PNVA Conference and Trade show to blossom in Kennewick this November
KENNEWICK — The Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association Annual Conference and Trade Show is set to welcome participants this Nov. 13 and 14 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, Washington.
“If you need CCA or pesticide credits, it’s a good place to come.” James Zahand, President of the PNVA said. “If you’re just looking for a good education, come. If you just want to network with people and see what’s going on in the industry, come. It is really open to anyone who is interested.”
Zahand, a veteran in the field with over 40 years of involvement, emphasized the uniqueness of the event. He said the conference is known for its comprehensive exploration of diverse vegetable production, the conference stands out for including myriad crops and topics that transcend traditional narrow-focus agricultural gatherings.
“We cover a wide range of crops, unlike other conferences that may focus solely on a specific type,” Zahand said. “We represent growers from various production genres, including carrots, onions, beans, peas, melons, and asparagus—just to name a few.”
Washington grows over 300 different crops and the conference covers a lot of those minor crops such as the rutabaga, where Washington grows 70% of the national rutabaga crops, according to Zahand.
This year’s event promises a robust lineup of educational sessions designed to address key challenges in vegetable production. Participants will benefit from expert insights on diagnosing plant problems, pest management, weed control, and the impact of weather on agricultural outcomes, according to Zahand.
“The association exists to educate, both internally for the growers and externally for the wider agricultural community,” Zahand said.
In previous years, Zahand said they had around 800 attendees from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, predominantly came but people travel from across the nation for the conference.
This year it is $125 for an individual person to attend the conference. However, it goes down to $85 if five or more registrations are made at the same time.
The conference features four main sessions, including a general session, sessions focused on onions, pest management and organic agriculture.
The general session, which begins Wednesday Nov. 13, has talks such as “Seed Corn Maggot Management in Vegetable Crops,” with Dr. Carrie Wohleb from Washington State University. Another discussion is “Trends in Pacific Northwest Vegetable Production,” with Dr. Alan Schreiber from the Agriculture Development Group.
There will also be other discussions on pests, fertilizers and more specific vegetables such as sweet corn, carrot seeds and beans during the general session.
The onion session, which is the second session Nov. 13, comprises talks such as “What’s Wrong With My Onions? Diagnosing Onion Problems in the Field” led by Dr. Carrie Wohleb from Washington State University. Another anticipated discussion is titled “Stop the Rot: Overview of the National Onion Bacterial Project,” which will provide crucial information on managing one of the industry’s significant challenges.
There will be other sessions regarding bacteria, economics, thrips and dry bulb onions, pink root management and pest control discussions.
The pest management session begins Thursday Nov. 14 with a discussion led by Dr. Carrie Wohleb from Washington State University titled “What Have We Learned from 35 Years of Sweet Corn Seed Treatment Trials?” Later in the afternoon there will also be a discussion titled “Endangered Species Effects on Pesticide Use – WSDA Prospective” led by Timothy Stein from Washington State Department of Agriculture.
“Then we have a pest management session, and this just focuses on pest problems and their control, pest diseases and weeds,” Zahand said. “As you know, a lot of people in the industry who apply pesticides must maintain a license. And to maintain a license, you must have continuing education. We provide that continuing education and give credits for people in the various states.”
Also on Thursday, the organic grower’s session will have discussions including “Leaf Sap Analysis – A Tool for Nutrient Management in Vegetables,” led by David Knaus, CEO of Apical Crop Science. There will also be a discussion led by Dr. Amin Nouri, Monty’s Plant Food about “Novel Approaches to Stimulating Carbon Sequestration and its Impact on Nutrient Availability.”
“Organic production is very important to a significant number of growers and organic production has its own issues or problems, and we address those problems and opportunities in the organic session,” Zahand said.
Zahand said this diversity and depth of discussion are integral to the conference’s appeal.
“It’s not only about the numbers. The variety of topics allows growers and crop advisors to gain a holistic view of vegetable production,” Zahand said. “Attendees leave equipped with new information and strategies they can implement on their farms.”
Apart from educational sessions, the trade show component of the conference plays a critical role in fostering networking opportunities.
“The people that show up are what make this event so special,” Zahand said. “They come to learn, yes, but also to connect with everyone in the industry and that’s how we all learn, by networking with others that do similar jobs, or maybe even very different jobs, but we can learn from them.”
Approximately 100 exhibitors will showcase their products and services, providing an invaluable opportunity for participants to interact directly with industry representatives.
“These are businesses that come in, set up booths, and they explain their offering to our participants, and that’s very important for a number of reasons, one, from an educational standpoint,” Zahand said. “Two – these vendors support our conference. I mean, it costs a lot of money to put on a conference, and these vendors and sponsors pick up a big portion of that bill.”
For exhibitors interested in participating, an exhibit space is $525, an exhibit space and and ad is $695.
Zahand also emphasized the importance of continuing education credits provided during the conference, especially for licensed pesticide applicators and certified crop advisors. There is an opportunity to get at least 0.5 of a credit up to 6.5 credits.
“If you need pesticide credits or just want to expand your understanding of the industry, this is the show to attend,” he said.
Reflecting on the event’s evolution, Zahand noted significant changes over the years.
“When the association first started, it was primarily a grower’s organization. Now, we have a more diverse range of participants, including industry suppliers and agricultural advisors. This inclusiveness enhances the learning experience.”
Moreover, Zahand expressed pride in the dedication of the PNVA team, particularly highlighting Sheri Nolan, the association’s Executive Associate.
“Sheri has been with us for many years, and her efforts are essential to the conference’s success. It’s a team effort that I’m very proud of,” Zahand said.
The PNVA Annual Conference and Trade Show does not just celebrate the successes and innovations within vegetable production; it serves as a critical point of connection for experts and stakeholders across the industry, according to Zahand.
“We have a unique opportunity for people to learn,” Zahand said. “There are many conferences out there, but none quite like this.”
For more information, visit www.pnva.org.
2024 PNVA Exhibitors
A&B Packing Equipment Inc.
A.V. Labs, Inc.
Advancing Eco Agriculture
AFCO | A ZEP Company
AgWest Farm Credit
Ag Engineering & Dev. Co.
Ag Enterprise
AgPro Systems, Inc.
Agri Sciences Biologicals
AgroLiquid
Ag Spray Equipment
AgWorld Support Systems
AMVT LLC
American Power Brush
American Radiator Inc.
AquaTech Irrigation Supply
BASF Agricultural Solutions
BASF | Nunhems
Bayer Crop Science
Blacksmith Bioscience
Carbon 375
Carbon Robotics
Cascade Agronomics
Central Machinery Sales
Certis Biologicals
Clearwater Supply
CNG Solar Shrink
Columbia River Carbonates
Corteva AgriScience
Crookham Company
CropX
Cutting Edge - Cutco Cutlery
Diamond K Gypsum, Inc.
Dragon Line, Mobile Drip Irrigation
Ecorobotix Inc.
G.S. Long Co., Inc.
Gearmore
Germains Seed Technology
Gowan Seed Company
Gowan SeedTech
Gowan USA
Green Lightning
Hazera Seeds USA
Innovak Global
IPL Macro Plastics
Irritec
IRZ Consulting
Keithly Williams Seeds
Kemin Crop Technologies
Koppert
Lad Irrigation
Leafguard of Spokane
Lemken USA
Matrix Science Laboratories
Miller Chemical and Fertilizer
Modern Ag Products, LLC
Monosem
Monty’s Plant Food Company
Nichino
Northwest Transplants
Onion World/Carrot Country
OXBO
Pacific Calcium, Inc.
Perfect Blend, LLC
PhycoTerra
Premier Tech
ProFarm
Rascho Farm Supply
Redox Bio-Nutrients
RegenAg Nation
Renewal by Andersen
Republic Services
Rivulis
SAN Agrow
Simplot Grower Solutions
Soilcraft
Soiltech Wireless
Solid Structures
Soucy International
SQM North America
Starpoint Ag
Stevens Water Monitoring Systems, Inc.
Sym-Agro
Syngenta
Systems West
Teleos Ag Solutions
Terramera
Tessenderlo Kerley
Third Day Creations LLC
Thunderbird Plastics
Tidal Grow AgriScience
Toro Ag
Total Employment and Management
Trident Ag Products
TS&L Seeds
Tyco Inc./Schaeffer Mfg. Company
Unitec USA
USDA Farm Service Agency
USDA/NASS
Valent
Valley Wide Cooperative
Vive Crop Protection
WA Dept. of Natural Resources
Water Treatment Resources
Wave Group LLC
Western Laboratories
WSDA Produce Safety Program
WSDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Yakima Valley College
Yara North America
Zero Emissions Northwest