The Great Plains Growers Conference will be hosted on the Missouri Western State University campus on Jan. 12 and 13 in St. Joseph. The program includes optional pre-conference all-day workshops on Jan. 11. “This conference is a great educational opportunity for new and established fruit and vegetable farmers, and folks really appreciate the networking opportunities to meet and talk with other growers in the region,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Justin Keay, one of the organizers. The conference is planned and hosted by extension professionals from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. This is a great conference where extension professionals and regional farmers will present fruit and vegetable growers with research- based information to help their farms grow and thrive,” says Keay. The conference includes tracks on farm business, tree and small fruits, vegetable production, integrated pest management, organic/regenerative agriculture,…