ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION GROUPS

Engage – Discover – Collaborate

Roundtable Discussion Groups are a great way to learn from your peers in a casual setting. These conversations will cover a range of engaging and thought-provoking topics for intimate groups to explore together.

Schedule

1. Boosting Your Workforce: How Biocontrols Drive Employee Motivation and Retention 

Led by an experienced grower, the group will explore real-world examples of how biocontrol methods create a safer, purpose-driven work environment that motivates your team and gives you a competitive hiring advantage. In this focused discussion, share how adopting biological practices can make your farm more appealing to potential hires and boost employee retention.  

Facilitator: Matt Foertmeyer, Growing Operations Manager, Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse 

 

2. Orchard Floor Management Paradigm Shift: Embracing Natural and Planted Cover Crops 

Join Troy Swift for a deep dive into a regenerative approach to orchard floor management, focusing on integrating natural, volunteer, and planted cover crops. This roundtable will explore practical strategies for improving soil health and biodiversity while optimizing orchard productivity. 

Facilitator: Troy Swift, Owner, Swift River Pecans and President, Texas Pecan Growers Association (TPGA) 

 

3. Germicidal Light in Apple Orchards: Reducing Disease and Boosting Marketable Yields 

Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) infections at bloom and apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) infections at fruit set can lead to epidemic level infections resulting in unmarketable fruit and revenue loss for growers. Germicidal (UV-C) light is effective at managing bacterial and fungal populations in lab and field settings. Let’s discuss its potential as an integrated management tool. 

Facilitator: McKenzie Schessl, Lab Manager, Plant Pathology, Ph.D. Candidate, Plant Pathology, Cornell AgriTech