Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association

This webinar includes an overview of petroleum-based plastic mulch, bioplastics terminology, the differences between bio-based, compostable, and soil-biodegradable materials, label interpretation, performance comparisons, and non-plastic alternatives. Speakers: Byron Garcia, Biomimicry Consultant, Natural Designs LLC, Shuresh Ghimire, Associate Extension Educator, UConn All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Improving soil health doesn’t need to be expensive or laborious. This webinar focuses on organic, soil building practices that make economic and efficient sense for soil health improvements. Come prepared to share your experiences and methods that support long term soil fertility and reduced impacts on water quality. This webinar is supported by the Transition to Organic Program (TOPP) and the Vermont Agricultural Clean Water Initiative Program (AgCWIP). Speaker: David Weisberger, University of Rhode Island Extension

Enterprise budgets are a tool to help understand all the costs and returns associated with an individual crop. That data can inform decisions aimed at improving profitability. Vern Grubinger, UVM Extension vegetable and berry specialist will show examples of "fillable" tunnel enterprise budget spreadsheets, and then he’ll demonstrate a new on-line budgeting and benchmarking tool for high tunnel crops, funded by the Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative. Georgia McDougall, Greenhouse Manager at Intervale Community Farm in Burlington will describe how she has used enterprise budgets to compare the profitability of various tunnel crops, what was learned, and how that affected management practices.-All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Culinary and medicinal herbs can be sold in many ways - not just in bunches. Join experienced herb growers and VVBGA members Julia Etter of Nomad Farm in Bellow Falls, Vermont and Sarah Shaw of Hillside Botanicals in Randolph, Vermont to learn about opportunities for adding value - through potting up starts for spring sales to drying and creating value-added products for late winter markets. Bill Cavanaugh, business advisor with NOFA-Vermont's Farmer Services will share some simple crop budgets that can be used to assess whether herbs could be a profitable part of your farm's crop mix. Julia and Sarah recently launched the Vermont Herb Grower’s Initiative, and they will explain resources that are available, and in the works, to support herb production and marketing. This webinar is funded in part by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant programThank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Farmers share methods for reduced tillage and cover cropping in diversified vegetable systems. Speakers: Mike Snow, Snow Organic Ag and Executive Director, Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance, Post Mills, VT; Kaity Mazza, Paul Mazza’s Fruits and Vegetables, Essex VT; Noah and Sophie Courser-Kellerman, Alprilla Farm, Warner, NH. All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Designed by farmers for farmers, CommunityAccreditation for Produce Safety (CAPS) is voluntary program of the Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Association (VVBGA), coordinated by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension. The on-line CAPS platform helps growers establishmeaningful, implementation-ready produce safety plans. "CAPS-Plus” adds an optional on-farm audit to meet the food safety expectations of many wholesale buyers and distributors. Hans Estrin of UVM Extension and Emily Reiss of the VVBGA will provide an overview of CAPS content, procedures, and policies, and how the CAPS-Plus program supports grower access to wholesale markets. This webinar is supported by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RSFI).

CAPS+ / CAPS+LGS has new auditors and a few improvements-come learn everything you need to know for CAPS Audit success in 2026! Panel presentation by Hans Estrin (CAPS Coordinator), Emily Reiss (CAPS Audit Coordinator), Pablo Eliot (CAPS Auditor), Sarah Mcllvennie (VAAFM CAPS Audit Advisor)

Join experts and farmers to learn the basics ofpest and disease scouting in tunnels, organic prevention tools, cultural management, and spray options. This webinar is supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Speakers : Ann Hazelrigg, UVM Diagnostic Plant Lab, Christa Alexander, Jericho Settlers Farm, Andy Jones, IntervaleCommunity Farm.

Discerning the pros and cons of wholesale opportunities and costs can be difficult. Farm advisors Rose Wilson and Annie Harlow share tools to assess wholesale distribution costs. This webinar is supported by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RSFI). Speakers: Rose Wilson; Annie HarlowAll webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Farmers share their organic management practices that promote pollinator habitat, improve soil health, and provide other farm benefits.Speakers: Chuck Wooster, Sunrise Farm; Ryan Fitzbeauchamp, Evening Song Farm.All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Are you a smaller-scaler "limited resource" grower aiming to build and/or improve your production systems for the coming season? If so, check out the CAPS webinar. Practical, photo-rich overview, Including: • Overview of design goals and elements of 14 “Critical Control Points” from field to customer (based on Safe, Easy, Low-cost Produce Handling Quick Guides).• Standard Operating Procedures in action-- examples, templates and discussion• Plan for success: Intro to produce safety planning and the CAPS plan builder• Into to improvement project resources (Ag Engineering, Quick Guides)• Scheduling follow up planning sessions (for improvement projects and drafting a CAPS plan) Feel free to reach out after this meeting with questions or to schedule a one-on -one planning session with Hans. hestrin@uvm.edu

High tunnel innovations: farmer lightening round. Farmers find the best solutions to vexing problems! This webinar is an opportunity to learn key tips for efficient, ergonomic, affordable improvements for high tunnel growing. Speakers: Danielle Allen, Root 5 Farm, Fairlee; Georgia McDougall, Intervale Community Farm, Burlington; Andy Chamberlin, UVM Extension.All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Go with the flow: improving high tunnel ventilation. This webinar provides practical principles, tips, guidance, and tools to help improve ventilation and air circulation in high tunnels, both from an expert and farmer perspective. This webinar is supported by the Transition to OrganicPartnership Program. Speakers: Jonathan Ebba, Field specialist with University of New Hampshire Extension, Eric Skovsted, Joe’s Brook Farm in Barnet, VT.

The Vermont legislature enacted Act 182 in 2024, titled “An Act Relating to the Regulation of Neonicotinoid Pesticides.” The Act aims to regulate the sale and use of neonicotinoid treated seeds and neonicotinoid pesticides within Vermont to protect pollinator populations and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Learn about Vermont’s Act 182 related to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, and how it impacts sales and use of neonicotinoid treated seed and neonicotinoid pesticides. This law is similar to legislation in New York. Speaker: Stephanie Smith, Deputy Director, Public Health and Agriculture Resource Management Division, VT Agency of Ag. Food & Markets. Stephanie manages a team addressing the consumer protection side of agricultural inputs: feed, animal health products, seed, fertilizer, lime, soil amendments, nursery stock, and pesticides. FYI, 'neonics' include products containing Imidacloprid (Admire Pro, Confidor, Gaucho...) Thiamethoxam (Actara, Platinum, Cruiser...) Acetamiprid (Mospilan, Assail, TriStar 8.5 SL...) Clothianidin (Belay, Poncho, Dantosu...) ---- All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible! Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Learn about research-based strategies to manage Alternaria, flea beetles, cabbage aphids and more. Speakers: Susan Scheufele, UMass Extension, Becky Sideman, UNH, and Ethan Grunberg, Cornell University Cooperative Extension. All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

WPS are intended to protect employees and others from exposure to pesticides. All farms that apply pesticides are required to follow the WPS. There have been changes to the WPS. This webinar explains what you need to do to be in compliance and how you can get assistance. Speaker: David Huber, Deputy Director, Public Health and Agricultural Resource Management Division, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. Michael Desrochers, Executive Director, Division of Fire Safety, will provide an overview of the Division of Fire Safety and describe the authority it has. He will describe different types of farm housing occupancy classifications, what DFS looks for in farm housing occupancies, what the expectations are, and owner and occupant responsibilities regarding safety. All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Living mulches can provide many soil health benefits and reduce erosion. Learn innovative strategies and how these practices impact yield. Speakers: Lincoln Fishman, Momentum Ag; Ash Loehr, Hurricane Flats, South Royalton; Jason Lilley, UMaine Extension. All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

What strategies are effective for mitigating excess water during wet years? There are a range of techniques to help your crops stay drier and more productive, ranging from field layout to subsurface drainage. Speaker: Joshua Faulkner, UVM Extension. All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

This webinar explores the spectrum of reduced tillage practices at all scales, covering equipment and methods that can improve soil health and save labor. Speakers: Julie Fine, American Farmland Trust; Natalie Lounsbury, University of New Hampshire.All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Growers and researchers are always inventing and refining methods of managing this very persistent pest. Explore mechanical bug beaters, data on delayed planting, and updates on spray efficacy. Speakers: Vic Izzo, UVM; Jon Cohen, Deep Meadow Farm, Ascutney; Goran Johanson Goranson Farm, Dresden, Maine; Phil Mason, Crossroad Farm, Post Mills. Beating Beetles Better: Mechanically Controlling Colorado Potato Beetlehttps://go.uvm.edu/cpbbeaterAll webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible! Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org