The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, Inc. (ASCFG) is pleased to announce that Missy Bahret, a cut flower grower in Amherst, Mass., has received an ASCFG Grower Grant for 2012.
Missy is co-owner of Old Friends Farm, a 15-acre diversified certified organic farm, with four acres in cut flower production. Missy has farmed for 13 years, and has run Old Friends Farm for eight. She is host up the upcoming ASCFG Regional Meeting on March 27, in Amherst.
Lisianthus is a high-value cut flower in high demand by floral designers. Although it grows well in hoophouse conditions, field production poses problems such as weed competition. Missy will investigate whether intersown cover crops will improve stem count, quality, and height of lisianthus flowers.
The results of her research will be published in The Cut Flower Quarterly.
The Association provides funding to cut flower growers for on-farm research. Previous projects have included trials of lilacs varieties in a southern climate, weed control methods for cut flower peonies, low-tech possibilities for heating hoophouses with compost, and the productivity of Kordes roses.
The ASCFG is a non-profit trade association which provides production and marketing information for commercial cut flower growers. www.ascfg.org
Source: Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, Inc.
