Dec 2, 2023IFTA 2024 Annual Conference registration opens Dec. 1
The 2024 IFTA Annual Conference will be held Feb. 11-16 in Yakima, Washington and is well-suited for nut growers that also grow tree fruit, researchers and affiliated industries. Registration for IFTA Annual Conference opens Dec. 1, 2023.
The IFTA 2024 theme, Bridging the Gap Between Information and Action, will help the event provide its normal conference from Monday through Wednesday, Feb. 12-14, plus will offer a one-day pre-conference workshop, Precision Orchard Technologies on Sunday, Feb. 11 and a one-day post-conference tour, High Efficiency Cherry Production, on Thursday, Feb. 15.
EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS
The annual conference program consists of seven educational sessions related to production of apples, cherries, pears, and peaches with renowned international speakers from research and industry to provide the latest in growing techniques and the science behind them, plus several panels of outstanding growers who will share their experiences and strategies.
- Climate and Labor: Paths Forward
- Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
- Soil and Nutrient Management
- Precision Crop Load Management: Best Practices and Outlook
- Designing a Labor-Efficient Orchard
- Growing a Labor-Efficient Orchard
- Orchard Technologies Round-Up
CARLSON LECTURE
The Carlson Lecture will be given by Dr. Luigi Manfrini from the University of Bologna on “Smart, Specialized, Sustainable Orchards” and the Heuser Lecture will be given by Dr. Stavros Vougioukas from the University of California-Davis on “Labor in 2024 and the Turn Towards Automation”. On Tuesday, conferees will tour 6 outstanding and innovative orchards in the Upper and Lower Yakima Valley.
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP
The Pre-Conference Workshop held on Feb. 11, will engage precision orchard technology experts and more than 20 precision orchard technology vendors to explain and discuss their technologies in dynamic, interactive group Q&A sessions, with the potential for making individual contacts and consultation arrangements as desired. The four areas of technology addressed include:
- Imaging and Crop Load Management
- Automated Equipment, including Harvest
- Precision Chemical Application/Smart Sprayers
- Precision Irrigation Management
CHERRY PRODUCTION TOUR
The Post-Conference Cherry Production Tour (February 15th) will visit some key Washington sweet cherry growers who produce some of the highest yields and best quality in the world, yet are challenged by high labor costs that are driving orchard innovations that will be shown and discussed.
For more information on the IFTA 2024 Annual Conference and IFTA membership, visit ifruittree.org.
