Northwest Michigan Hort Open House Aug. 21

The Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station Open House will be held Thursday, Aug. 21 in Traverse City, Mich. The education sessions will begin at 3:30 p.m. and will conclude with a wine tasting event at 5:15 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Featured speakers during the event will be Dr. George Sundin, presenting information about diseases; Dr. Paolo Sabbatini and Dr. Tom Zabadal discussing a new winegrape variety trial; and Dr. Diane Alston, a visiting researcher from Utah State University, discussing preliminary results in her cherry entomological research.

In addition, a Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program educational session will be held in the research station conference room beginning at noon. The session will start with a free salmon/trout boiled lunch courtesy of Lake Michigan. Lunch will be followed by an update on the changes to the Water Use Legislation and what it means to agriculture. To RSVP for the lunchtime program or for more information, call Dan Busby at 941-4191 or 883-9962 or e-mail dbusby@gtcd.org.

The event is hosted by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, Michigan State University Extension, the Leelanau Horticultural Society, and the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Foundation.

The education sessions are free and open to all who would like to attend. Tickets for the wine tasting and dinner are available by calling the Leelanau County Extension office at 231-256-9888.