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Multicultural Farmers Program holds Post Harvest Blueberry Workshop

February 2007: The past year was an excellent year for farmers to grow and harvest their crops in Michigan. In many cases, it was not only great weather, but it was also excellent farm management. My field visits this year saw many farms that had excellent yields due to timely showers during the summer of 2006. I have been involved in agriculture in one way or another for all of my “49 years” (Seriously, it’s quite a few more. Don’t tell anybody). I can’t remember a fall and winter that has been any warmer than this year, 2006-2007.

The MIFFS Multicultural Farmers program took advantage of this mild weather and held a “Post Harvest Blueberry Workshop.” This workshop was held at the Hawkins’ farm in Covert, Mich. and was suggested by Arnold Baber at one of our previous Pesticide Education Workshops. It was a great success.

Mark Longstroth, Southwest Michigan District Horticultural & Marketing Educator, led the program which was attended by 17 farmers and several agency representatives. This workshop was held to educate our farmers on what they should do with their blueberries following harvest in preparation for the upcoming year. The farmers gave high marks to the workshop and appreciated the post-harvest farm walk-through and instruction. Longstroth took time to show what needed to be pruned and also demonstrated proper techniques with pruning shears. Farmers also had the opportunity to get some hands-on experience using the shears to remove some of the branches that needed attention.

I also had a chance to visit Cassandra and Eddie Clarkston’s farms in Niles, Mich. and witness the harvest of some of their organic soybeans. This is the Clarkstons’ first year farming, but they are getting the “hang of it.” Their crops looked good and harvest was going well when I visited. I hope that next year’s growing and harvest season go as well and that our workshops continue to be as successful in 2007.

For more information about similar workshops or the Multicultural Farmers Program, contact Morse Brown.