Digging Deep: IPM, Soil Health, and More

Digging Deep: IPM, Soil Health, and More is a deep dive into soil health, IPM, and other expertise cut flower farmers need when growing their business. This series features 60-minute, Zoom-based presentations given by various experts, and is tailored specifically to address the needs of cut flower farmers.

Registration opens November 11

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Water-Wise Flowers

Dr. Melanie Stock of Utah State University
February 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern

Water management is one of the most critical factors in successful cut flower production. This session will explore how growers can balance environmental sustainability with optimized crop yields by focusing on the interactions between water, soils, and plants. Participants will gain insight into the stages of growth, plant stress tolerance, and relative water demand, while learning strategies to tailor irrigation practices to root zone depth, soil type, and climate conditions. The session will also highlight crop selection and conservation practices that both reduce water use and enhance soil water storage, equipping growers with practical tools to support long-term productivity.

Attendees Receive:

Live webinar access.
Event recording for one year.
Electronic copy of presentation slides.

High Tunnel Pest Management Practices for Cut Flower Growers

Dr. Nick Volesky, South Dakota State University
March 3, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Eastern

Pest pressure can cause significant losses in specialty crops nationwide, including cut flowers. However, plant-insect pests represent only 0.5% of all insect species, making accurate identification critical. Feeding damage can occur on all parts of a cut flower, impacting both plant health and aesthetic quality, which in turn affects marketability. Given the wide variability in specialty cut flower species and the regions in which they are grown, standardized thresholds and management recommendations are difficult to establish. Therefore, management strategies should rather be focused on individual farms, taking into account factors such as budget, farm size, and the specific pests present. This presentation will train cut flower growers in proactive scouting methods, identification of insect pests and plant diseases, understanding the damage they cause, their life or disease cycles, and appropriate control strategies. Emphasis will be placed on integrated pest management, including cultural, mechanical, and biological control techniques.

Nick Volesky is an Extension Horticulture and Specialty Crop Field Specialist with South Dakota State University, based in the beautiful Badlands and Black Hills region of western South Dakota. In his role, he works alongside a multidisciplinary team to serve stakeholders across the state through education, outreach, and programming. His work focuses on addressing consumer horticulture needs, including home landscape plantings and specialty crop production in farms, homes, schools, and community gardens. Nick recently completed graduate studies at Utah State University, where his research evaluated the timing and protective cultivation methods for delphinium and larkspur cut flower production in the intermountain west. His expertise includes integrated pest management in specialty crop systems, protected cultivation methods, and vegetable and cut flower production. He is an active member of ASCFG and is passionate about specialty crop production and the Cooperative Extension system, which connects research-based knowledge with community stakeholders. Nick is especially committed to supporting growers in optimizing their production through sustainable, evidence-based practices.

Attendees Receive:

Live webinar access.
Event recording for one year.
Electronic copy of presentation slides.

Shaking up your Approach to Pest Management

Alison Kutz of Sound Horticulture
March 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern

Biological approaches, whether wireworm control in that dahlia field or aphid control on your sweet peas, has come a LONG way. Are you ready to embrace some approaches that reduce the impact on the natural environment? Are you hoping to market your flowers as pesticide free or organic? In this webinar taught by Alison Kutz of Sound Horticulture, participants will learn how to identify key beneficial species used in cut flower and specialty crop production, understand how they support integrated pest management (IPM) goals, and discover where to source and how to release them effectively. Be prepared for spring with a game plan as to how you want to approach managing some key pests, like thrips, aphids, wireworm and spider mites.

Attendees Receive:

Live webinar access.
Event recording for one year.
Electronic copy of presentation slides.

Sponsored by

Five Best Things to Manage Soil Health for Cut Flower Farmers

Dr. Robert Schindelbeck, Extension Associate
Director of the Soil Health Lab, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University
March 17, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Eastern

Healthy soil is the foundation of every successful flower farm. In this webinar, we’ll explore five proven strategies to build and maintain soil health for long-term productivity and plant resilience. Learn from Dr. Robert Schindelbeck of Cornell University how to improve soil structure and fertility through composting and organic matter, make the most of crop rotations and cover crops, manage water efficiently, and use soil testing to guide nutrient decisions. Whether you’re growing in the field or under cover, you’ll come away with practical tools to nurture your soil—and grow stronger, more vibrant flowers season after season.