Friday, February 14th
9AM
Expo opens
Not to be missed, all day demonstrations on rug braiding and fun activities in the KidZone! There will be self-guided play activities will be available during expo hours. Stop by to rest and relax as a family and check out all the fun. There will be additional scheduled hands-on activities for the whole family to enjoy, be sure to check back for these scheduled events.
Education Session
Are Rivers Livers? River Network Capacity to Remove Nutrient Pollution
Associate Professor Wil Wollheim, NH Agricultural Experiment Station
Freshwater ecosystems provide many ecosystem services, among them regulation of material fluxes. Freshwaters are able to remove nitrogen through denitrification, but their ability to control watershed exports needs to be considered at the watershed scale. The contribution of freshwaters is also enhanced by ponded waters like reservoirs and lakes. The contribution of freshwaters is a function of where pollutant inputs to the river network occur, flow condition, temperature and biological activity. Watershed management of excess nutrients should consider how surface waters contribute to nutrient removal.
Hale Room
10:30AM
Education Session
NH No -Till Solutions for Dairy Producers
Hosted by The NH Soil Health Partnership
Hale Room
Wildlife Ecounters Presentation
At booth – 113
PT Farm Master Butcher Presentation
At booth – 813
12:30PM
Wildlife Ecounters Presentation
At booth – 113
1PM
PT Farm Master Butcher Presentation
At booth – 813
Education Session
NH No -Till Solutions for Vegetable Growers
Hosted by The NH Soil Health Partnership
Hale Room
2PM
Education Session
Solar in New Hampshire
George Horrocks, Harmony Energy Works
Changes in 2020 for residential and commercial solar including updates on EV chargers and Storage.
Webster Room
Education Session
The Economics of Inter-Cropping Cider and Commercial Apple Varieties for Protection Against Pests.
Assistant Professor Shadi Atallah, NH Agricultural Experiment Station
Intercropping cider apples with commercial apples can provide orchards with greater natural protection against pests such as the codling moth and the plum curculio through the natural chemical defenses in cider varieties. But cider apples have a lower market value than commercial apples for fresh consumption. Also, mixing varieties can increase management costs. Does it make economic sense for a farmer to have a mixed orchard for the sake of protection against pests? Is there an economically optimal mix that balances protection and profits?
Pierce Room
4PM
Annual Award Ceremony and Reception
Each year, we are pleased to recognize industry leaders and their valued contributions to the fields of agriculture or forestry. The following awards will be presented at the 2020 Expo:
Andrew L. Felker Award
The Andrew L. Felker Award recognizes distinguished achievement in fostering the economic advancement of agriculture in New Hampshire.
Fred E. Beane Award
The Fred E. Beane Award recognizes an individual or organization in the communications field for effective coverage or agriculture and public issues affecting agriculture in New Hampshire, including forestry.
Stephen H. Taylor Leadership Award for Agriculture Professionals
The Stephen H. Taylor Leadership Award recognizes an individual or business/organization currently working in the field of agriculture exemplifying leadership in the field of agriculture and consumer awareness and education regarding agriculture and agricultural issues.
Farms of Distinction
An award of the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food that annual recognized those New Hampshire farms that go the extra mile to keep their busy farmsteads neat and attractive, thereby portraying a positive image for New Hampshire agriculture.
Green Pastures Dairy Farm of the Year
This award showcases outstanding dairy farms throughout New England.
The Tree Farmer of the Year Award
Presented to a landowner who has shown exceptional forest management in the NH Tree Farm Program.
For more information on past winners, please visit our Awards page.
Penstock
7PM
Expo Closes
Saturday, February 15th
9AM
Expo Opens!
Don’t miss our all-day events…
9AM – 1PM
The New Hampshire School of Falconry offers a meet and greet with their friendly falcons.
9AM – 4PM
Not to be missed, the amazing work from the Island Pond Spinners and fun activities in the KidZone! There will be self-guided play activities will be available during expo hours. Stop by to rest and relax as a family and check out all the fun. There will be additional scheduled hands-on activities for the whole family to enjoy, be sure to check back for these scheduled events.
Don’t miss a photo opportunity with NH Miss Agriculture USA, Faith Mariacher. Faith will be walking the Expo throughout the day so make sure you say hi.
10AM
Education Session
ADGA District #1 Meeting
Phil Cassette, Second Vice President, American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) and District #1 Directors, Cliff Parker and Tom Cox, ADGA President
Stark Room
Education Session
Knowing and Growing Hydrangeas
Emma Erler, UNH Cooperative Extension
Successfully getting hydrangeas to bloom is a subject that baffles many gardeners – novice and experienced alike. There are several species of hydrangeas commonly grown in New Hampshire, and all of them have very different growth habits and pruning requirements. Fortunately, hydrangeas are really quite simple to care for, as long as you understand which species you have in your garden.
Webster Room
Education Session
Chainsaw Safety and Felling Technique
Michael Gagnon, UNH Cooperative Extension
This session will begin with an overview of the safety features on all modern chainsaws and the necessary personal protective equipment for safe chainsaw operation. Following the safety overview will be a detailed discussion on the necessary steps in safely and productively felling a tree. This discussion will include the planning process, the techniques and steps for making a perfect notch, and back-cut, and the process of releasing and escaping. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of the open face notch, proper hinge wood, and technical details of making correct back-cuts when felling trees.
Pierce Room
Education Session
Alpacas – Round Table Seminar
Gordon Long, New England Alpaca Owners Breeders Association
Will discuss the who, what and how on owner ship of Alpacas.
Hale Room
10:30AM
Education Session
NH Dairy Goat Seminar – The Genetics Game
Cliff Parker, 4-H Volunteer, ADGA Director, and 4-H dairy goat judge
The session will cover basic genetic principles with some examples from what we understand of genetics, such as color markers, and then finish with a hands-on game demonstrating genetic variability. This will provide information for the hobbyist and commercial breeder about how to make genetic improvements in their herd.
Stark Room
11:30AM
Education Session
Agricultural Commission Meetup
Theresa Walker, Durham Agricultural Commission
An open invitation to local agricultural commissions, agriculture committees, and anyone else interested in advocating for farms and farmers, to gather together and discuss issues of the day.
Webster Room
Education Session
Tree ID
AJ Dupere, NH Division of Forests & Lands + Urban Forestry Center
Learn basic tree identity. Identify evergreens around the yard. Winter Tree ID guide available to attendees.
Pierce Room
Education Session
Tick Identification and Prevention
Rachel Maccini, UNH Cooperative Extension
This will be a workshop focused on tick ecology and tick prevention. This workshop will be geared for children where we will talk about ticks, tick habitat and how children can prevent tick bites. We will create a tick out of construction paper for them to take home and share with their families.
Children Ages 5-10
Hale Room
1PM
Education Session
Understanding and Caring for Your Old Barn
John Porter, UNH Cooperative Extension
Arron Sturgis, Owner of Preservation Timber Framing, Inc.
Explore practical and inspirational information on barn styles, evolution of timber frame construction, and examples of barn stewardship and re-use with two popular and effective experts. Author and Dairy Specialist John C. Porter and Arron Sturgis, Preservation Timber Framing, Inc., will lead the discussion and also showcase architectural features and unique joinery of barns around the state. Come get your barn questions answered by the experts! Signed copies of the new and expanded book “Preserving Old Barns” will be available.
Stark Room
Education Session
Capture Garden Moments with Your Phone Camera
Cris Blackstone, Garden Communicators
This session will offer tips on what to look for in your garden using your cell phone camera to capture great photos. Improve your photos, to truly tell the story you’re seeing. Will your photo be educational, emotional, sentimental, or used to help you document a plant or garden space over a certain time period? You will get the photos you want for these different purposes, when you see some simple tools and gain insights about flower, garden and landscape photography.
Webster Room
Education Session
Agrivoltaics: Harvesting the Sun for Food and Energy Production
Jeff Cantara, ReVision Energy
Join Jeff Cantara, Solar Design Specialist, to learn sustainable farmer strategies for optimizing the use of land under solar panels as well as enhancing wildlife habitats in and around solar installations. Jeff comes to NOFA with experience in organic farming and a passion to design cutting edge solar technology systems for crops and pastures to thrive. Bring along your curiosity and questions and begin your solar journey to harness the bright and sunny days that lie ahead!
Pierce Room
Education Session
Raising Poultry in NH
Karina Allayne. Greentwist Acres: Farm & Learning Center
So, what does it take to raise ducks, geese, chickens, turkeys, or guinea fowl? How can I feed my family or sell my poultry products? Join Greentwist Acres: Farm & Learning Center as we discuss poultry/waterfowl breeds, breeding, hatching, eggs, meat, feeding and care, and other tricks of the trade. Established in 2012, we are a small farm business that continues to learn and grow, located in New Boston, NH. We are more than happy to share our experiences with raising and selling poultry and poultry products. This session will be conducted discussion style, with handouts, live birds, eggs, books, visual aids. We will try to touch on each attendees’ question and also provide everyone with a basic understanding of poultry practices.
Hale Room
2:30PM
Education Session
The Fundamentals of Instagram and Facebook for Business Growth
Amy Hall, Granite State Dairy Promotion
We’ll cover improving organic reach without having to pay to boost posts. Proven strategies to gain, engage, and keep followers. The dos and don’ts of social media, content strategies that work, and the must have apps and programs to make your business stand out above the rest.
Stark Room
Education Session
What’s new in the 2018 Farm Bill for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)?
Jeffrey Holmes, USDA Farm Service Agency
Rachael Phillips, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
Learn what’s new in the 2018 Farm Bill for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Learn how these agencies can help you buy a farm or farm equipment, how they can help share in the cost of restoring erosion of farmland, restore fencing due to a natural disaster, or help create a heavy use area for livestock, they can provide compensation for crop production loss due to natural disasters, help provide compensation to dairy farmers when milk price drops, as well as other programs.
Webster Room
Education Session
Quality Trees for Timber and Wildlife – Why and How to Grow Them
Jim Frohn, UNH Cooperative Extension
Want valuable trees for future harvest, or trees to produce abundant fruits and nuts for wildlife? It doesn’t have to happen by accident. This class will focus on growing quality timber and wildlife trees in the woodlot with crop tree management techniques. Topics covered will include why it’s important to grow quality trees, what makes a quality crop tree, and how to identify crop trees in the woods. We’ll also discuss how to release crop trees for improved growth and vigor, and why and how trees respond to release. We’ll briefly discuss tools used and safety when working in the woods.
Pierce Room
Education Session
Livestock Guardian Dogs
Karina Allayne. Greentwist Acres: Farm & Learning Center
Would you like a way to keep fox, coyote, bobcat, raccoon, and other predators away from your livestock? Livestock Guardian Dogs is our preferred method and our farm would be lost without them. Come meet a Great Pyrenees and see what the buzz is about with LGDs. We will discuss the purpose of LGD, their history, breeds, care and maintenance, and the important role they can play on the farm. We are Greentwist Acres, a Farm & Learning Center in New Boston, NH. The session will be presented in a discussion format, with a Great Pyrenees, handouts, books, and other visual aids. We hope to answer all your questions!
Hale Room
4PM
Expo Closes…see you in 2021!