Coming Events
15th Annual Upper Midwest Hazelnut Growers Conference
March 22-23, 2024 The Grand Event Center 316 Washington Street Northfield, MN 55057 |
The Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative and the University of Minnesota Extension are proud to announce the 15th Annual Upper Midwest Hazelnut Growers Conference will be held March 22-23, 2024 at The Grand Event Center in Northfield, Minnesota.
Join growers, researchers, and other nut enthusiasts for two days of lively hazelnut production research and agroforestry presentations, discussions, and delicious food in the heart of the beautiful Cannon River Watershed.
The festivities will get started in the afternoon of Friday, March 22 with a visit to University of Minnesota 7-acre hazelnut breeding field at Rosemount. Early spring before leaf-out is an excellent time to observe Eastern Filbert Blight, bush architecture and size, and flowering. Pollination bags will have been installed, catkins should be expanding and, if we’re lucky, we may even find some female flowers.
The field visit will lead to an evening of networking, hors d'oeuvres and live music. A vendor showcase will feature exhibits from growers and other organizations throughout the conference beginning Friday afternoon. The evening networking event will be held in collaboration with the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, whose annual Regenerative Poultry Convergence in Northfield will conclude Friday afternoon. A series of mini presentations Friday night that will allow attendees to become acquainted with agroforestry techniques, options for purchasing hazelnut plants, and potential future funding opportunities. If you are interested in sharing about your work or hazelnut-related business at the Friday night event, sign up for a 10 minute time slot by contacting Greg Schweser at schwe233@umn.edu.
On Saturday, March 23, the day kicks off with a welcome and opening statements University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative Director Dr. Don Wyse. The morning will be filled with research updates on topics including propagation, irrigation, and entomology as well as discussions of hazelnut cultivars and flavor compounds.
Following a catered lunch, the afternoon will bring discussions of seed-based strategy including genomic prediction models and genetic improvements. Two industry development sessions will round out the day with representatives from American Hazelnut Company and other partner organizations who will discuss new agroforestry funding opportunities.
Registration
Registration is $60 and includes light appetizers on Friday and lunch on Saturday. This is an in-person event. There will not be a virtual attendance option. Please join us in Northfield to learn and share with other hazelnut nuts!
Join growers, researchers, and other nut enthusiasts for two days of lively hazelnut production research and agroforestry presentations, discussions, and delicious food in the heart of the beautiful Cannon River Watershed.
The festivities will get started in the afternoon of Friday, March 22 with a visit to University of Minnesota 7-acre hazelnut breeding field at Rosemount. Early spring before leaf-out is an excellent time to observe Eastern Filbert Blight, bush architecture and size, and flowering. Pollination bags will have been installed, catkins should be expanding and, if we’re lucky, we may even find some female flowers.
The field visit will lead to an evening of networking, hors d'oeuvres and live music. A vendor showcase will feature exhibits from growers and other organizations throughout the conference beginning Friday afternoon. The evening networking event will be held in collaboration with the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, whose annual Regenerative Poultry Convergence in Northfield will conclude Friday afternoon. A series of mini presentations Friday night that will allow attendees to become acquainted with agroforestry techniques, options for purchasing hazelnut plants, and potential future funding opportunities. If you are interested in sharing about your work or hazelnut-related business at the Friday night event, sign up for a 10 minute time slot by contacting Greg Schweser at schwe233@umn.edu.
On Saturday, March 23, the day kicks off with a welcome and opening statements University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative Director Dr. Don Wyse. The morning will be filled with research updates on topics including propagation, irrigation, and entomology as well as discussions of hazelnut cultivars and flavor compounds.
Following a catered lunch, the afternoon will bring discussions of seed-based strategy including genomic prediction models and genetic improvements. Two industry development sessions will round out the day with representatives from American Hazelnut Company and other partner organizations who will discuss new agroforestry funding opportunities.
Registration
Registration is $60 and includes light appetizers on Friday and lunch on Saturday. This is an in-person event. There will not be a virtual attendance option. Please join us in Northfield to learn and share with other hazelnut nuts!