Specialty Crop Production Training Videos

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The Michigan Farmers Market Association Releases Six Online Training Videos for Improving Specialty Crop Production

The Michigan Farmers Markets Association (MIFMA) recently released six online training videos that provide instruction to specialty crop producers on topics related to improving farming production practices. The primary goal of the videos is to increase the number of practical, farm-based educational resources available to specialty crop producers.

Online Training Videos: 
Hoophouse Winter Cover 
Soil Blocking for Transplant Production 
Direct Seeding With a Tractor-mounted Seeder 
Hoophouse Soil Preparation
Stringing Peppers
Drip Irrigation Basics for Hoophouse Production

The web-based videos feature Adam Montri, Owner of Ten Hens Farm and Hoophouse Outreach Specialist for Michigan State University, and Jacob Bach, Owner of Natures Pace Organics Farm.  Together Montri and Bach have extensive experience growing a diversity of specialty crops in the field and in hoophouses. The six videos highlight topics which include: Hoophouse Winter Cover, Soil Blocking for Transplant Production, Direct Seeding with a Tractor-mounted Seeder, Hoophouse Soil Preparation, Stringing Peppers, and Drip Irrigation Basics for Hoophouse Production.

The videos were created as part of MIFMA’s Farm-based Education Program, a program that addresses the need for training and technical assistance designed for specialty crop producers. The field days were hosted on a farm or in a direct-market setting and included a tour of the operation and utilized a farmer-to-farmer teaching model.

“There is a growing interest from farmers to have practical farm-based solutions and training programs available both on the farm and online. MIFMA is excited and privileged to be able to work with some amazing partners to bring this experience to specialty crop producers,” explains MIFMA Director, Dru Montri.

A Specialty Crop Blog Grant through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development provided funding for the Farm-based Education Program.

For more information on other programs and MIFMA membership opportunities, visitwww.mifma.org or call 517-432-3381.