2012 Michigan Ag Expo offers programs for gardeners

posted on June 21, 2012 3:17pm

CONTACT: Eileen Gianiodis
517-432-1555, ext. 230

EAST LANSING, Mich.—Continuing a history ripe with educational opportunities, the 2012 Michigan Ag Expo will host numerous educational sessions, whose topics range from animal mortality management and alpaca products to legal issues on the farm. This year, Ag Expo will feature several sessions on gardening topics, presented by MSU Extension Master Gardener staff members and volunteers.

The following sessions on gardening will take place in the CANR Tent on the Ag Expo grounds:

Tomato Diseases

Growing fresh tomatoes is one of the true joys of the vegetable gardener. Though tomatoes can suffer from all kinds of diseases, they are rarely fatal if gardeners manage them properly. Learn about the four major diseases of tomatoes in Michigan and how to protect your bountiful crop at 10:30 a.m. July 17.

Good to the Last Drop

In this time of water and resource conservation, a home drip irrigation system makes sense. Learn about the equipment and supplies needed to install drip irrigation in your vegetable and/or flower garden. This session, slated for 10:30 a.m. July 18, will demonstrate uses of this technology.

Cucurbit Downy Mildew

Cucumbers are a popular Michigan garden crop and an important commercial agriculture crop that contributes to Michigan’s economy through $61.3 million in sales of fresh-market and pickling cucumbers. Learn how to identify and prevent this fast-moving disease that can wipe out cucumbers within two weeks of infection at 10:30 a.m. July 19.

Ag Expo runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 17 and 18, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 19. The site is located at the corner of Mt. Hope and Farm Lane. Admission to Ag Expo and parking are free.

Because of construction, Harrison   Road will be closed between Trowbridge and East Crescent roads until July 27, rendering it unusable for Ag Expo traffic.  To avoid the construction altogether, all visitors should use the Jolly Road exit. To view a map, visit http://agexpo.msu.edu/directions/

For more information about Ag Expo, call 800-366-7055, or visit www.agexpo.msu.edu.
Ag Expo is hosted annually by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University Extension and AgBioResearch.