In a world where social media is the number one place people are getting information, how can we better tell the story of agriculture? In this keynote session, Michelle Miller “The Farm Babe” will share communication tips on how to better amplify what it is we do on our farms every day. How do we better market ourselves? Build a following, strengthen our message and build trust? Get ready to leave this session feeling inspired and more well equipped to better utilize the power of your own voice.

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Rebecca Ritz

Are your wine labels competing with the big brands? This session will explore why strategic packaging design is so important in building a strong wine brand. We will dive into elements that increase your perceived value and how consumers select labels. Plus, we will share examples of successful packages and how to elevate your brand’s value.

Grape vine decline, caused by wood-decaying fungi, is an increasing concern throughout the Midwest. During the summer of 2023, a preliminary survey of potential fungi was conducted in declining vineyards in Iowa. We have found multiple new and previously suspected fungi that can cause vine death. This presentation covers current project findings, what to look for in your vineyards regarding decline, and ways that Iowa growers can participate in the 2024 survey and project.

During the last 20 years of growing grapes in a cold climate and working with growers around the country in different cold climate areas, I have seen plenty of vines that have suffered from frosts, freezes, de-acclimation, mechanical injury, foliar disease, trunk disease, wildlife issues, management learning curves, general neglect and so on. As I work through my vineyard, and also work in other vineyards with other managers, I have picked up some ideas to help rebuild damaged vines, which seem a bit of an inevitability in our cold climate vineyards. In this session, I will describe how I use landscape fabric for weed control in my vineyard to enable me to use renewal pruning to keep parts of my vine young and productive and to systematically remove problematic parts of the vine.

Taste, see, and hear about the growing bubbly market and the different styles of production methods from petillant natural, traditional method, and carbonation from another Midwest winery that has seen success in this market.

There are many different methods that can be used to manage acidity. In this session we will discuss biological, chemical, and physical methods to manage acidity in wines. Traditional approaches will be covered, as well as new techniques and additives for different wine styles. Examples will be provided on how to best decide on a strategy to use.

*Legislative Session

Iowa’s alcohol laws saw its biggest reform in the last ten years with the passage of legislation in 2022. Legislative changes occurred again, a few months later, in 2023. Review with experts from the Alcoholic Beverages Division, Iowa Department of Revenue, how legislation from these sessions impacted the license types available and their authorities for native wineries, including what did not change.

Iowa State University

This session will go over the basic principles, challenges, and benefits associated with transitioning to high-density apple orchards. Dr. Slack will cover the latest on designing and managing orchards, particularly focusing on cultivar/rootstock selection, thinning, irrigation, and disease management. Whether you are a seasoned orchardist looking to adopt the latest industry trends or a newcomer considering a venture into apple production, this talk should provide something for everyone!

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Commercial Fruit Crops Field Specialist

Tables grapes are one of the top consumed fresh fruits and could be an option for direct-to-consumer fruit sales in Iowa. We will review production systems, cultivar selection, consumer perceptions, and where table grapes fit into the fruit harvest season.

Hooks Point Irrigation

In this session Mark will talk about different irrigation options including drip, travelers and center pivots. He will also discuss the right option for different crops and water requirements.

Depredation Specialist - Iowa DNR & USDA-APHIS

Andy Kellner with the Iowa DNR and Spencer Nelsen with USDA Wildlife Services will share the principles behind wildlife management and damage mitigation. Focusing on small farm scenarios, this talk will cover basic principles of damage mitigation for a variety of wildlife species as well as discussing legal and regulatory considerations. Questions and discussion around specific experiences will be strongly encouraged.

Iowa State University Department of Horticulture - Graduate Student

Tarping is a weed suppression technique used by vegetable growers across the country. This session will explore tarping's impact on weeds and soil characteristics based on research done at Iowa State University. Learn how tarping can be used as a multifunctional tool on your farm!

Buser's Produce

Attend this session to hear lessons learned from a multigenerational melon farm in southeast Iowa.

This session will dive into Farm Service Agency programs to assist specialty crop farmers. Brian's presentation will focus specifically on Farm Loan Programs. FSA has a variety of loans available to assist with operating and real estate financing.

Choose Iowa Program - Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Small Farms Program Manager - ISU Extension and Outreach, Iowa Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Administrator, IDALS

The world of grants can be overwhelming. Learn about specific programs available to farmers in Iowa. The Choose Iowa Grants exist to identify, evaluate and financially support programs and services that add value to agricultural products, enable new technologies and support alternative marketing strategies. These cost-share grants leverage additional private investment and were created to assist Iowa farmers, businesses and non-profits with their efforts to increase or diversify their agricultural product offerings, expand markets and shorten the supply chain.

Staff Attorney, Iowa State University Center for Ag & Law Taxation

Farm transition and succession planning can be a daunting undertaking. Learn about the impact of the different types of asset ownership, current trends, and potential tax changes to watch.

Owner - Hill's Tree Farm

What factors need to be considered before committing to this business? What assets or advantages does my current business have that would enhance the chances of success? What are any disadvantages? What’s my potential market?

Carlson Tree Farm

Everything on your farm is valuable including the experiences & memories made! Learn how the Carlson Tree Farm Family has taken what looks like junk to some and created farm fresh products that people love. Over the last 10 years the Carlson's have grown their following on social media by sharing about farm fresh creations that draw in customers from far & wide.

Bloomsbury Farm

We will share the history of our farm and different struggles/successes along the way. We are now a working traditional farm, we host seasonal festivals throughout the year, and we run a haunted attraction in the Fall. Nothing brings our family more joy then sharing our beautiful farm with the community, the sky is the limit! We plan to continue to expend our specialty crop offerings, festivals, and opportunities for more people to come and enjoy!

The primary benefits of this project will focus on improved income and profitability and improved market opportunity for local production of primarily leafy greens in high tunnels. Our strategy to achieve this end is through better control of temperature and humidity throughout the year without using expensive and fossil fuel energy intensive heat sources. The objective was to use buried geothermal pipe to store or extract ground heat beneath a high tunnel greenhouse and water-to-air heat exchangers at the surface to convey heat to and from the growing space.

Julia describes the outcomes of her work with learning circles as an educational alternative to traditional classrooms, Facebook groups, and club meetings as part of her recent SARE grant.

We are leveraging existing and new resources to create a network of kitchens for local producers, and food entrepreneurs, to use for creating value added products and for hosting cooking classes and demonstrations.

*Combined with Enology Session

Since the 1940's the University of Minnesota has been actively breeding the most cold-hardy grapes in the world. This presentation will include an overview of the history of the Grape Breeding Project, with a focus on the cold-hardy wine grapes developed since the release in 1996 of the Frontenac grape. We will also focus on the development of the newest U of MN wine grape "Clarion" released in 2022. The session will include a tasting of an 2023 experimental Clarion wine produced by Drew Horton at the U of MN Horticulture Research Center.

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Erin Norton & Randall Vos

Time of harvest and canopy management can impact wine flavor and aroma. In this session will assess the sensory traits of wines made from La Crescent grapes that were managed for different levels of canopy management and harvest dates in 2023. Grape and wine production from the plots will be reviewed. The goal is to provide growers and wineries with information about what canopy management and harvest practices will impact wine sensory profile.

Resistance to several commonly used fungicide active ingredients and groups has been identified in grape downy and powdery mildew. In this session we will review what products downy and powdery mildew have developed resistance to. There has been considerable development and research into biopesticides. We review what biopesticides are, and how they might be a valuable tool in fungicide rotations to delay the development of fungicide resistance.

Three pathogens are often prevalent in Eastern vineyards. Sour rot is a complex of three organisms: native yeast(s), acetic acid bacteria and fruit flies. The complex often is more detrimental to tight clustered thin-skinned cultivars, but all grape cultivars are susceptible once the grape berry skins are compromised. Downy mildew is the most destructive disease pathogen in Eastern vineyards. Although some grape cultivars have levels of genetic resistance to downy mildew, many cultivars are susceptible. Grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV) has found its way into Eastern vineyards. Our research suggests that GRBV may not have as detrimental impact on interspecific grape cultivars as compared to European cultivars (Vitis vinifera). Come learn about the epidemiology and management of the grape pathogen trifecta.

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Erin Norton & Randall Vos

Time of harvest and canopy management can impact wine flavor and aroma. In this session will assess the sensory traits of wines made from La Crescent grapes that were managed for different levels of canopy management and harvest dates in 2023. Grape and wine production from the plots will be reviewed. The goal is to provide growers and wineries with information about what canopy management and harvest practices will impact wine sensory profile.

Dry red wines are expected by the consumers to not be sweet and with some texture, i.e. astringency mouthfeel. The presentation will focus on the latest updates on red wine making techniques used on Marquette and Frontenac grapes, in particular. You will also learn the ongoing research and extension programs dedicated to improve the quality of red wines made from cold-hardy grape cultivars.

Join Erin to discuss all things yeast. We’ll cover the basics of fermentation and how yeast are important for flavor development in wine. Then we’ll highlight new yeast species that are available and how they may push your winemaking to the next level.

Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist - University of Wisconsin Madison

This talk will address challenges posed by fruit and soilborne pathogens of strawberries. Learn about the identification of key strawberry diseases, their symptoms, the impact they can have on your strawberry crops, and practical and effective management strategies.

Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist - University of Wisconsin Madison

This presentation will cover recent research on the biology and management of bitter rot of apple.

Little Debs Berry Farm LLC Harvesting Technician

Jeff will give people information on types of honeyberries suitable to Iowa, growing tips and tricks, as well as information on harvesting honeyberries.

Fox Ridge Farm, Chief Apple Officer

Paul will be presenting their experiences, both good and bad, with the production and sale of hard cider in Iowa over the past 8 years.

Rinehart's Family Farm

Learn about the best varieties, when to plant, and emerging practices to boost your crop yield. Engage in a roundtable discussion to exchange ideas and solutions with fellow sweet corn enthusiasts.

State of Iowa Climatologist - IDALS & Commercial Horticulture Specialist - Iowa State University Extension & Outreach

Every growing season presents new challenges. Dan Fillius and Dr. Justin Glisan will review Iowa's weather extremes from 2023 and discuss how these conditions impacted specialty crops around the state. Come find out if the weather in your corner of the state wins the award for the wettest, the driest, or the best!

South Dakota State University Assistant Professor and Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist

Learn tried and true tricks for growing tomatoes based on research and experiences from Iowa and South Dakota fields and high tunnels. This session will include grafting techniques, tasty heirlooms, and seed saving techniques.

ISU College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Video Communication Specialist

An overview on some simple ways to record and edit your own videos using your phone or video camera.

In this session, you’ll learn how to find the right influencer and ways to leverage their content besides just social media posts. Plus, ways to extend your marketing through tools offered from the Iowa Tourism Office.

Iowa Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

Iowa Small Business Development Centers offer personalized, confidential, and no-cost business counseling to small business owners and entrepreneurs in Iowa. In this session they will dive into tips and tricks for utilizing Quickbooks!

Office Manager/HR Director - Center Grove Orchard

The session will be going over volunteers,H2A members and labor cost. What are the first steps in making this happen, how and what can they help with to achieve your goals, and is there a need or can you establish other labor to help fill the gaps.

Jester Hill Farm & Kaldenblooms

Thinking about adding events to your flower farm but worried you don’t have the space or don’t have the capacity to host them at your farm? We’re diving into how Kaldenblooms has created space and partnerships with other businesses to host events and bring in local vendors to create events on and off the farm. Also join this session to learn more about the events Jester Hill Farm has offered, ones they hope to offer in the future and how they incorporated other small businesses into these events.

Friend's Flowers, Owner and Farmer Florist

Friends flowers sells flowers wholesale and also does event floral design. What are the pros and cons of selling cut flowers to florists vs doing the arrangements yourself? Let's find out. We will cover aspects of doing wedding and event florals from the perspective of both grower and designer and how we landed in the position of doing both.

South Dakota State University Assistant Professor and Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist

This session will be an interactive discussion of the how, what, and why of high tunnels to help farmers and service providers understand the logistics of buying, building, and managing a high tunnel. Kristine will share her experiences (good, bad, and ugly) from growing in high tunnels in unpredictable weather of the Midwest. Come prepared to ask questions and share your own experiences!

Associate Professor of Horticulture - Iowa State University

Explore the secrets of successful poinsettia finishing for resale in Iowa with Dr. Chris Currey, Greenhouse Specialist from Iowa State University. Don't miss the chance to elevate your greenhouse expertise with practical tips from an industry expert!

Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT)

With the support of an NCR-SARE grant, the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust created a guidebook for Iowa landowners to learn about options for increasing food crops and diversifying our agriculture. This guidebook contains information and research obtained by Iowan farmers as well as local agricultural organizations and institutions describing different types of food crops that can grow in Iowa. This session will present the book and how to use it as well as how we can continue to implement this resource throughout the state.

Iowa State University

Mesotunnels can reduce pests, diseases, and insecticide use and increase yield in organic cucurbit crops. Our research assessed the use and management of teff, a living mulch, as a weed control strategy in mesotunnels in organic acorn squash and muskmelon production.