3:30 COP Toolbox
John Molenhuis, OMAFRA

DRONE SPRAYING IN CANADA
Room 203, Second Level
Chair: Dr. Jason Deveau, OMAFRA

2:00 The Importance of Calibrating a RPAAS
Dr. Jason Deveau, OMAFRA

2:30 RPAS/Drone Regulations in Canada
Cindy Haughton, Transport Canada

3:00 How UASS Flight Characteristics Affect Spray Quality and Coverage
Dr. Michael Reinke, Michigan State University, USA

3:30 Spray Drones: Magic or Myth?
Adrian Rivard, Drone Spray Canada

FARMERS' MARKETS ONTARIO
Ballroom A, Main Level
Chair: Deanna Chakarova, St. Catharines Farmers’ Market

9:30 Safe Place and Code of Conduct at Markets
Lori Brunetta, City of St. Catharines

10:30 Food Sovereignty for Indigenous Communities: Virtual Tour
Angela Proudfoot, Canadore College (Live stream); Jesse Russell, Canadore College

11:30 Seven Strategies for Better Market
(Join us at lunch to learn more) – Melanie Anderson, ByWard Market District Authority

2:00–3:00 Farm Labour, Food Security and Farmers’ Markets
Anne Durst, Bry-Anne Farms, Erin McLean, McLean Berry Farms

FARMING BASICS FOR NEW GROWERS: PART II
Room 203, Second Level
Chair: Dr. Melanie Filotas, OMAFRA
Sponsored by:

9:30–10:30 Crop Overviews:
Speciality Crops - Evan Elford, OMAFRA
Fruit Crops - Kathryn Carter, OMAFRA
Vegetable Crops - Dennis Van Dyk, OMAFRA

10:30 Planning and Scheduling Vegetable Crops: Sweet Corn Case Study
Elaine Roddy, OMAFRA

11:00 Experiences in Starting a Farm in Ontario
Gail Winters, Goodlot Farm & Farmstead Brewing Company

Q & A Session

FREQUENT FELONS OF FRUITING VEGETABLES
Room 201-202, Second Level
Chairs: Amanda Tracey, OMAFRA
Sponsored by:

9:30 Adapting to Aggressive Anthracnose in Peppers
Katie Goldenhar, OMAFRA

10:00 Fusarium in Fruiting Vegetables
Dr. Brenna Aegerter, University of California, USA

10:40 An Interactive Exchange on Insect Issues
Ben Aigner, Virginia Tech, USA

GARLIC
Room 201-202, Second Level
Chair: : Travis Cranmer, OMAFRA
Sponsored by:

2:00 Improving Production Practices
Travis Cranmer, OMAFRA

2:30 Major Pests of 2023 and How to Manage Them in 2024

3:30 Incorporating Clean Seed into Your Farm

GENERAL LABOUR
Ballroom B, Main Level
Chair: Stefan Larrass, OFVGA
Sponsored by:

9:30-10:30 Navigating TFWP/SAWP Paperwork: LMIAs and Work Permits (PANEL)
Shawn McGowan, Schuyler Farms; Amanda Doughty, Sandy Shore Farms, Erika Leu, Emeric Zanetta, Employment and Social Development Canada (Live stream)

10:30 WSIB 101: Forms, Recovery and Return to Work
Kendra Holliday-Bryant, WSIB

11:00 Resources for Building and Documenting Strong HR Practices on the Farm
Phyllis MacCallum, Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council

11:30 Update on SAWP/TFWP and LICC
Ken Forth, FARMS/LICC

Sponsored by:

2:00 Building New Housing for TFW Workforce – Grower Panel
Robert Shuh, Shuh Orchards, Doug Van Luyk, Holland Acres

2:30 Handling Expansions of a Farm’s TFW Workforce – Grower Panel
Alex Hambly, Gwillimdale Farms

3:00 Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) for SAWP/TFWP
David Hodges, Steven West, Robinson Cartwright, Employment and Social Development Canada (Live stream)

3:30 Perspectives and Lessons Learned from Service Canada Interactions with Growers in TFWP/SAWP (PANEL)
Andrew Kosciuw, Jennifer Newport, Thomas Moorcroft, Sherry Hiiuvain, Service Canada

GRAPES
Room 207-208, Second Level
Chair: Dr. Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA
Sponsored by:

9:30 Evaluation of Novel Technology in Grapes and Perennial Crops
Dr. Lynn Sosnoskie, Cornell University, USA

10:00 Assessing Fungicide Resistance in Eastern Vineyards
Dr. Tim Miles, Michigan State University, USA

10:30 How To Get The Most From Your Fungicide Buck
Dr. Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA

11:00 Smart Vineyard Panel: Technology for the Future
Jennifer Phillips Russo, Cornell University, USA; Chuck Bareisch, Haggerty AgRobotics

Chair: Kathryn Carter, OMAFRA
Sponsored by:

2:00 Soil Health in Vineyards
Dr. Deirdre Griffin LaHue, Washington State University, USA (live stream)

2:30 A 12-Year Vineyard Cover Crop Case Study and Journey to Vine and Soil Health
Jennifer Phillips Russo, Cornell University, USA

3:00 2023 Ontario Grape Varietal Study
Rob Gamble, Agri-Metrics Consulting

3:30 Grower Panel: Thinking Outside the Box
Gabriel DeMarco, Cave Spring; Craig Wismer, Glen Elgin Vineyards; Liam Reeves, Stratus Winery; Augusta Vanmuyen, Tawse

ONTARIO PRODUCE MARKETING ASSN.
Room 206, Second Level
Chair: Emilia De Sousa, OPMA
Sponsored by:

9:30-10:30 A Fresh View on Branding: Insights for the Produce Industry
Brian Ettkin, Numerator

10:30-11:30 Storytelling That Sells: How Sharing Your Story Sells Your Business & #OntAg
Christina Crowley-Arklie, Crowley + Arklie Strategy & Co.

SOIL HEALTH
Room 204, Second Level
Chairs: Dr. Tejendra Chapagain, Danny Jefferies, OMAFRA

9:30 Mapping Orchard Variability and Soil Attributes to Improve Orchard Management
Bernardita Sallato Carmona, Washington State University, USA

10:00–11:30 On-Farm Soil Mapping and Technology to Improve Site-Specific Management (PANEL)
Liam Reeves, Stratus Vineyards; Ben Vermeulen, Vermeulen Farms; Friedhelm Hoffman, Lakeside Grain & Feed; Herman Visscher, MEN’s Farming Inc.

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE BREAKFAST
The Lounge, Second Level
8:00 am-9:15 am
Speaker: Alison Robertson, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
Sponsored by:

YOUNG FARMER LUNCH AND LEARN
The Lounge, Second Level
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Sponsored by: