2021 Upper Midwest Hazelnut Growers [Virtual] Conference
The Upper Midwest Hazelnut Growers Conference will look a little different this year, but will still be packed with the information on the most up-to-date hazelnut research, management, production, harvesting, processing and marketing. Linda Meschke (Rural Advantage) is hosting the conference with support from UMN Forever Green Initiative and UMN Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships.
The conference will be hosted virtually over the course of 3 days: March 4, 5 and 6, 2021. Programming will run from 8:30 AM - 12:00 (daily agendas are listed below). Each day will end with a thirty minute Nursery Grower Spotlight featuring a regional nursery working with hybrid hazelnuts.
The Growers Conference will be FREE for participants, but registration is required. Attendees will be required to register separately for each day they wish to attend.
The conference will be hosted virtually over the course of 3 days: March 4, 5 and 6, 2021. Programming will run from 8:30 AM - 12:00 (daily agendas are listed below). Each day will end with a thirty minute Nursery Grower Spotlight featuring a regional nursery working with hybrid hazelnuts.
The Growers Conference will be FREE for participants, but registration is required. Attendees will be required to register separately for each day they wish to attend.
DAY ONE: Thursday, March 4 -- Getting Started with Hazelnuts
Day One is geared toward growers interested in getting started in growing hazelnuts but will be useful for any grower who is interested in the latest recommendations and information producers need to know to make good decisions about starting and managing hazelnut production. Attendees will be able to ask questions and presentations will be made available for download after the conference. Attendees will need to register separately for each day of the conference.
Registration Link: https://z.umn.edu/hazelnutday1
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM - Conference webinar opens. Attendees are encouraged to log-in early to get settled in and prepared.
9:00 AM - Welcome from Conference Host Linda Meschke, Introduction to the UMHDI
9:15 AM - Site Selection, Orchard Layout, Plant & Row Spacing - Jeff Jensen, Trees Forever
10:00 AM - Plant Selection, Varieties - Jason Fischbach, UW-Extension
10:15 AM - Feeding Hazelnuts to Pigs - Pete Lammers, UW-Platteville
10:40 - Break
10:55 - Hazelnut Farmer of the Year Presentation
11:00AM - Fertilizing and Leaf Tissue Testing - Mike Lovlien, Midwestern Bio-Ag
12:00PM - Plant Nursery Showcase - Brian Byers, Great Plains Nursery; Jeff Zarnowski, Z's Nutty Ridge, Tom Knezick, Foggy Bottom Farms
Day One is geared toward growers interested in getting started in growing hazelnuts but will be useful for any grower who is interested in the latest recommendations and information producers need to know to make good decisions about starting and managing hazelnut production. Attendees will be able to ask questions and presentations will be made available for download after the conference. Attendees will need to register separately for each day of the conference.
Registration Link: https://z.umn.edu/hazelnutday1
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM - Conference webinar opens. Attendees are encouraged to log-in early to get settled in and prepared.
9:00 AM - Welcome from Conference Host Linda Meschke, Introduction to the UMHDI
9:15 AM - Site Selection, Orchard Layout, Plant & Row Spacing - Jeff Jensen, Trees Forever
10:00 AM - Plant Selection, Varieties - Jason Fischbach, UW-Extension
10:15 AM - Feeding Hazelnuts to Pigs - Pete Lammers, UW-Platteville
10:40 - Break
10:55 - Hazelnut Farmer of the Year Presentation
11:00AM - Fertilizing and Leaf Tissue Testing - Mike Lovlien, Midwestern Bio-Ag
12:00PM - Plant Nursery Showcase - Brian Byers, Great Plains Nursery; Jeff Zarnowski, Z's Nutty Ridge, Tom Knezick, Foggy Bottom Farms
DAY TWO: Friday, March 5 -- Hazelnut Research
Join us on Day Two to learn about the latest hybrid hazelnut research, including breeding, micropropagation, insect pests, flavor and food science and mechanical harvesting. Growers of all experience levels are encouraged to attend. Attendees will be able to ask questions and presentations will be made available for download after the conference. Attendees will need to register separately for each day of the conference.
Registration Link: https://z.umn.edu/hazelnutday2
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM - Hazelnut Grower Clusters - Jason Fischbach, UW-Extension
9:05 AM - Got Weevils? - Hailey Shanovich, U of MN
9:30 AM - Considering Hazelnut Genetic Diversity - Mike Demchick, UW-Stevens Point
- Next Generation Hazelnut Genetic Diversity - Lois Braun, U of MN
- Hazelnut Genomics - Dr. Scott Brainard, UW-Madison
10:30 AM - Break
10:45 AM - Micropropagation - Renata Pincelli-Souza, U of MN
11:15 AM - Mechanical Harvest of Hazelnuts - Dave Bohnhoff, UW-Madison
11:45 AM - Identification of Bitter Compounds in American Hazelnuts - Xue Wang, Ohio State University
12:15 PM - Plant Nursery Showcase - Mark Shepard, Forest Agriculture Enterprises
DAY THREE: Saturday, March 6 -- Markets, Processing and Finances
Day Three will cover supply chains, processing, marketing, end-uses and financial planning. Attendees will be able to ask questions and the presentations will be available for download after the conference. Growers of all experience levels are encourage to attend. Attendees will need to register for each conference day separately.
Registration Link: https://z.umn.edu/hazelnutday3
8:30 AM - American Hazelnut Company - Mike Lilja, President
9:05 AM - Marketing Efforts in WI and MN - Connie Carlson, U of MN RSDP
10:00AM - Weed Control, Orchard Maintenance - Jeff Jensen, Trees Forever
10:30AM - Processing Hazelnuts - Paul Ronsheim, American Hazelnut Company; Jason Fischbach, UW-Extension
11:00AM - Break
11:10AM - USDA Programs - Linda Meschke, Rural Advantage
11:30AM - UMHDI Hazelnut Enterprise Budgets - Jason Fischbach, UW-Extension
12:00PM - Plant Nursery Showcase - Paul and Sanna Mairet, Nine Hazels Farm; Mark Hamman, Experimental Farm Network
12:30PM - Closing - Linda Meschke, Rural Advantage
Day Three will cover supply chains, processing, marketing, end-uses and financial planning. Attendees will be able to ask questions and the presentations will be available for download after the conference. Growers of all experience levels are encourage to attend. Attendees will need to register for each conference day separately.
Registration Link: https://z.umn.edu/hazelnutday3
8:30 AM - American Hazelnut Company - Mike Lilja, President
9:05 AM - Marketing Efforts in WI and MN - Connie Carlson, U of MN RSDP
10:00AM - Weed Control, Orchard Maintenance - Jeff Jensen, Trees Forever
10:30AM - Processing Hazelnuts - Paul Ronsheim, American Hazelnut Company; Jason Fischbach, UW-Extension
11:00AM - Break
11:10AM - USDA Programs - Linda Meschke, Rural Advantage
11:30AM - UMHDI Hazelnut Enterprise Budgets - Jason Fischbach, UW-Extension
12:00PM - Plant Nursery Showcase - Paul and Sanna Mairet, Nine Hazels Farm; Mark Hamman, Experimental Farm Network
12:30PM - Closing - Linda Meschke, Rural Advantage