The Abbotsford Soil Conservation Association presents Farm Fest 2010: a one-day workshop on climate change and nutrient management.
Farm Fest 2010 presents widely respected keynote speakers from throughout Western North America, addressing information about

• whole-farm nutrient management,
• soil conservation and sustainability,
• greenhouse gas mitigation,
• and more…

Technological advancements, such as software that calculates whole-farm greenhouse gas emissions and forecasts changes in those emissions with adoption of various farm management practices, will be featured throughout the day.

Location: Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery, 34345 Vye Road, Abbotsford.

 

Farm Fest 2010 Tentative Agenda

9:15 - 9:45	registration and coffee/breakfast snacks
9:45 -10:00	Kim Ross - introductions
10:00 - 10:30	Dan Sullivan, Ph.D. - Associate Professor Oregon State University
10:30 - 11:00	Craig Cogger, Ph.D. - Scientist/Extension Specialist Washington State University
11:00 - 11:10	break
11:10 - 11:40	Orlando Schmidt, M.Sc. and David Poon Environmental Soil and Nutrient Management Specialists BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
11:40 - 12:10	Nicole Embertson, Ph.D. Whatcom Conservation District
12:10 - 1:00	lunch break - visit displays/booths
1:00 - 1:30	Tom Forge, Ph.D. - Research Scientist Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Agassiz
1:30 - 2:00	Scott Smith, M.Sc. - Soil Scientist  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland
2:00 - 2:30	Kevin Bien AGCO Product Marketing Manager
2:30 - 3:00	panel discussion
3:00 - 3:30	wrap up

• ASCA is pleased to present a special guest appearance by an AGCO representative discussing:
• Tier 4 Engine Emissions Compliance:  Implications and Solutions Scheduled for 2010/2011 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set emission standards for diesel engines used in most agricultural, construction, and industrial equipment.  Learn more!
• Some of the days lectures will apply for
• Pesticide Credits and
• Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) credits

Please note only those producers/growers who are registered in the Lower Mainland Horticulture Improvement Association (LMHIA) Pesticide Re-Certification Program will be eligible for credits. For more information about the (LMHIA) Pesticide Re-Certification Program, please click on this attached FAQ sheet about the program.

For more information on the CCA credits, click here.

 

 

 

Featured Speakers

Thomas Forge, Ph.D.
Research Scientist for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Agassiz

Areas of Expertise:

• Soil ecology
• Influences of nutrient and organic matter management on root diseases and soil health indicators
• Sustainable soil, nutrient and water management for high-value horticultural crops

Current Projects:

• Root diseases of perennial fruit crops: Impacts of climate change and sustainable water management strategies
• Role of plant-parasitic nematodes in root decline of blueberry
• Biological interactions fundamental to the environmentally sustainable production of high-quality blueberries
• Effects of alternative mulches on blueberry root health, productivity and nutrient management
• Impacts of plant-parasitic nematodes on root dynamics and productivity of wine grapes in the Okanagan Valley
• Influences of nitrogen sources and cover crops on soil health indicators and root diseases of red raspberry

Orlando Schmidt, MSc, PAg
Environmental Soil Specialist
Team Lead, Environmental Health and Programs
BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands

Areas of Expertise:

• Soil fertility
• Manure and nutrient management
• Agri-environmental health indicators

Current Projects:

• Leading staff team focused on agri-environmental health issues and programs (e.g. Environmental Farm Plan program)
• Development of agri-environmental health indicators for BC
• Development of a nutrient balance budget model for the Fraser Valley
• Updating reference materials and software tools for Nutrient Management Planning program in BC
• Recently completed soil nutrient studies for the Fraser Valley and Okanagan

David Poon, PAg
Soil and Nutrient Management Specialist
BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands

Areas of expertise:

• Soil nutrient testing
• Nutrient management planning

Current Projects:

• Development of agri-environmental health indicators for BC
• Development of a nutrient balance budget model for the Fraser Valley
• Updating reference materials and software tools for Nutrient Management Planning program in BC
• Recently completed soil nutrient studies for the Fraser Valley and Okanagan
• Development of a web-based nitrogen management tool

Scott Smith, M.Sc.
Soil Scientist for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland

Areas of Expertise:

• Soil survey, agriculture capability, and ecological mapping
• Assessment of crop water requirement in the Okanagan Valley in response to climate change
• Digital soil mapping
• GIS modeling of land use, climate and landscape processes
• Paleopedology
• Permafrost-affected soils

Current Projects:

• Canadian Soils and Landscapes Data (NSDB): Development and delivery of detailed soils information: National Soils Database.
• Impacts of climate change and variability on water resources and perennial crops in British Columbia
• Impacts of climate change and variability on crop suitability in the Okanagan Basin

Nichole M. Embertson, Ph.D.
Agricultural Air Quality and Environmental Management Specialist
Whatcom Conservation District

Areas of Expertise:

• Environmental Management of Agricultural Systems
• Nutrient Management
• Air Quality
• Climate Change

Current Projects:

• Sustainable Livestock Production Program focusing on providing practical knowledge and solutions to environmental issues faced by livestock producers
• Application Risk Management (ARM) system assists landowners in better managing the risk factors associated with manure application to reduce surface runoff, groundwater, and air pollution events

Dan M. Sullivan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor- Soil Scientist - Oregon State University

Areas of Expertise:

• Nutrient management from organic sources
• Utilization of organic byproducts
• Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems

Current Projects:

• NIFA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) Project. Development of custom compost for certified USDA-Organic highbush blueberry production.  Project evaluates locally-available organic materials as soil amendments for blueberry. 
• Improving landscape plant quality in compacted urban soils.  Project sponsored by Northwest Biosolids Mgmt Assoc.  Project evaluates remedial  practices (tillage, compost application, and plant selection) on survival and growth of landscape plants in compacted, non-irrigated urban soil.
• Developed composting facility at North Willamette Extension Center, Aurora, OR for small scale composting research.  Facility will also be used to conduct composting workshops for farmers and other clientele.  First workshop: Feb, 2010. 

Craig G. Cogger, Ph.D.
Scientist/Extension Specialist
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences - Washington State University, Puyallup

Areas of Expertise:

• Biosolids recycling: Nitrogen management and soil ecology
• Organic nutrient management
• Use of animal manure, biosolids, and composts in agriculture and urban landscapes
• Soil quality

 Current Projects:

• Using local sources of organic nutrients
• Cover cropping
• Organic farming systems for vegetable crop production
• Soil quality
• Nutrient management and sustainable agriculture
• Master Gardener education

A special thank you to our sponsors

Farm Credit Canada

North American Forest Products Ground Cover Services
PHONE: 604-850-0220

Prins Greenhouses

Van Eekelen Enterprises Ltd.

Otter Co-Op

Quality Feeds our Reputation Demands It!

 
Green Valley Fertilizer

Little Rock Quarries

Premier Pacific Seeds

Farmwest

CIBC Agriculture

Avenue Machinery Corp.

Country Life in BC

 

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Kristine Schlamp, Coordinator, at 604-744-5305 or email kristine@abbotsfordsoilconservation.com.

A special thank you to our event partners

• British Columbia Agricultural Research and Development Corporation
• British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
• City of Abbotsford
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Abbotsford Farm and Country Market
• Fraser Valley Community Futures