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Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

3 days ago

Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
An increasing number of customers are bringing animals with them when they visit farm markets, pick your own farms, or agritainment activities. Animals can pose a food safety risk to produce, introduce disease to farm animals, frighten or upset farm animals, employees and other market customers and farm visitors. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) governs what you are legally allowed to do in regards to customers with service animals visiting your market or on your farm. These resources cover the specifics of the ADA, animals that are not protected by the ADA regulations, and how to reduce potential risk on your farm from outside animals. foodsafetyclearinghouse.org/resources/regulations-impacting-farms-about-service-comfort-and-emoti... ... See MoreSee Less

Regulations impacting farms about service, comfort, and emotional support animals | Food Safety Resource Clearinghouse

foodsafetyclearinghouse.org

Added by Meredith Melendez • Last updated February 11, 2020 Author: Meredith Melendez Type: Tools & Calculators, Fact Sheets, Poster Topic: General (PSR), Produce Safety Rule (PSR), Worker Health, H...
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Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

5 days ago

Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
Check out this podcast episode from Small Farms & Acreage Living - Iowa State University Extension to hear about fruit production possibilities for small acreages!smallfarmsustainability.libsyn.com/fruit-production-on-small-acreages?tdest_id=282052 ... See MoreSee Less

smallfarmsustainability's podcast: Fruit Production on Small Acreages

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In this episode I visit with Suzanne Slack, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Fruit Crop Specialist! Today we're talking about fruit production possibilities for small acreages.
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Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

1 week ago

Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
If you produce organic specialty crops be sure to check out this podcast episode! ... See MoreSee Less

smallfarmsustainability's podcast: FSA Support Programs for Organic Production

smallfarmsustainability.libsyn.com

In this episode Amanda Weigel, Agriculture Program Specialist with the Iowa Farm Service Agency reviews the two organic programs (OCCSP & OTECP) the FSA is currently accepting applications on!
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Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Associationlogo

Slack Named New Extension Fruit Crops Specialist

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers AssociationDecember 22, 2021

Corn and soybeans may be the dominant crops grown in Iowa, but there is plenty of opportunity for specialty crops, including fruits, according to the newest fruit crop specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Suzanne Slack, assistant professor and fruit crops specialist, plans to help Iowa’s fruit crop growers overcome challenges and increase their chances of success.

“My goal is to help them improve their fruit crops, both in helping with grower knowledge as well as making recommendations that can increase yields, crop diversity and sustainability,” said Slack, who began with the university in November. “I think there are a lot of opportunities here in Iowa and I look forward to working with Iowa growers and the fruit crop industry.”

Slack grew up on a small family farm in western Pennsylvania, where she helped with organic grain and fruit production. She earned her undergraduate degree in horticulture from Penn State in 2012, and her Master’s and doctoral degrees in plant pathology from Michigan State, with an emphasis on apple, cherry and peach trees.

After graduating Michigan State in December 2020, Slack completed a short postdoc in North Carolina focusing on vine decline and dieback of grapes. 

Slack said the challenges of producing fruits in the Midwest are ever-changing, just as they are for conventional crop growers. In recent years, fruit growers have battled extreme weather events, including extreme heat and extreme cold. 

She said fruit crop producers must adapt to better management practices in order to be successful during weather extremes. She is particularly interested in studying plant stress and resilience, and providing more solutions to Midwest growers.

Slack is as passionate about teaching young growers and students as she is about teaching the industry. In addition to extension, she holds a research and teaching appointment at Iowa State.

“Suzanne brings a wide breadth of expertise and experience in horticulture and plant pathology of fruit crops,” said George Sundin, distinguished professor and extension specialist at Michigan State. “She has an excellent rapport with growers and will work closely with them to ensure that she is addressing their most important problems.”

While at Michigan State, she was the lead instructor for an introductory plant pathology course and taught lab sections for senior level classes. At Iowa State, she plans to show students how to do everything fruit related: from planting design, growing season management, and harvesting to postharvest preservation.

In her free time, she enjoys running and cycling, and spending time with her dog, Ranger, at local parks. She is also pretty good at video games.

Authors: 
Suzanne Slack
Extension Fruit Crops Specialist
515-294-2751
slacksuz@iastate.edu

–Iowa State University Extension & Outreach

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