Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center to host annual open house

posted on August 9, 2012 8:59pm

CONTACT:           Holly Whetstone, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 517-355-0123

The Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center (NWMHRC), an informational hub for tree fruit and wine grape production, will open its doors Aug. 23 to share its latest research with industry members and the general public.

Concurrent educational sessions, which are free and open to the public, will begin at 3 p.m.  Sessions will include information on the latest findings in cherry and apple fungicide/bactericide trials from Michigan State University (MSU) AgBioResearch plant pathologist and Extension specialist George Sundin; a discussion on pruning and training wine grapes led by AgBioResearch viticulturist and MSU Extension specialist Paolo Sabbatini and Extension grape specialist Duke Elsner ; and a presentation on the importance of native plants, pollinators and bolstering pollination through adjacent plantings by AgBioResearch entomologists and Extension specialists Rufus Isaacs and Doug Landis. Isaacs and Landis will also lead a roundtable discussion with beekeepers and pollination experts on improving apple and cherry orchard pollination.  

The annual open house concludes with a social hour and local wine tasting at 5:15 p.m., followed by a dinner featuring locally produced foods provided by Ethnic Garden Catering.  The cost for dinner is $15 per person. Dinner reservations are required by Aug. 22 and can be made by calling the Leelanau County Extension office at 231-256-9888 or by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  

The NWMHRC, located at 6686 S. Center Highway, is a 100-acre site specializing in integrated pest management, horticultural production and handling, value-added processing, marketing and farm financial management practices for wine grapes, apples, plums, sweet and tart cherries, and hops.  It is one of 14 AgBioResearch Centers located across the state. For more information, visit http://agbioresearch.msu.edu/nwmihort or call 231-946-1510.

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MSU AgBioResearch engages in innovative, leading-edge research that combines scientific expertise with practical experience to generate economic prosperity, sustain natural resources, and enhance the quality of life in Michigan, the nation and the world.