NMSU to host annual fruit growers’ workshop in Santa Fe

NMSU to host annual fruit growers’ workshop in Santa Fe DATE: 02/12/2016 WRITER: Jane Moorman, 505-249-0527, jmoorman@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Shengrui Yao , 505-852-4241, yaos@nmsu.edu SANTA FE – Do you have an orchard that needs some renovation? Or are you thinking of starting an orchard? Information at the annual fruit growers’ workshop could help your accomplish that goal. New Mexico State University and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture will host the free event Friday, March 4, at the Santa Fe County Fair Building, 3229 Rodeo Road, in Santa Fe. “This workshop will be good for folks wanting to learn more about starting an orchard or renovating an existing one,” said Shengrui Yao, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service fruit specialist. Registration will begin at 8 a.m., followed by presentations from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on topics that include orchard irrigation, soil fertility and cover crop management, integrated pest management for arthropods in New Mexico fruit crops, apple orchard planting and establishment, NMSU fruit research update and the Food Safety Modernization Act produce rules. Presenters will include NMSU faculty and Extension specialists Blair Stringham, John Idowu, Carol Sutherland, Richard Heerema, Nancy Flores and Yao. Lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is requested. Visit http://rsvp.nmsu.edu/rsvp/fruitgrowers2016 or call the Rio Arriba County Extension Office at 505-685-4523. For more information, contact Yao at 505-852-4241, Donald Martinez at 505-685-4523, or Tom Dominguez at 505-471-4711. - 30 - Follow NMSU News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nmsunews Follow NMSU News on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NMSUNews