—— 2023 ——

Regenerative Agriculture and

Growers’ Short Course
January 26 - 28, 2023

Funding for the Short Course is provided in part by the governments of Canada and British
Columbia through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
 Thursday, January 26th, 2023 | Morning
Terralink Room Terralink Room, Continued Nutrien Room, Continued
Session: Regenerative Agriculture Panel: Scaling Regenerative Agriculture Session: Greenhouse Vegetables
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
Welcome/Introductions PANEL HOST: Dr. Sean Smukler, Associate Professor Session Chair
9:30 AM - 9:40 AM and Director of the Centre for Sustainable 11:00 AM - 11:05 AM
Food Systems, University of British Columbia. Linda Delli Santi, Executive Director, BC Greenhouse
Remarks by the Honourable Pam Alexis,
Vancouver, BC. Growers’ Association. Abbotsford, BC.
Minister of Agriculture and Food
9:40 AM - 10:00 AM Stuart Lilley, CEO, Refeed Farms. Vancouver, BC. Opening Remarks.
Glen Lougheed, Co-Chair, Advisory Group Chris Bush, President, Catalyst Agri-Innovations Navigating the latest changes and options for
on Regenerative Agriculture and Agritech. Society. Abbotsford, BC. hiring temporary foreign workers
Vancouver, BC. Eva-Lena Lang, Executive Director, Organic BC. 11:05 AM - 11:45 AM
Michelle Koski, Co-Chair, Advisory Group Vernon, BC. Veronica Moreno, Program Manager and Reg Ens,
on Regenerative Agriculture and Agritech. Jacob Beaton, Owner, Tea Creek Enterprises. General Manager. Western Agriculture Labour
Vancouver, BC. Kitwanga, BC. Initiative. Abbotsford, BC.
Jacob Beaton, Owner, Tea Creek Enterprises. Can we scale regenerative agriculture across the province? Temporary foreign worker program requirements are
Kitwanga, BC. This session will explore how to make regenerative practices continuously changing. Western Agriculture Labour Initiative
profitable for growers and how agritech is helping. (WALI) will provide an update on the latest changes, the
Stan Vander Waal, President-Owner, Rainbow
different options available to farmers for hiring foreign
Greenhouses. Chilliwack, BC. Lunch Break - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM workers, and the best practices to have a successful and
Keynote Address rewarding season.
10:00 AM - 10:20 AM BC Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI)
Jacob Beaton, Owner, Tea Creek Enterprises.
Nutrien Room 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Kitwanga, BC. Session: Floriculture Dr. Laila Benkrima, Director Innovation and
Presentation Technology, BC Centre for Agritech Innovation,
Total Pesticide Recertification Credits = 1.5
10:20 AM - 10:40 AM Simon Fraser University. Surrey, BC.
Session Chair Simon Fraser University’s (SFU’s) B.C. Centre for Agritech
Dr. Cristine Morgan, Chief Scientific Officer, Soil 9:00 AM - 9:05 AM Innovation (BCCAI) helps BC businesses accelerate the
Health Institute. Morrisville, NC.
Michel Benoit, CEO, United Flower Growers research and development of new agriculture and
Panel: Transitioning Regenerative Agriculture Cooperative. Burnaby, BC. horticulture technologies and services. The centre works
10:40 AM - 11:25 AM with small and medium enterprises to develop, test and
Opening Remarks. pilot their solutions by providing expertise, matching
PANEL HOST: Corine Singfield, Regenerative funding, and end-to-end project support. By applying SFU’s
Avoiding the Guesswork in Identifying GH Pests
Agriculture Consultant, Closed Loop Consulting. circle of innovation model, BCAI provides the competitive
9:05 AM - 9:50 AM
Vancouver, BC. edge needed to launch new products that will benefit the
Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, IPM Consultant and BC greenhouse sector.
Stan Loewen, Director/Vice Chair, Terralink
Educator, Buglady Consulting. Allentown, PA.
Horticulture Inc. Abbotsford, BC. Lunch Break - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
With shifts in thrips species and the potential for new
Dag Falck, Founder, Falck Organic Consulting. invasives, accurate identification is key to effective
Pender Island, BC. biocontrol in the greenhouse. Thrips is an example of a
Tristan Banwell, Ranch Manager, Spray Creek Ranch. greenhouse pest where we know we are challenged in
Lillooet, BC. identifying the correct species, and this has implications for Pesticide Re-certification
management. Hear about new technologies and tools for
Doug Fossen, Owner, Fossen Bar 7 Ranch. Rock identifying greenhouse pests as well as other
Creek, BC. problematic insects in the greenhouse.
LMHIA members holding a Pesticide
BC has an opportunity to lead Canada in adopting Keys to Effective Biocontrol in the GH Applicators Certificate may collect credits
regenerative agriculture. This session will explore best
practices for communicating the potential of regenerative
9:50 AM - 10:35 AM towards re-certification as an alternative
agriculture as well as strategies for making a transition to Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, IPM Consultant and to re-writing an exam at the end of the
regenerative practices. Educator, Buglady Consulting. Allentown, PA. 5-year certification cycle.

Refreshment Break - 11:25 AM - 11:55 AM Biocontrol is critically important in managing greenhouse

Growers participating in the Short Course
pests today. Most programs use a combination with other
management tools. Understanding when and where to and other pre-approved educational events
Presentation by: Rodale Institute
apply these tools to avoid negative interactions is key may collect the required credits (20) over the
11:55 AM - 12:15 PM 5-year period of their certificate to become
to effective pest management. Growers will learn how
Jeff Moyer, CEO, Rodale Institute. Kutztown, PA. pesticides interact with beneficials and how trapping re-certified. Eligible Short Course sessions are
can be an important part of your IPM program. identified by a ladybug on the program.
Preventing Burnout
10:35 AM - 11:00 AM To participate in the program a grower must:

Megz Reynolds, Executive Director, The Do More • Maintain annual membership in LMHIA (i.e.
Agriculture Foundation. Black Diamond, AB. register for the Short Course each year)
• Possess a current and valid 5-year certificate
Agriculture is an industry with busy seasons, long days and
uncertainty. Preventing burnout begins with understanding
in the agriculture (general) category
the signs and requirements for individual self-maintenance. • Be able to read and comprehend English
Megz Reynolds is a former farmer and leads Do More pesticide labels
Agriculture - the national voice and champion for
mental health in Canadian agriculture. For more details, the application form/FAQ
sheet can be requested by email:
Cover photo: Jayme Dunn Photo. Burnaby, BC. [email protected]

2
 Thursday, January 26th, 2023 | Afternoon
Terralink Room Nutrien Room Belchim Room
Session: Agritech and Innovation Session: Greenhouse Vegetables Session: Raspberry/Strawberry
Total Pesticide Recertification Credits = 1.5
Panel: Agritech Funding in BC Session Chair
Session Chair
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM 1:00 PM - 1:05 PM
1:30 PM - 1:35 PM
PANEL HOST: Glen Lougheed, Co-Chair, Advisory Linda Delli Santi, Executive Director, BC Greenhouse
Growers’ Association. Abbotsford, BC. Lisa Craig, BC Raspberry Industry Development
Group on Regenerative Agriculture and Agritech.
Council and BC Strawberry Growers Association.
Vancouver, BC. Opening Remarks. Abbotsford, BC.
Steve Hansen, Managing Director, Equity Analyst, Future of Greenhouse Innovation Opening Remarks.
Raymond James. Vancouver, BC.
1:05 PM - 1:45 PM
Scott Wong, Investment Principal, InBC Investment Ultraviolet-C for Powdery Mildew Control in
Eric Douw, Business Development and Sales Strawberries
Corp. Burnaby, BC.
Manager, Kubo Greenhouse Projects. Vancouver, BC. 1:35 PM - 2:00 PM
Jason McNamee, Founder, Chief Product Officer At a time when the BC greenhouse sector faces critical
and Senior Biogeoscientist, Lucent Biosciences, Dr. David M. Gadoury, Plant Pathologist, Cornell
challenges from extreme weather events, supply chain
Vancouver, BC. University, Ithaca, NY.
issues and high energy costs - what innovations are on the
Julie McGill, Independent VC & PE Investor, Advisor horizon? Based in Holland and recently opening a Vancouver What is the potential for this technology to replace
office, Kubo knows that growers must respond to these fungicides for management of powdery mildew in field
and Board Director. Vancouver, BC.
developments to ensure high returns with the lowest possible grown strawberries?
BC is home to some of North America’s most promising inputs. Leading innovations and trends will be presented
agritech startups and scale-ups. But funding for agritech is Getting More from a Soil Sample than just a
with a focus on achieving energy and water savings, reduced
developing across the province. How do we back the sector CO2 emissions and increasing yields in the BC sector.
Fertilizer Blend
with the capital it needs to solve the world’s food security 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
challenges and power BC’s economy? Zero Emission Cultivation in Greenhouse
Mike Boot, Owner, Crop Advisor, Pier Management
Horticulture
Presentation and Consulting Inc. Chilliwack, BC.
1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
2:45 PM - 2:55 PM Learn what the numbers on your soil test represent and the
Jim van Ruijven, Research Scientist, Wageningen importance of nutrient balance.
Rachel Backer, Advisor, Business Development, University & Research. Bleiswijk, Netherlands.
Mitacs. Vancouver, BC. Strawberry Blossom Weevil Research Update
There are several methods to remove plant protection
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Refreshment Break - 2:55 PM - 3:15 PM products from water destined for discharge. Additionally,
the quality of the recirculating nutrient solution can be Dr. Michelle Franklin, Research Scientist, Agassiz
Panel: Smart Farms managed in such a way that discharge is not needed. Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM Methods for removal of plant protection products and Agri-food Canada. Agassiz, BC.
management practices to prevent discharge of drain water
PANEL HOST: Dr. Rickey Yada, Professor and Dean, Tracy Hueppelsheuser, Entomologist, BC Ministry of
will be presented.
Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of Agriculture and Food. Abbotsford, BC.
British Columbia. Vancouver, BC. The BC and Canadian Economy 2022
Lessons learned over the past two seasons about strawberry
Dr. Sylvain Moreno, CEO and Scientific Director, Retrospective and 2023 Outlook with Thoughts blossom weevil biology and behaviour in raspberry and
BC Centre for Agritech Innovation, Simon Fraser on Agriculture strawberry fields and wild host plants.
University. Vancouver, BC. 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Refreshment Break - 3:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Dr. Cornelia Kreplin, Interim CEO, CAAIN. Denise Mullen, Director, Environment, Sustainability
Edmonton, AB. and Indigenous Relations, Business Council of BC. Botrytis Fungicide Spray Rotations for Berry Crops
Vancouver, BC. 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Graeme Herring, VP of Intellectual Property
Strategy, Terramera. Vancouver, BC. Key issues in 2022 have affected the BC and Canadian Katie Goldenhar, Plant Pathologist, Ontario Ministry of
economy. What are the key take-aways that the greenhouse Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Guelph, ON.
Smart farms are testing grounds for next generation or agriculture industry should be paying attention to for 2023?
agritech. They’re living labs where innovation of the Key considerations for designing spray rotations to
future meets today’s reality of farming. This session will Lighting for year-round production – What do prevent Botrytis fruit rot infections.
take a look at how smart farms provide opportunities for we know?
Market Outlook for Red Raspberries
commercial-scale innovation, ensuring real-world success 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
and implementation, and what role smart farms should play 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
in the future of food. Dr. Xiuming Hao, Research Scientist, Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada. Harrow, ON. Ben Klootwyk, Account Manager, Pacific Coast Fruit
Products. Abbotsford, BC.
Year-round greenhouse vegetable production with
supplemental lighting is quite different from conventional What are the market prospects for BC raspberries in 2023?
production without lighting. Many aspects of the
production systems such as cultivar selection, crop schedule,
fertigation and climate control, need to be adjusted.
Xiuming will review current knowledge and technologies
on lighting, crop, fertigation and climate control strategies
for successful year-round greenhouse vegetable production
with supplemental lighting.

3
 Friday, January 27th, 2023 | Morning
Terralink Room Nutrien Room Nutrien Room, Continued
Session: All Berry Session: Potato Strengths and Limitations of Soil Health
Total Pesticide Recertification Credits = 1.25 Total Pesticide Recertification Credits = 2.25 Indicators
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Session Chair Session Chair
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM Dieter Geesing, Provincial Soil Specialist, BC
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Abbotsford, BC.
David Mutz, Berryhaven Farm Ltd. Abbotsford, BC. Leisa Yee, Administrator, BC Potato and Vegetable
There are many soil indicators that have been proposed to
Growers Association. Delta, BC.
Opening Remarks. monitor soil health, but not all make practical sense. Hear
Opening Remarks. some tips on what to consider before adopting sometimes
AgRobotics: Innovations in Weed Management costly health tests.
Update on Key Pest Management Tools for
9:05 AM - 9:30 AM
Potatoes and Field Vegetables Lunch Break - 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Kristen Obeid, Weed Management Specialist - 9:05 AM - 9:30 AM
Horticulture, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food
Ken Sapsford, Pesticide Specialist, BC Ministry of
and Rural Affairs. Harrow, ON.
See some of the promising new robotic weeding
Agriculture and Food. Kelowna, BC. Belchim Room
Grower awareness of re-evaluations related to pest control
technologies being tested in Ontario. Session: Cannabis
tools and providing industry input to regulators is essential
Soil Health in Berry Systems to retaining uses and adapting alternative management Total Pesticide Recertification Credits = 1.0
9:30 AM - 9:55 AM strategies to key pest control issues in potatoes and
field vegetables. Session Chair
Deirdre Griffin LaHue, Assistant Professor, Washington 9:00 AM - 9:05 AM
State University. Mt. Vernon, WA. Targeted Control to Avoid Crop Losses to
Late Blight Rajiv Dasanjh, Horticultural Team Lead &
What is soil health and how can we manage it in berry Emerging Markets Specialist, BC Ministry of
systems, particularly as it relates to soil compaction? 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Agriculture and Food. Courtenay, BC.
Dr. Deborah Henderson, Director, Institute
Cover Cropping Techniques for Perennial for Sustainable Horticulture and BC Regional Opening Remarks.
Cropping Systems Innovation Chair. Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Hop-Latent Viroid – A threat to the Cannabis
9:55 AM - 10:25 AM Surrey, BC. Industry
Gene Covert, Proprietor/Winemaker, Covert Farms Dominique Manga, Graduate Student, Institute 9:05 AM - 10:00 AM
Family Estate. Oliver, BC. for Sustainable Horticulture, Kwantlen Polytechnic Dr. Zamir Punja, PhD, Professor of Plant Pathology &
Learn how to select cover crops that can outcompete University. Langley, BC. Biotechnology, Simon Fraser University. Burnaby, BC.
weeds and benefit the crop, and how and when to use How can we predict the emergence of late blight in a Annually returning speaker Dr. Zamir Punja will provide
a roller crimper to terminate a cover crop. crop, with the objective of treating only when necessary? an overview of the Hop-Latent Viroid (HLV) and its current
This research project, while in its early stages, combines impacts on the cannabis sector. Dr. Punja will also review
Refreshment Break - 10:25 AM - 10:45 AM mathematical modelling with integrated crop management new data and patterns he and his team have recently
to minimize crop loss and the cost of fungicide application – observed in how HLV has affected cannabis production
Preventing Burnout not forgetting that crop yield, quality, and profit for
10:45 AM - 11:05 AM and quality, as well as potential vectors.
the grower is key.
Megz Reynolds, Executive Director, The Do More Living Soil and Improving THC Concentration
Agriculture Foundation. Black Diamond, AB. Refreshment Break - 10:00 AM - 10:10 AM 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Wendy Bennett, Executive Director, AgSafe. Wireworm Management in the Future – the Dr. Don Smith, PhD, Distinguished James McGill
Langley, BC. Introduction of Biocontrols Professor, McGill University. Montréal, QC.
Agriculture is an industry with busy seasons, long days and 10:10 AM - 10:40 AM The key compounds of Cannabis plants are cannabinoids,
uncertainty. Preventing burn out begins with understanding Todd Kabaluk, Biologist, Agriculture and Agri-Food which are produced by stalked glandular trichomes located
the signs and individual self-maintenance requirements. Canada. Agassiz, BC. on female flowers. These trichomes produce resin that
contains cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol acid
Forces Shaping the Future of the Global Starting with monitoring and risk assessment, research has
(THC), and an array of other secondary metabolites of
Caneberry and Blueberry Industries progressed to a point that we can suggest how biocontrols
varying degrees of commercial interest. Dr. Donald Smith
can be used at each stage of the crop production cycle to
11:05 AM - 11:45 AM will provide an overview of our current understanding of
sustainably manage wireworms. Future efforts will focus
cannabis glandular trichomes and their metabolite products
David Magaña, VP and Senior Analyst, on addressing requirements for registration of bioproducts.
and their relation to living soil conditions in production.
RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness. Mexico, MX. Some insights into non-chemical management of tuber
Trends in global production, seasonality of supply and
flea beetle from previous research will be reviewed. Cannabis Genetics Development
consumption for caneberries and blueberries. Seed Management and Planting Strategies for a 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cool Wet Spring Mat Beren, Owner and Chief Cultivating Officer,
Seasonal Strategies for Effective SWD
10:40 AM - 11:05 AM Great Gardner Farms. Duncan, BC.
Management
11:45 AM - 12:05 PM Marjolaine Dessureault, Research Director, E.S. Mat Beren is a veteran of BC’s cannabis industry with over
Cropconsult Ltd. Surrey, BC. 20 years of experience. Mat is also a licensed producer and
Dr. Vaughn Walton, PhD, Professor, Horticultural operates his own cannabis cultivation business ‘The Great
Entomologist, Oregon State University. Corvallis, OR. Pest issues that are typical during cool, wet springtime
Gardner’ based in Duncan, British Columbia. Join Mat as he
conditions have implications for seed management
Learn about the relative rankings of SWD insecticides and shares his knowledge on Cannabis Genetics Development
and planting strategies. Hear some tips for successful
recommendations for controlling immature and adult where he will review the past; present; and future on this
establishment.
life stages of this pest. topic, as well as the basics of how LP’s can best incorporate
Testing Potential New Tools for Potato Top-Kill genetics development into their businesses.
Lunch Break - 12:05 PM - 1:00 PM 11:05 AM - 11:30 AM
Lunch Break - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Megan Gray, IPM Consultant, E.S. Cropconsult Ltd.
Surrey, BC.
Promising herbicide alternatives to effectively top-kill
organic potatoes in BC. Hear results of a spray trial and
a cost comparison with existing commercial methods.

4
 Friday, January 27th, 2023 | Afternoon
Terralink Room Nutrien Room, Continued Belchim Room, Continued
Session: Every Chef Needs a Farmer, 2023 Vegetable Variety Highlights – What’s New Eastern Filbert Blight: Breeding for Resistance
Every Farmer Needs a Chef for BC? Gives Insight into the Future of Disease
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM Management
Our Food, Our Farmers, Our Chefs 1:50 PM - 2:35 PM
Brian Campbell, Sales Representative, West Coast
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Seeds. Delta, BC. Thomas J. Molnar, PhD, Associate Professor, Rutgers
PANEL HOST: Ned Bell, Chef and Partner, Naramata University. New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Leah Erickson, Territory Manager, Stokes Seeds.
Inn. Okanagan, BC. Delta, BC. Breeding hazelnuts at Rutgers University in New Jersey
Justin Paakkunainen, Executive Chef, Fraser River Jacob Slosberg, Sales Representative, Gowan Seeds
for more than 25 years in close collaboration with Oregon
Lodge, Agassiz, BC. State University has provided the opportunity to learn a
Mt. Vernon, WA.
lot about eastern filbert blight (EFB), the primary limiting
Angie Quaale, Owner, Well-Seasoned Catering and Ben Yurkiw, Sales Representative – factor in the region. This presentation will discuss the
Shop. Langley, BC. Vegetable Division, Norseco Seeds. Yarrow, BC. biology of the causal fungus Anisogramma anomala and
Colin Burslem, Culinary Director, Joseph Richard includes an update of our understanding of its genetic
Find out what’s available in the world of vegetable varieties
Group. Fraser Valley, BC. diversity and its pathogenic variation, an important topic
from our seed representatives.
on many growers’ minds. This variation in disease response
Jeff Massey, Chef, Owner, Restaurant 62. Managing Fungicide Resistance in Alternaria to specific resistance genes in hazelnut plants requires the
Abbotsford, BC. consideration of multiple strategies for durable disease
species of Brassica Crops
• Showcasing the demand from the restaurant/food 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM management. A summary of our current thoughts and
service sector to source sustainably produced agricultural approaches on battling EFB and breeding for long-term
products (with a focus on long-term opportunities vs the Katie Goldenhar, Plant Pathologist, Ontario resistance will also be discussed.
challenges, and inclusion of distributors/caterers/etc. in Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Guelph, ON. Nutrient Dynamics and Water Management of
addition to chefs).
New OSU Hazelnut Cultivars
• Showcasing stories to consumers of how crops are With the reduced applications allowed for the multi-site
fungicide chlorothalonil (Bravo/Echo), single site fungicides
2:35 PM - 3:15 PM
produced (linkage to sustainable sourcing/organic
products/regenerative agriculture).” (Groups 11 and 7) will be more heavily relied upon. Alternaria Nik Wiman, Associate Professor, Oregon State
species in other cropping systems are known to develop University. Corvallis, OR.
Refreshment Break - 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM resistance to single site fungicides. This talk will review
As we transitioning to new OSU disease-resistant cultivars
recent resistance monitoring studies in Ontario of Alternaria
and pollinizers, there is an increasing need to manage plant
Session: Feed BC leaf spot on Brassica crops with the goal to create fungicide
nutrition and water management with more precision. Hear
management options for growers including resistance
an update on the latest research from Oregon State University.
Selling BC foods to BC institutions management best practices.
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: Survey Results
Familiar and Unfriendly Pests of Brassica Crops
and Recommendations for BC Hazelnuts
Kristina Bouris, Senior Manager, Value Chain 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Innovation, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Renee Prasad, Associate Professor and Department
Victoria, BC. Tracy Hueppelsheuser, Entomologist, BC Ministry of
Head, University of the Fraser Valley. Chilliwack, BC.
Agriculture and Food. Abbotsford, BC.
Interested in selling your food and beverage products to Wim Van Herk, Researcher, Agassiz Research and
B.C. hospitals, universities or colleges? Curious about how This pest is wreaking havoc in hazelnut orchards in other
Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-food
to get started? Join this session with the B.C. Ministry of parts of the world. Surveys of bugs and nuts over the last
Canada. Agassiz, BC. few years in the Fraser Valley has given us some insight into
Agriculture and Food’s Feed BC program to learn about
B.C.’s institutional food market, its unique opportunities and Experience in other growing areas due to soil movement the bug’s behaviour and impacts to our hazelnut crops. As it
needs, and tips and resources to get market-ready. raises concern about the spread of soilborne pests such as continues to become more abundant in BC, prevention and
clubroot due to recent flood events makes it a good time management approaches need to be considered
to revisit reminders on management to reduce the spread. when producing hazelnuts.
Nutrien Room Also, hear an update on continuing cabbage root
Physiological Responses of Hazelnut to Drought
maggot challenges and potential next steps.
Session: Field Vegetables 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Total Pesticide Recertification Credits = 1.25 Steven Bristow, PhD Student, University of British
Belchim Room Columbia. Vancouver, BC.
Session Chair
Thorsten Knifter, Assistant Professor, University of
1:15 PM - 1:20 PM Session: Hazelnut
British Columbia. Vancouver, BC.
Mike Wallis, Administrator, Fraser Valley Cole Crop Total Pesticide Recertification Credits = 1.25
Frequency and severity of drought events in BC is increasing
Growers Association. Langley, BC.
Session Chair due to climate change challenging agricultural production.
Opening Remarks. 1:00 PM - 1:05 PM Data on drought responses of hazelnut varieties Yamhill and
Jefferson (water status, stomatal behavior, wilting, and leaf
Nitrogen Inputs – Products and Strategies to Zach Fleming, President, BC Hazelnut Growers senescence) will be presented and discussed in the context
Reduce Losses Association. Chilliwack, BC. of tree performance, yield and irrigation management.
1:20 PM - 1:45 PM Opening Remarks.
The BC Living Lab Project
Josh Andrews, Nutrient Management Specialist The Role of the Hazelnut Agro-Ecosystem in the 4:15 PM - 4:20 PM
Extension and Support Services Branch, BC Ministry
Carbon Sink Dr. Sean Smukler, Associate Professor and Director
of Agriculture and Food. Abbotsford, BC.
1:05 PM - 1:50 PM of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems,
Making the decision to adopt management strategies to
reduce losses to the environment is a balancing act with Valerio Cristofori, Associate Professor, University of University of British Columbia. Vancouver, BC.
costs. What are the benefits for the operation and the Tuscia. Viterbo, Italy. Sean will present this producer-centric research and
environment? Once established, hazelnut tree plantations are typically development project focused on climate change mitigation
left permanently grass-covered. This project helps quantify practices that benefit the environment while meeting
the importance of this along with other best practices to farmers’ needs. Learn about the hazelnut industry’s
participation in this initiative.
LMHIA Annual General Meeting compensate for soil carbon losses during the establishment
phase of hazelnut plantings.
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Belchim Room

5
 Saturday, January 28th, 2023 | Morning
Terralink Room Nutrien Room Nutrien Room, Continued
Session: Blueberry Session: Organic Mow and Cover: No-till Cover Crop Management
Total Pesticide Recertification Credits = 1.75 Total Pesticide Recertification Credits = 0.5 in Organic Cabbage Production
11:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Session Chair Session Chair Benjamin Alles, Student, Kwantlen Polytechnic
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM 9:00 AM - 9:05 AM University. Richmond, BC.
Jason Smith, Chair, BC Blueberry Council. Heather Meberg, Owner, E.S. Cropconsult Ltd.
Results of a student research project evaluating a locally
Abbotsford, BC. Surrey, BC. available alternative to peat for use in organic transplant
Opening Remarks. production.
Opening Remarks.
Wireworm Management – Novel Methods for Yield Effect of Flax and Chickpea Intercropping
Best Practices for Management of Blueberry
the Present and Future 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Scorch Virus
9:05 AM - 9:40 AM Moira Tarry, Student, Kwantlen Polytechnic
9:05 AM - 9:25 AM
Todd Kabaluk, Biologist, Agriculture and Agri-Food University. Richmond, BC.
Carolyn Teasdale, Industry Specialist, Berries, Canada. Agassiz, BC.
BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Abbotsford, BC. Results of a student research project comparing relative
It’s always helpful to review wireworm biology and output of flax and chickpea mixtures to monocultures.
Hear an update on Blueberry Scorch Virus extension some standard methods that can be used to lessen their
efforts and rate of virus spread research. devastating impact on our crops.  Research taking place Lunch Break - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
under the Organic Science Cluster has resulted in some new
Blueberry Scorch Virus Update approaches, some of which can be applied now and
9:25 AM - 9:45 AM others that will be available in the future.
Belchim Room
Peter Ellis, Laboratory Director, Phyto Diagnostics
How Regenerative are Organic Vegetable
Company Ltd. North Saanich, BC.
Nutrient Management Practices? Session: Hops
Phyto Diagnostics tested over 5000 samples for blueberry 9:40 AM - 10:15 AM
scorch and blueberry shock viruses for BC blueberry Session Chair
growers in 2022. What trends are they seeing in virus Dr. Sean Smukler, Associate Professor and Director
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM
testing results? of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems,
University of British Columbia. Vancouver, BC. Ken Malynstein, President, B.C. Hop Growers
Novel Insights into the Virus Load of Diseased Regenerative agriculture promises to provide multiple Association.
Blueberry Plants benefits for the farmer and the environment. Using analyses Opening Remarks.
9:45 AM - 10:05 AM from various nutrient management experiments that have
been running for as long as 2015 in British Columbia, the Interpreting Your Soil Test Result
Jim Mattsson, Associate Professor, Simon Fraser
potential for organic vegetable producers to deliver on 9:05 AM - 10:00 AM
University. Burnaby, BC.
these promises will be discussed. Dieter Geesing, Provincial Soil Specialist, BC
Ultra-sensitive detection shows that diseased blueberry plants
Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Abbotsford, BC.
that test negative for both Scorch and Shock by traditional Preventing Burnout
methods often harbour these viruses at low levels. 10:15 AM - 10:35 AM Join the Ministry of Agriculture & Food’s Provincial Soil
Specialist, Dieter Geesing, as he reviews best management
Pre-bloom Management of Aphids and Aphid Megz Reynolds, Executive Director, The Do More practices for soils in hop-yards, as well as how to optimize
Population Dynamics Agriculture Foundation. Black Diamond, AB. soil health.
10:05 AM - 10:25 AM Wendy Bennett, Executive Director, AgSafe.
Langley, BC. A Guide to Plant Patenting and Variety
Jen McFarlane, Berry Integrated Pest Management Development in Canada
Agriculture is an industry with busy seasons, long days and
Consultant, E.S. Cropconsult Ltd. Coquitlam, BC. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
uncertainty. Preventing burn out begins with understanding
Season-long aphid management is critical to reduce the the signs and individual self-maintenance requirements. Amanda Moen, Senior Business Advisor,
spread of Scorch Virus. How do pre-bloom aphicide Commercialization and Intellectual Property,
sprays impact aphid populations during bloom? Refreshment Break - 10:35 AM - 11:00 AM Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.
St Catharines, ON.
Refreshment Break - 10:25 AM - 10:45 AM The KPU Farm: An Organic Teaching Farm at the
Join Senior Business Advisor and Commercialization/
Margin of an Ancient Peat Bog
Good Reasons for Using Shorter Irrigation 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
IP Specialist, Amanda Moen, from Vineland research and
Cycles in Blueberry Innovation Centre for an overview of how plant patenting,
Michael Bomford, Chair, Department of Sustainable and plant breeders rights works in Canada. Amanda will
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Agriculture, Kwantlen Polytechnic University. also provide a review of different plant-commercialization
Dr. David Bryla, Research Horticulturalist, US Richmond, BC. strategies, as well as a few success stories, and the pathway
Department of Agriculture. Corvallis, OR. Overview of the establishment of a new organic teaching for how some popular varieties were released from the
Studies indicate that short, frequent irrigation cycles farm on municipally owned ALR land at the margin of Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.
increase fruit production with less water. the Greater Lulu Island Peat Bog. How we’ve dealt with
Langara College Hops Development
soil contamination, conserved peat, and invested in bog
Current Status of Fruit Rot Caused by Fungal restoration while engaging students in all aspects of Program Update
Pathogens in Blueberry Fields operating a diversified organic market farm. 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
11:15 AM - 11:40 AM Ji Yang, PhD, Instructor, Biology Department,
Spent Mushroom Compost as a Replacement for Langara College. Vancouver, BC.
Siva Sabaratnam, Plant Pathologist, BC Ministry of Peat in Growing Media
Agriculture and Food. Abbotsford, BC. The craft beer industry is continuously searching for new
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM varieties of hops to create beers with novel aroma and flavours.
A two-year study highlights the prevalence and distribution Alex Bisset, Student, Kwantlen Polytechnic A potential unexplored source of new hops could come from
of the major fungal pathogens causing fruit-rot in University. Richmond, BC. the wild, especially farm-grown heirloom hops that have
blueberry fields in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia.
Results of a student research project evaluating a locally escaped and seeded wild populations (ie. feral). Over 100 feral
Lunch Break - 11:40 AM - 1:05 PM available alternative to peat for use in organic transplant hops have been identified in the Fraser Valley area in BC, and
production. at least three showed promising chemical characteristics that
appeal to brewers and consumers. Join Professor Ji Yang as he
provides an update on Langara College’s Hops Development
Program, and the varieties that are beginning to show traits of
having commercial application.

6
 Saturday, January 28th, 2023 | Afternoon

Belchim Room, Continued Terralink Room, Continued

KPU and GreenFlora Hops-Breeding Session: Blueberry, Continued
Program Update
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Global Blueberry Market Dynamics and What it
Mathias Schuetz, Instructor, Biology Department, Means for Pacific Northwest Growers
Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Vancouver, BC. 3:20 PM - 3:45 PM
Dr. Schuetz will provide an update for the KPU and Cort Brazelton, Co-CEO, Fall Creek. Lowell, OR.
GreenFlora Hops-Breeding program. Topics covered will be;
successful cultivars; chemical profiles; production; yields; Val Shepler, Commercial Manager for US and
and disease tolerance of new cultivars. Canada, Fall Creek. Lowell, OR.
Opportunities and challenges for the blueberry industry in
Lunch Break - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM the Pacific Northwest in light of global blueberry industry
growth and year-round supply.

Terralink Room
Nutrien Room
Session: Blueberry, Continued
Session: Organic, Continued
Session Chair
1:05 PM - 1:10 PM Session Chair
Carolyn Teasdale, Industry Specialist, Berries, 1:10 PM - 1:15 PM
BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Abbotsford, Harvie Snow, Owner, Grower, Snow Farms. Delta, BC.
BC.
Opening Remarks.
Opening Remarks.
Autonomy in Field Crops. Farming with No
Placement Matters - Impacts of Honey Bee Hive Tractor Driver, is it Possible?
Placement and Stocking Density on Blueberry 1:15 PM - 1:45 PM
Pollination 
Chuck Baresich, President of Haggerty AgRobotics
1:10 PM - 1:40 PM
Company. Bothwell, ON.
Lisa Wasko DeVetter, Associate Professor, How autonomous equipment could assist in regenerative
Washington State University. Mt. Vernon, WA. farming practices.
Learn how honey bee hive density and placement impact
blueberry pollination. Soil Microbes, Soil Health and Recovery
from Stress
Fitting it in: Strategies for integrating bee 1:45 PM - 2:20 PM
habitat into your farm.
Dr. Deborah Henderson, Director, Institute
1:40 PM - 2:10 PM
for Sustainable Horticulture and BC Regional
Andony Melathopolous, Assistant Professor, Oregon Innovation Chair, Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
State University. Corvallis, OR. Surrey, BC.
Cover crops, hedgerows, perennial flowering strips… what How do you know if your soil is “healthy”? Can we use
are the costs and benefits of different strategies for situating Trichoderma or other soil microbes as indicators of health
bee habitat on your farm.  or that it could be disease-suppressive? When soil is
stressed (i.e., Nov. 2021 floods, high salt content), are there
Field Performance of New Blueberry Cultivars amendments that can help the microbial community
and Future Prospects recover or do its job better? We’ve been asking these
2:10 PM - 2:35 PM questions too and have some experience to share.
Eric Gerbrandt, Research Director, BC Blueberry Minimal Tillage and Cover Crops
Council, BC Raspberry Council, and BC Strawberry 2:20 PM - 2:55 PM
Grower’s Association. Chilliwack, BC.
Gene Covert, Proprietor/Winemaker, Covert Farms
While many varieties have come and gone in the Fraser
Family Estate. Oliver, BC.
Valley, ‘Calypso’ appears to be here to stay. How does it
stack up against other new cultivars and future cultivars in Minimizing tillage is challenging in organic agriculture as
breeding pipelines? this is one of the only means to manage weeds. Gene and
his team have been adapting their systems and processes
Panel Discussion: The Impact of Peru on and have had good success in their vineyards. Hear about
Blueberry Markets how to use a systematic approach to build a strong
2:35 PM - 3:20 PM ecosystem.
Brian Malensky, VP and Director of Fresh Sales, Impact of Regenerative Management Practices
Oregon Berry Packing. Hillsboro, OR. on Soil Indicators for Climate Crisis Mitigation
Jesse Brar, Director of Sales and Marketing, South and Resiliency in Delta, BC
Alder Farms. Abbotsford, BC. 2:55 PM - 3:25 PM
John Lambiris, Berry Sales, Consolidated Fruit Jordy Kersey, PhD Candidate, University of British
Packers. Kelowna, BC. Columbia. Vancouver, BC.
Observations on the volume, seasonality and quality of Analysis of long-term regenerative practices including
blueberries coming in from Peru, and the impact this is winter cover cropping, grassland set-asides, and hedgerows
having on fresh and frozen blueberry markets. for climate crisis mitigation and resiliency on farms across
Delta, BC.

7
 Regenerative Agriculture and
Growers’ Short Course
Meeting Room Sponsors

2022/2023 LMHIA Directors

Blueberry Agribusiness
Nancy Chong Grant McMillan
Gage Neger Heather Meberg
The Horticultural Growers’ Short Course Kerry Seale Leah Erickson
is produced jointly by the B.C. Ministry Organic Ex Officio Directors
Andrew Vogler Sam Glasgow (Hops)
of Agriculture and Food, the Lower Lydia Ryall
Michael Dossett (Berry Breeder/
Harvie Snow
Mainland Horticultural Improvement Geneticist)
Raspberry Gary Jones (Consultant)
Association, and the Pacific Agriculture James Bergen
David Mutz Charitha Jayasinghege (Agassiz)
Show. Funding for the Short Course is Jordan Alamwala Todd Kabaluk (Agassiz)
Strawberry Rishi Burlakoti (Agassiz)
provided in part by the governments of Mike Boot Wim Van Herk (Agassiz)
Canada and British Columbia through Jeff Husband Rajiv Dasangh (BCMAF)
Alf Krause Emma Holmes (BCMAF)
the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a Vegetable Susan Smith (BCMAF)
Marinus van Eekelen
federal-provincial-territorial initiative. Tristin Bouwman
Karina Sakalauskas (BCMAF)
Bruce Wisbey Carolyn Teasdale (BCMAF)
Executive Director
Sandy Dunn