A vegetable production meeting aimed at commercial vegetable growers is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, March 13, at the Cooperative Extension Service Jefferson County office, 500 S. Idaho Street.
Although the targeted audiences are commercial growers, the meeting is open to anyone interested in gardening, says Henry English, director of the Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Topics include disease, weed and insect control in vegetables; U.S. Department of Agriculture loans for vegetable growers; the UAPB Sweet Potato Foundation Program; and selling southern peas to Walmart. Growing okra, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, squash (yellow and zucchini), greens (turnips, mustards, and collards) will be discussed as well as growing watermelons using plastic mulch and drip irrigation.
Presenters are University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension specialists and faculty including Craig Anderson, Glenn Studebaker, Sherrie Smith and Nilda Burgos. UAPB presenters are Leonard Githinji and Henry English. Also on the program is Vanessa Moore from the Farm Service Agency.