Vegetable Crops Hotline A newsletter for commercial vegetable growers prepared by the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service

2027 Southern Indiana Melon and Vegetable Growers Meeting

The Southern Indiana Melon and Vegetable Growers Meeting is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2027, at French Lick Resort (French Lick Resort & Casino, 8670 IN-56, French Lick, IN 47432). The meeting registration fee is $30 and includes lunch. The Indiana Vegetable Growers Association (IVGA) will collect the registration fee on-site. PARP credits are available for an additional $10. For questions about the meeting and exhibit booths, please contact IVGA president John Young at jmyoungco@yahoo.com or Illiana Watermelon Association president Renee Goodwin reneegoodwin@freyfarms.com

Meeting Agenda 

Time

Topics

Presenter(s)
8:30–9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00–9:15 a.m. Updates from Indiana Vegetable Growers Association (IVGA) and Purdue Extension John Young (IVGA)
Laura Ingwell (Purdue Extension Entomologist, Indiana Horticulture & Small Farm Conference Co-Chair)
9:15–10:00 a.m. Sample Submission for Diagnostics (PARP)

Fungicide Efficacy Trials in Cucurbits, 2026 (PARP)

 Cesar Escalante (Purdue Extension Plant Pathologist)
10:00–10:50 a.m. Practical Applications of AI in Farm Management Chad Fiechter (Assistant Professor of Agricultural Finance, Purdue University)
10:50–11:00 a.m. Break
11:00–11:40 a.m. Watermelon Pollinators and Pollinizer Plants (PARP) Amy Bagby (Graduate Student at Purdue Entomology Lab) and Wenjing Guan (Purdue Extension Horticultural Specialist)
11:40 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Automated Pest Trapping and Demonstration (PARP) Grace Wang (Graduate Student at Purdue Entomology lab)
12:00–1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30–2:00 p.m. Into the Weeds – Herbicide and Policy Updates (PARP) Steve Meyers (Purdue Extension Specialty Crop Weed Scientist, Indiana Pesticide Review Board member)
2:00–2:40 p.m. Understanding Cantaloupe Shelf Life Wenjing Guan, Katheryn Parraga (Purdue Food Safety Research and Outreach Specialist) and Scott Monroe (Purdue Extension Food Safety Specialist)
2:40–3:00 p.m. Food Safety Updates Scott Monroe
3:00–3:30 p.m. PARP Regulatory Update Richard Beckort (Purdue Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator)
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