Archives: Speakers

Tim Dahle began working in the cherry industry in 1979. This work began as a field hand, then foreman, manager, and finally, in 1984, he purchased the first of seven farms that now constitute Dahle Orchards. In addition to farming Tim has worked as an instructor and/or presenter in Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Guatemala, Moldova, Chile, and Russia as well as some US venues. He served as a director for the International Fruit Tree Association for six years and served as an advisor for Oregon State Extension and for the Mid-Columbia Area Research Station.

Dahle Orchards was established in 1984 by Timothy Dahle, “The Farmer in The Dalles”. The operation is a family farm consisting of 380 acres of mostly high density, pedestrian orchards. It is the mission of Dahle Orchards to grow, distribute, and specialize in the production of high-quality fruit using the most current and innovative techniques and resources ensuring freshness, taste, and superior overall quality. Our focus is on fruit quality, food safety, worker safety, and sustainability.

Caroline is one of two Senior Technical Specialists at Bioline Agrosciences. Bioline Agrosciences is part of InVivo by Bioline and is a producer and supplier of beneficial insects, IPM and advice. Responsible for giving near market technical advice and managing commercial trials. Caroline has worked in the Horticultural industry for 30 years since gaining her PhD at the University of Lancaster in Plant Biochemistry. She worked at the R&D sites at GCRI Littlehampton and Stockbridge House, followed by a technical/ and commercial role at Bioline Agrosciences for 20 years gaining experience of successfully developing and implementing biocontrol in a commercial environment.
Now responsible for technical support across Northern Europe and North America Caroline visits customers and growers regularly to maintain contact with the market and any new developments which may be required. Speaking regularly at national and international conferences aswell as grower groups and distributor meetings. Caroline is currently the UK Chairwoman of the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) and the Co-chairwoman of the Global IBMA Invertebrates Group.

Dan’s winegrowing career began with a B.S. in Viticulture and minor in Plant Science from Fresno State University.  After school, he worked as the Assistant Winemaker at Domaine Alfred followed by Viticulturist at Rhys Vineyards.  In 2007, Dan took the position as Winegrower (vineyard manager/winemaker) at Johan Vineyards, an 88-acre certified Organic/Biodynamic, dry farmed and minimally tilled vineyard/winery in the Willamette Valley. He views making wine through the lens of an organic farmer and treats his cellar philosophy like his farming approach, all fermentations are un-inoculated with minimal additions/interventions.

In 2011, Dan and his wife Kim Hamblin started Art+Science Cider+Wine on their property, Roshambo ArtFarm, a 50-acre farm that has hay fields, pastures, an annual music festival and a 15-acre diversified, no-till, Biodynamic, dry farmed, resilient orchard.  Dan also consults for a few vineyards, orchards, wineries and cideries with interests in Organic/Biodynamic farming and low intervention wine/cider production.

Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, a graduate of the University of FL with degrees in entomology and environmental horticulture. She has been in the horticulture industry for more than 29 years, focusing on biological control and using pesticides properly.  Working throughout the United States and internationally she has consulted to greenhouses, nurseries, and gardens.   She is the owner of Buglady Consulting, now in business 20 years.

Buglady Consulting provides consulting services on pest issues to many areas of the horticulture industry.  Specializing in biological control as part of an IPM program, all client recommendations are made to manage pests while being financially and ecologically minded. 20 years in business the customer base includes greenhouse operations, botanical gardens, theme parks, nurseries, interiorscape, aquaponics, hydroponics and cannabis. It is owned by Suzanne Wainwright-Evans.

Justin Magill is the head grower at Legit Cannabis North. A background in construction and biology helped him establish in the medical cannabis market. His passion for utilizing sustainable and organic practices for indoor farming has led him to reusing soil in beds with a focus on soil health and microbial nutrient cycling. Biocontrols and biostimulants help him manage these unique challenges and make up the bulk of his current IPM program at the facility.

Legit Cannabis company focuses on producing its own inputs and specializes in infused pre-rolled joints. Legit’s unique concept of putting premium flower and concentrates in a joint established them early as a specialty brand in Washington State and has anchored them firmly as a standard for quality in a fiercely competitive market.

Kim Horton began farming insects in 1998 as a part-time job in college. It was an immediate perfect fit and blossomed into her choice of pursuing a B.S. degree in Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida, Gainesville. She continued rearing insects and mites for the biological control industry for the next 15 years. In 2015, Kim decided to change gears and become part of the Grimmway Farms organic farming team sharing her entomology expertise and agronomy advice.

Family-owned Grimmway Farms began in 1969 when brothers Rod and Bob Grimm opened a produce stand in Southern California. Today, Grimmway is a global produce leader and the world’s largest carrot producer. Headquartered in Bakersfield, California, Grimmway supplies more than 135 products to our valued customers. A division of Grimmway Farms, Cal-Organic has grown to operate across 40,000 acres of fully-owned, certified organic farmland in California, providing more than 65 premium quality crops year-round. Grimmway is deeply committed to caring for customers and employees, honoring sustainable practices, and preserving natural resources for future generations.

Jen Browning is a Technical Specialist working in field development for BASF’s Turf and Ornamentals division. She is a graduate of Oregon State University with a BSc in Horticulture and MSc in Entomology. She’s worked in landscape design as well as retail and wholesale nurseries, including Armstrong Garden Centers in Southern California and Monrovia Growers in Oregon. Based in the Northwest, Jen works closely with ornamental growers, golf course superintendents, and landscape managers to provide solutions and support for success with BASF’s line of crop protection products, from chemistry to biologicals. She also works with university and private research consultants to develop and steward crop protection products and their use in IPM programs.

About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division
With a rapidly growing population, the world is increasingly dependent on our ability to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture and healthy environments. Working with farmers, agricultural professionals, pest management experts and others, it is our role to help make this possible. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline and broad portfolio, including seeds and traits, chemical and biological crop protection, soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we connect innovative thinking and down-to-earth action to create real world ideas that work – for farmers, society and the planet. In 2018, our division generated sales of €6.2 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.

Dr. Charles Burks received his B.S. and M.S. from Iowa State University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. He held research and teaching positions at the University of Notre Dame and Miami University of Ohio before to joining the USDA Agricultural Research Service. His areas of research have included horticultural entomology, stored products entomology, physiological ecology and cold hardiness. Dr. Burks lives with his wife and daughter in Reedley, California.

Mark Trimmer has more than 30 years of experience in research, product development, registration, technical service, and technology licensing in the crop protection industry. Mark led international product development at American Cyanamid and successfully delivered numerous new product registrations. At BASF, he led new technology acquisition for the agriculture division and successfully negotiated development agreements on several new products. Most recently, Mark led R&D efforts at a biological startup company, NutraPark, and successfully developed novel biological PGR’s for enhancing fresh market fruits and vegetables. In 2006, Mark established his own company, Trimmer Consulting, providing new technology assessment, R&D strategy, regulatory, and product development services to clients in the global agricultural chemical and biological markets.

DunhamTrimmer LLC is the premier market research company that focuses exclusively on the global biological agricultural markets, including the biopesticide, biocontrol, and biostimulant industries. DunhamTrimmer LLC has the unique combination of an international network, broad market experience and a thorough understanding of the global biological sector. Today’s biological products are diverse, expanding in use rapidly, and becoming an integral part of modern crop protection solutions. If you are in the crop protection industry, biological control industry, biostimulant industry, food production industry or a potential investor, a thorough understanding of the emerging opportunities, new technologies and competitive challenges is crucial to your success. With literally hundreds of companies producing thousands of biological products, you need a market research team that is focused on this rapidly evolving market. The right information and the right data can be the difference between success and failure.

Alex Traven is Head Grower, Operations Manager, and second generation at Peace Tree Farm in Kintnersville, Pennsylvania. Alex has been involved in precision horticulture since birth and studied Plant Science at Cornell University. As Head Grower, Alex manages Peace Tree Farm’s innovative and integrated Biocontrol system. As a Biocontrol native, Alex is excited to share in creating a vision of the future of this industry.

Peace Tree Farm is a premier propagator and grower of hundreds of varieties of organic herbs and edibles, unique garden and house plants, and much more. They are a small company with an outsized impact on the Horticulture Industry. For more than a decade they have been industry leaders in adoption and advancement of Biocontrols, frequently collaborating with researchers, experts, and producers. They have also led the charge of promoting greenhouse automation technology for smaller-scale growers.