Nut growers meeting set for Feb. 3-4

The Missouri Nut Growers Association will hold its 2012 Annual Meeting and Nut Show Feb. 3-4 at the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center in Nevada. Nut growers from across the state will gather to compare notes on pecan and hickory, black walnut, and chestnut production and to compete in the Nutty Cookie Contest.

Friday will be a work day to prepare for the Nut Show. Members will crack and evaluate samples of nut cultivars. This session is traditionally a time of fellowship and informal idea exchange and will begin about 9 a.m.

Saturday registration and fellowship will begin at 9 a.m. with the business meeting starting at 9:30. Results of the Cookie Contest will be announced during the business meeting and entries will be available for sampling at lunch. The afternoon session will include individual grower reports as well as updates on activities at the University of Missouri's Horticultural and Agroforestry Research facility and its Southwest Missouri Agricultural Research and Education Center. The director of Kansas State University's Pecan Experiment Field will also provide insights into successfully growing this popular nut.

Guests are welcome to attend the meeting, which will provide plenty of opportunities for conversations with knowledgeable growers and researchers.

The Community Center is located in downtown Nevada, three blocks north of U.S. 54 Highway at 200 North Ash. For additional information, call Barbara Ittner, at (417) 436-2351 send an e-mail to bjittner@netins.net or visit the group's Web site, http://www.missourinutgrowers.org.